PATUXENT RIVER, Md. — Admiral Saint Nicholas, operating under the call sign “Claus,” will conduct his annual pre-Christmas readiness flight aboard a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from Naval Air Station Patuxent River on Tuesday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
The flight, coordinated by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 — the “Blackjacks” — will allow Santa and a team of volunteer elves to wave to thousands of children at more than 25 schools and community locations across St. Mary’s County.
The MH-60S will depart the airfield at NAS Patuxent River and follow a scheduled route designed to give students and residents clear views from playgrounds and school grounds. The planned schedule includes:
From 10 to 10:30 a.m.: NAS Patuxent River Child Development Center, NAS Patuxent River Golf Clubhouse, Driftwood Beach, Patuxent Elementary School, Dowell Elementary School, and Solomons Island Pier.
From 10:30 to 11 a.m.: Hollywood Elementary School, Saint John’s School, Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, Benjamin Banneker Elementary School, Leonardtown Elementary School, and Leonardtown Wharf.
From 11 to 11:30 a.m.: Leonardtown Middle School, Southpoint Church, Evergreen Elementary School, Kennedy Krieger School, Town Creek Elementary School, Green Holly Elementary School, Esperanza Middle School, Greenview Knolls Elementary School, and Lexington Park Elementary School.
From 11:30 a.m. to noon: George Washington Carver Elementary School, Chesapeake Charter Public School, Little Flower School, Bay Montessori School, Park Hall Elementary School, and Spring Ridge Middle School.
From noon to 12:15 p.m.: St. Michael’s School and Ridge Elementary School.
The annual tradition, now in its second decade, began as a morale event for military families at Pax River and has grown into a widely anticipated community flyover. HX-21 pilots and aircrew volunteer their time and aircraft to support the mission, which also serves as a practical familiarization flight for the squadron’s rotary-wing test pilots.
“Global toy delivery requires precision planning and a touch of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance magic,” Claus said in a prepared statement released by NAWCAD public affairs. “Thanks to the skilled aviation pros at NAWCAD, we’ve fine-tuned the sleigh plan for Christmas Eve.”
Weather backups are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, or Tuesday, Dec. 16, at the same times if clouds, wind, or visibility force a postponement. Real-time updates will be posted on the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division Facebook page.
NAS Patuxent River officials remind residents that the helicopter will remain at a safe altitude and will not land at any of the schools or public sites. Parents and children are encouraged to gather in open areas such as playgrounds or fields for the best viewing.
HX-21, part of Naval Test Wing Atlantic under the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, conducts developmental flight testing for all Navy and Marine Corps helicopters and tilt-rotor aircraft. The squadron has supported the Santa flight nearly every year since the program began.
The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required.
