Military flyovers, base openings planned for Independence Day
As ever year, the IDF is planning both grand spectacles throughout the country with the opening ceremony and country-wide flyover, and opening bases to the public; the new F-35s will take part in this year’s flyover.
One of the main attractions of Independence Day every year is the Israeli Air Force’s flyover throughout the country. This Tuesday, the IAF’s new F-35s will take part in the spectacle.
Additional IAF planes that will be on display include C-130 (Samson) transport planes Beechcraft King Air (Tzofit) planes, Gulfstream G550 (Shavit & Eitam) planes, the Boeing 707 Reem refueling aircraft and the F-15 and F-16 fighter planes (Barak, Bezal and Ram).
The flyover will begin at around 10:30am, will last about two and a half hours, and cross the skies of Israel from Eilat to Safed.
In addition, there will be a show of the aerobatic flight team from 9:55am to 12:05pm at the Technical Base, above Ramat David, the Tel Nof Base, Jerusalem, the Air Force Museum and Tel Aviv.
A special flight of the Yasur helicopters will take place in the skies above the center and north of the country between 11:30 and 12:30, and a fleet of F-16s and new Lavi training aircraft will be held in the southern skies, from Eilat to Gvulot Junction between 11:30 and noon.
An honor flyover of a Sikorsky UH-60A Blackhawk (Yanshuf) and two AH-64D Apache Longbow (Sharaf) helicopters will pass at 8:45am above the President’s Residence.
During the day, various bases will be opened throughout the country for the general public with a variety of activities:
Central Command:
The Horon Base of the Shomron Regional Brigade will open from 10am to 6pm. The exhibit will include military vehicles such as tanks and engineering vehicles, representatives of routine security forces and covert operations teams belonging to the Nitzan fighter unit, and a display representing fire and rescue teams.
Ground Forces:
The Armored Corps Memorial Site and Museum at Latrun (Yad La-Shiryon) will open from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The program includes a multi-corps display of ground forces that will include a variety of weapons such as tanks, armored personnel carriers and cannons. In addition, active-duty soldiers will give presentations on their service in both Hebrew and English.
Air Force:
The Ramat David Base, located in the Jezreel Valley, will be open between 8am and 1pm. The Air Force Technical School, located near Haifa, will open from 9am to 2pm. The Tel Nof Air Force Base, located near Gedera, will open between 9am to 2pm. The Hatzerim Air Force Museum, located west of Be’er Sheva, will open during the same timeframe.
In addition to the bases, many IDF parking lots and training areas throughout the country will also be open throughout the day.
(Translated and edited by J. Herzog)
