SANTA BARBARA - Old Spanish Days will present Santa Barbara with a Fiesta Parade United States Navy Flyover it was announced today by Vice President and Parade Chairman Dennis Rickard. Says Rickard ’We are excited and grateful to the US Navy and the Santa Barbara Navy League for providing a flyover on Friday at the Parade”.
In the early 1950’s Mayor John T. Rickard reached out to establish a relationship with the Navy and Fiesta. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of John T. Rickard’s year as El Presidente.
The Navy League of the United States, Santa Barbara Council and United States Navy Support the Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade. The Navy’s C-130 Flyover will occur at approximately at 1155am just prior to the start of the parade at 12 noon on Friday August 7. .
For the first time in 85 years, the Old Spanish Days Fiesta Parade will begin with a U.S. Navy C-130 flyover originating over Stearns Wharf and flying up State Street. Arranged by the Santa Barbara Navy league, flyovers at any event remind us of our service men and women who are on station around the world doing their mission. This historical flyover is flown by Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 55 (VR-55) "World Famous Minutemen" stationed at Point Mugu.
The plane will fly from the ocean directly over Stearns Wharf and up State Street. (like the B-2 Bomber does at the Rose Parade in Pasadena). The Altitude will be 1,000 feet. Parade goers will be able to look down State Street to the harbor and wharf to see the plane approaching.