BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. – Three different Air Force Global Strike Command bombers will conduct a first-of-its-kind flyover during the National Anthem performance at the fifty-fifth Super Bowl Feb. 7. over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
“Supporting this event is a tremendous honor for our command and the U.S. Air Force,” said Gen. Tim Ray, AFGSC commander. “We look forward to this opportunity to showcase the reliability, flexibility and precision of our bomber fleet to the nation during this exciting event.”
The trifecta bomber flyover, will feature:
- B-1B Lancer from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
- B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB, Missouri
- B-52 Stratofortress from Minot AFB, North Dakota
The bombers will soar over the stadium during the final notes of the Star-Spangled Banner, representing more than 1.3 million active-duty service members standing watch while deployed, or at home, according to Ray.
“To our Americans in harm’s way, know that bombers will be there, anytime, anywhere,” Ray said. “As the only nation in the Western alliance with bombers, we know this flight isn’t just for the Americans watching, but also for our allies and partners around the globe watching this momentous occasion.”
Each aircraft will take off for the Super Bowl flyover from their respective bases, join up for the flyover, and return to base following the event, demonstrating the flexibility of AFGSC’s bombers and their ability to deploy anywhere in the world from the continental United States.
The U.S. Air Force performs close to 1,000 flyovers a year that serve as a way to showcase the capabilities of our aircraft while also inspiring patriotism and future generations of aviation enthusiasts. These flyovers are done at no additional cost to the taxpayer and serve as time-over-target training for our pilots, aircrew and ground control teams.
