CottageHealthSystem
Source: Cottage Health
The Camarillo Rebels, a team of five pilots flying T-34 military trainer airplanes, flew over Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital on Saturday, April 25, to pay tribute to all hospital staff.
Pilot Michael Maloco of Montecito led the team in the flyover at approximately 10:30 am in Santa Barbara and Goleta. The Camarillo Rebels flight on Saturday included a salute to 10 hospitals in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.
“This is our way of saying thank you to all of the healthcare staff at the hospitals for their work and commitment to keeping us healthy,” Mr. Maloco said.
How cool !
How much did that cost taxpayers? Cool to look at, but did they do it for free out of the goodness of their hearts? If not, who paid for it? And wouldn’t that money be better used to give directly to frontline workers or suffering struggling families? We can honor our healthcare workers in many ways.
Probably scheduled training they were going to do anyways.
Likely not as big of a waste as say, a funeral procession for a firefighter or a cop.
Agreed, 8:24. The money spent on fuel alone would probably have fed quite a few families who have lost an income to to this clusterf$&k.
It’s an honest question!! I’m not a “naysayer”. It is a valid question. Did taxpayers pay for this, however awesome and cool it is? If not, that’s great, but I STILL think all that money that it costs, some are saying $100 an hour, would be better donated to hospital staff with a giant bouquet of flowers bought at a LOCALLY owned business! Just my 2 cents. Sure didn’t mean to get anyone riled up. But just think about it.
This is a lovely expression of gratitude. I appreciate comments around cost but sometimes people just do it and the costs are absorbed. Things like this lift people and remind us all how lucky we are to have nurses, doctors and support that put themselves at risk so the vulnerable can heal. I worry about the nurses and docs in close proximity and hope that they are getting the protection they need. True heroes. Indispensible and incredible. My sister is a nurse in NJ taking in the COVID samples. Nurses are so brave. They just do what needs to be done…..:)
The pilots that do these formation fly-overs are highly skilled aviators. Many of them are former military. They may be no longer on the frontlines of battle, but they have a unique way to recognize the medical staff that are currently on the frontlines of this pandemic. These fly-overs are done for free. The hospitals will reach out for ways, in this socially distancing world, to show their medical professionals that there are people you care, and that they are not alone in this fight. The pilots that do these flights have not only given service to their communities and country, but these pilots give of themselves and their pockets to help others in a wide variety of ways. Giving back to the community using their special skillsets to recognize the medical professionals on the frontlines and the general community that we are not alone. Hopefully we all are doing what we can. Volunteering, donating, giving. We can all get through this, it is tough, it is unpleasant, but it’s the giving of ourselves that will make the difference. Not everyone can give, but that is okay, that is why these pilots and medical staff do give to help uplift the spirits and health of everyone in these difficult times.
Not WWII trainers. T-34 was a Cold-War basic trainer. First production in the early 1950s with a Beechcraft Bonanza heritage. Most of the T-34’s original pilot trainees are getting long in the tooth.
Michele, chills are one of the symptoms of the coronavirus!
The flyover does seem more about the flyers than the hospital staff. But I’ll take it in the spirit in which it is meant. And look, it gets us talking; it reminds us not to take our medical staff for granted.
No cost. These flyovers are donated time by the aircraft owners. Think of it more like a cruiser car driving down the street. T-34’s are 70-200K airplanes. These planes are $100 an hour to operate. The fact that it makes the news is a bonus to the effect it has….a tribute to health care workers! Thank you pilots and Health Care workers!
People who can, DO. Who are you to decide what people should give? Shouldn’t we give what we’re able to give? Some people are providing food and coffee. Others are writing thank you cards and putting posters up at the hospital of gratitude. Others are donating money, others are donating Child Care, these guys happen to have planes and they donated a fly over. What is wrong with people? Amazing how critical people are! I think that most people are doing what they can… What have you done to help? What have you done to show that you appreciate our local medical staff and First Responders and essential workers who are keeping the grocery stores and liquor stores open for us right now?
That’s great. I wish that I would have known about it beforehand. Thank you first responders and all of those who are keeping our community moving.
As noted by many, egocentric and inappropriate to the times. “Look at me” as I go out and spend money and time annoying the neighborhood. But if I claim it a “tribute” I will be accepted as a good person type. Really, did anyone in the hospitals know this was coming? Did anyone there see it? If so, did they think it valuable to their effort? What a thin veneer or pretense.
I don’t think we need to make too big a deal out of this. Lots of people consider a flyover a form of honor. Others consider it pointless noise (especially if you aren’t expecting it and don’t know what’s happening). Meh. It’s over and done.
I think it was awesome and very generous for them to do. How cool! Ignore all the naysayers. People always have to find a negative thing to say and I think it is repugnant. And thanks again private pilots, for donating what you could to honor those that are working so hard for us.
This gave me chills, watching the video. In fact I keep getting chills just thinking about it. Thank you for sharing this.
People who care do things that help those we want to reward and honor. Giving resources to the hospital for example in lieu of the hundreds of dollars these flights apparently cost would be a real helpful gesture. Simply taking their joy ride flight and going above hospitals seems like a thinly veiled excuse for doing what they wanted to do for their own enjoyment anyway.
Perhaps my opinion will be unpopular but personally I think buying them coffee or lunch would have been a better thank you…