If you live in D.C. or the surrounding area and can make it into the city tomorrow (May 11), you’re in for a historic treat.

The Airplane Owners and Pilots’ Association (AOPA), as part of celebrating its 85th anniversary, will be conducting a flyover of the city tomorrow beginning at 12 p.m. EST. The flyover will consist of 16 groups of GA (general aviation) aircraft, a sort of “tour” of GA over the decades.

From the AOPA announcement of the event:

This special event will take place over one of Washington, D.C.’s most restricted flight zones, P-56, something that’s never been done with GA aircraft. Spectators on the ground and online will watch the aircraft fly above the Lincoln Memorial, down Independence Avenue, and past the Washington Monument. Observing and commentating on the flyover from the rooftop of the National Museum of American History will be AOPA’s Thomas B. Haines and former CNN correspondent Miles O’Brien.

This is historic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that, for two hours, non-military aircraft will be flying over one of the most secured areas in D.C. and not get intercepted. What will look like a simple line of aircraft from the ground is actually the fruition of years’ worth of planning on the side of AOPA, sponsorship from multiple entities, and the cooperation of numerous government groups. As Jonathan Welsh, writing for AOPA, says:

Fortunately for the organizers, the U.S. Congress and officials of 11 agencies including the FAA, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Secret Service are working with AOPA to coordinate the flight, which will approach along the Potomac River before turning to follow the National Mall, using the Washington Monument as a course marker.

AOPA, whose mission is to advocate in Washington for the rights of pilots, was founded in 1939. The organization’s current president, Mark Baker, will be leading the sky parade in his Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing, followed by groups of planes representing various eras of GA including seaplanes, homebuilts, public-service flying, and many more, all ending with a flyover by the Titan Aerobatic Team.

Fun fact: Per AOPA, “Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) will be closed for 60 minutes; FDK [Frederick Municipal Airport] will close for two hours.”

For those of us unable to attend in person, the AOPA team put a lot of thought into camera placement and will be livestreaming the event.

And if you’re lucky enough to be in the National Mall area tomorrow (or Sunday, May 12, which is the rain date), I hope you enjoy this incredible spectacle.