It's a well-practised ritual: with the last note of the national anthem before the start of the game, a formation of naval aviators thunders over the stadium in a flyover. "That's the sound of freedom!" as people in the USA proudly nod to each other when they can no longer hear anything.
Formation
The overflight formation on Sunday included two F/A-18F Super Hornets of the "Flying Eagles" of Strike Fighter Squadron VFA-122, an F-35C Lightning II of the "Warhawks" of VFA-97 and an EA-18G Growler of the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron VAQ-129. Three replacement jets and a KC-135R Stratotanker also flew a little to the side.
We up here
But while the spectators' eyes were once again focussed on the martially padded boys in war paint on the pitch, something unprecedented was taking place in the air, barely noticed by the spectators. The pilots and weapon system officers of the four-man formation, the crews of the three reserve jets standing by in the airspace, a large part of the tanker crew, the "spotter" responsible for the timing in the stadium, the flight control in the nearby tower of Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, Arizona - all female!
Lt. Suzelle Thomas flew the only F-35C Lightning II at the Super Bowl 2023 flyover. photo: U.S. Air Force
Background
The reason for this premiere was the first admission of women to the U.S. Navy's pilot training courses exactly 50 years ago. The American Navy made a virtue of the personnel shortages at the time following the end of the Vietnam War and shortly before the constitutional amendment on gender equality came into force. It was also running out of conscripts, who preferred to sign up for sea service during the war rather than join the army and face the Vietcong in the Vietnamese jungle.
What began in 1973 with six female applicants for the first training course now accounts for 15 per cent of all U.S. Navy pilots. The use of female pilots in fighter aircraft is also normal today.
Source: FlugRevue
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Mega!👏👏👏👏