Adm. Santa Claus will take to the skies over Southern Maryland on Dec. 9, flying aboard a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk during a holiday readiness mission. Keep an eye out between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET for a glimpse of Claus and his holiday helper crew from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 spreading cheer overhead several regional locations. The squadron added several regional schools to this year's flight based on community feedback. (U.S. Navy photo by Erik Hildebrandt)
UPDATE: Claus’ Dec. 9 flight path expands to include more Southern Maryland schools (Courtesy of the U.S. Navy)
Southern Maryland residents young and old should look skyward on Tuesday, Dec. 9, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET as Adm. Saint Nicholas takes to the air on his annual holiday readiness flight — now with an expanded route that includes additional regional schools.
Locals can catch a glimpse of Nicholas — flying under his seasonal call sign “Claus” — as he lifts off in a U.S. Navy MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, accompanied by his team of elves and holiday specialists from NAWCAD’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21.
“Global toy delivery requires precision planning and a touch of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance magic,” said Claus during a briefing with HX-21’s rotary wing pilots and crew. “Thanks to the skilled aviation pros at NAWCAD, we’ve fine-tuned the sleigh plan for Christmas Eve.”
Claus and the HX-21 crew will spread holiday cheer over the following updated regional locations:
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
Solomons Island Pier
10:30 to 11 a.m.
Hollywood Elementary School
Saint John’s School
Oakville Elementary School
Lettie M. Dent Elementary School
White Marsh Elementary School
Mechanicsville Elementary School
11 to 11:30 a.m.
Benjamin Banneker Elementary School
Dynard Elementary School
Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School
Leonardtown Elementary School
Leonardtown Wharf
Leonardtown Middle School
Southpoint Church
11:30 to 12 p.m.
Evergreen Elementary School
Kennedy Krieger School
Town Creek Elementary School
Green Holly Elementary School
Esperanza Middle School
Greenview Knolls Elementary School
Lexington Park Baptist Preschool
Lexington Park Elementary School
George Washington Carver Elementary School
Chesapeake Charter Public School
Little Flower School
12 to 12:30 p.m.
Bay Montessori School
Park Hall Elementary School
Spring Ridge Middle School
St. Michael’s School
12:30 to 1 p.m.
Ridge Elementary School
NAS Patuxent River’s Webster Outlying Field
Piney Point Elementary School
Children are reminded to stay on their best behavior as Claus makes final checks to his lists ahead of the big night.
With Rudolph and the reindeer crew resting up for their holiday flight, inclement weather conditions may shift Claus’ mission to Dec. 10 or Dec. 16 at the same time. For the latest updates, follow the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Facebook page.
HX-21 is a component of Naval Test Wing Atlantic, the test wing at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Nicknamed the “Blackjacks,” the squadron provides developmental flight test and evaluation for all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft. The Blackjacks are personal favorites of Claus, who tries to visit his HX-21 friends every year. Naval Air Station Patuxent River has been home to HX-21 since 1949.
A map depicts Adm. Saint Nicholas’ flight plan over Southern Maryland during a pre-deployment reconnaissance mission planned for Dec. 9, 2025 from 10:00 to 1 p.m. ET ahead of annual operations on Christmas Eve. Claus will fly with elves and other holiday helpers from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River to spread cheer and finalize his naughty list over several locations across St. Mary’s and Calvert Counties in Maryland. The squadron added several regional schools to this year's flight based on community feedback. (U.S. Navy graphic)