It’s that time of year again, as 100 million people prepare to watch the Philadelphia Eagles battle the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII tonight. And while flyovers of such highly televised games are common, they are nonetheless important and unifying, and arguably the best 5 seconds in football.
Even many players and coaches agree, flyovers are arguably the best part of the game, and everyone has their own reasons why.
Click HERE to watch the above film, courtesy of NFL Films.
Tonight’s flyover by the U.S. Navy will be a little more special.
First All-Female Navy Crew to Conduct Tonight’s Big Flyover
Three U.S. Navy tactical squadrons are assigned to the flyover, aiming for an impressive 4-ship time-on-target display as the National Anthem comes to an end. And for the first time in history, the Navy flight crew are all women, as the Navy commemorates the 50th anniversary since a group of trailblazing women were first allowed to become naval aviators.
The 7 ladies will be flying two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122, and a F-35C Lightning II from the “Warhawks” of VFA-97. They will be joined by an EA-18G Growler from the “Vikings” of VAQ-129.
Not only that, but all of the officers and most of the personnel who maintain the jets are women as well.
In 1973, eight women were first allowed to enter flight school. Six earned their wings, and Rosemary Mariner became the first woman to become a U.S. Navy fighter pilot.
Today, women make up about 15% of the Navy’s pilots.
“It’s not lost on me how special it is that I get to do what I’m doing today because they did it first,” said Lt. Peggy Dente, who will lead the flyover.
The big game starts at 6:30 p.m. ET.
