Boeing plans annual RBC Heritage flyover Saturday with massive ‘Dreamlifter’ aircraft
Even though there aren’t spectators on the course at this year’s RBC Heritage, Boeing is still planning its annual flyover of the tournament on Saturday.
Boeing, a presenting sponsor for the PGA Tour event at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head’s Sea Pines, will fly a “Dreamlifter” aircraft over the 18th fairway at 4 p.m., weather permitting.
Last year’s flyover was canceled because of severe thunderstorms. The forecast from the National Weather Service in Charleston says Hilton Head Island has a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Saturday, mainly after 2 p.m.
The Dreamlifter is a Boeing 747 Large Cargo Freighter designed to transport major components of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 767 to final assembly sites in Everett, Washington, and North Charleston.
It is a massive aircraft more than 243 feet long and with a 211-foot wingspan. The cargo deck is large enough to carry 80 Mini Cooper automobiles or 42 million Ping-Pong balls, says a news release from the RBC Heritage.
The Dreamlifter most recently was used to bring personal protection equipment — 4 million units, the news release says — to health care workers dealing with coronavirus patients in South Carolina through a Boeing partnership with Prisma Health System and the Medical University of South Carolina.
Boeing employees also produced more than 38,000 face shields for health care workers across the country.
The news release says Saturday’s flyover is dedicated to the nation’s frontline health care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The RBC Heritage was delayed from its typical April dates because of coronavirus and is taking place this week with no spectators present.
The Boeing flyover typically is a highlight for tournament spectators, who position themselves to take a photo of both the Harbour Town Lighthouse and the plane.
In 2011, Boeing opened its first of three production facilities on a 141-acre campus near the Charleston International Airport, a couple of hours north of Hilton Head Island. That same year, Boeing became an RBC Heritage sponsor.
Boeing’s Heritage sponsorship contract runs through 2021.
This story was originally published June 19, 2020 at 11:15 AM.
