SUPER BOWL LVII

History being made with Super Bowl 2023 flyover: all-female team of pilots

Ever since the first Super Bowl, we’ve heard the roar overhead of our trained pilots, and this year is something special.

TASOS KATOPODISAFP

Update: we just watched the flyover and it was spectacular. Congrats to all involved, a fitting tribute.

Super Bowl flyovers have been a staple of the pre-game ceremonies for the big show, dating back to the very first one. The tradition of a military flyover during the national anthem at the Super Bowl began in Super Bowl V in 1971, where four F-4 Phantoms from the US Air Force performed a flyover at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. Since then, the flyover has become a staple of the Super Bowl, with different branches of the military taking part in the flyover each year.

Over the years, a variety of aircraft have been used, including F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, among others. The flyover is a nod to the military and serves as a tribute to the men and women in uniform who protect our country.

All-female team in Super Bowl LVII flyover

And now it’s time to get ready for an historic Super Bowl Sunday with a sky-high celebration of women in aviation! As one of the most iconic pre-game moments, this year, the US Navy is taking the reins and showcasing some of the most advanced planes in the world, including the sleek F-18s, the cutting-edge F-35s, and the mighty Growlers from Luke Air Force Base.

‘What’s the female aspect?’ I hear you ask. Well, this year’s flyover will be piloted by an all-female team, making it the first time in history that the big game will see such a powerful display of women in action. This flyover is a tribute to the trailblazing women who have flown for the Navy for the past 50 years. As Lieutenant Jacqui Drew, one of the pilots for the flyover, puts it: “I think that’s a massive tribute to the women 50 years ago.

“Back then, they were just flying what they were able to fly,” she continued. “Now we’re in combat deployable squadrons which is huge strides for women.”

Not only will these incredible pilots put on a show, but they will also use the flyover as part of their training. And once they’ve completed their breathtaking performance, they’ll get to enjoy the game in person! So get ready for a Super Bowl Sunday that will soar to new heights and honour the amazing women who make it all possible.

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