Walton to lead Arkansas: A United State flyover Saturday; includes Hot Springs

The Goodyear F2G Super Corsair, that Steuart Walton will be piloting. - Submitted photo
The Goodyear F2G Super Corsair, that Steuart Walton will be piloting. - Submitted photo

Steuart Walton, chairman of the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force, will lead a fleet of World War II military aircraft in a statewide flyover on Saturday to honor frontline heroes in the fight against COVID-19, that will include Hot Springs, a news release said.

The four aircraft -- one Goodyear F2G Super Corsair 1944 and three North American P51 Mustangs -- will fly two laps around Hot Springs at around 11:45 a.m. Saturday.

Each plane will be cruising at approximately 250 mph at an altitude of 1,000 feet when above densely populated areas, the release said.

"Walton, an accomplished pilot, was appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson in April to lead the task force whose mission is to provide recommendations for effectively and responsibly reviving Arkansas' economy," it said.

The theme of the flyover is "Arkansas: A United State," which Walton says is an important message to communicate.

"Every person in every corner of this state matters and we are united in our common resiliency, our grit, our determination and our faith in one another," Walton said in the release. "Social distancing prohibits us from shaking the hands of people we want to honor, but this flyover allows to do so from above. Just as a flyover event like this requires people to work together, so, too, does overcoming the challenges of this multi-faceted crisis. It's important to get the message out that Arkansans are united in this effort."

"Walton calls flying a family passion. His grandfather, Walmart founder Sam Walton, would fly a plane over Walmart store parking lots in the early years of the retailer to count cars as an indication of business activity," the release said.

Flyovers will occur over 15 cities in Arkansas on Saturday, beginning in Bentonville at 8 a.m.

Local on 05/08/2020

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