Flyovers have become a big part of pregame pageantry in sports, and the Super Bowl is no different. This year, the flyover is especially special as it commemorates 50 years of women in naval aviation. For the first time in history, all seven members of the flight crew participating in the flyover are women.
The flyover is all Navy aircraft and will be made up of two F/A-18F Super Hornets, one E/A-18 Growler and one F-35C Lightning II. Crew includes LT Caitie Perkowski (Super Hornet), LT Arielle Ash (Super Hornet), LT Saree Moreno (Super Hornet), Naomi Ngalle (Super Hornet), LT Peggy Dente (Growler), LT Lyndsay Evans (Growler) and LT Jacqueline Drew (Lightning II).
For the first time ever, an all-woman team of aviators will conduct the pregame flyover at the Super Bowl, celebrating 50 years of women in @USNavy aviation 👏 #SBLVII pic.twitter.com/SkGqFWNBhE
— NFL (@NFL) February 11, 2023
Women were first allowed to train as aviators in 1973, and while this flyover is an honor to all the women that came before, there is an extra nod to Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner. Mariner, the first female Navy jet pilot, passed at the age of 65 in January of 2019. The flyover at her funeral was the first-ever all-female crew.
Keep an eye out for the four planes and seven aviators as the national anthem concludes just before kick-off on Sunday night. Game time is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
