Yesterday was cookie delivery day. With a bag of birthday iced sugar cookies in hand, I met the purchaser outside of the hospital where she worked in Daytona Beach.
I heard the sound well before I saw the plane. Instead of the usual commercial jet or single engine plane coming or going from the Daytona Beach airport, the roar of a fighter jet filled the air as an F-16 flew pretty low overhead. It was flying pretty low as it disappeared as quickly as it arrived. Close behind were four of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flying in close formation.
I was pleasantly surprised and awed. They were practicing their flyover for the start of the Daytona 500 on Sunday afternoon. The friend picking up cookies told me she had gone up onto the hospital helipad the day before, watching them from less than 1,000 feet away.
Every once in a while, I’ll see a couple of F-35s or Blackhawk helicopters overhead when the Air National Guard runs training flights along the coast out of Jacksonville. When I hear the unmistakeable sound, I hurry outside to watch. They don’t fly as low, but they are fast!
Moments like this bring back memories of one of my top ministry moments, a flyover at the graveside service of a dear friend and member.
Waite for it... 