Staying Fit
Shortly before Super Bowl LVII kicks off Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona, three U.S. Navy tactical aircraft squadrons will conduct an integrated flyover of State Farm Stadium there to commemorate 50 years of women flying in the U.S. Navy.
The flyover, which will occur after country music star Chris Stapleton sings the national anthem, will also showcase the Navy’s aircraft of today representing “the strike and electronic attack capability of the ‘Carrier Air Wing of the Future,’ providing advanced technology and enhanced flexibility to our military combatant commanders,” according to a statement from the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
L: A trading card of Lt. Kathryn Martinez for the flyover of Super Bowl LVII. R: The flyover formation will include two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the “Flying Eagles” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 122, an F-35C Lightning II from the "Argonauts" of VFA-147, and an EA-18G Growler from the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129.
Courtesy U.S. Navy
In 1973, the Navy selected the first eight women for training in Pensacola, Florida. By the following year, six of them, known as “The First Six,” had earned their Wings of Gold. Since then, women have served, operated and led at every level of naval aviation.
The Super Bowl flyover formation will consist of an F-35C Lightning II from the “Argonauts” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147, two F/A-18F Super Hornets from the “Flying Eagles” of VFA-122 and an EA-18G Growler from the “Vikings” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129. The squadrons will stage and depart from Luke Air Force Base, 7 miles west of Glendale.
Lt. Katie Martinez of VFA-122 said that the opportunity to fly over the Super Bowl is “not a feeling I can even put into words. It doesn’t get bigger than the Super Bowl, and I am humbled and honored to be able to participate with my friends and fellow naval aviators as part of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
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The inclusion of women in naval aviation represented a turning point, and for the women selected, the rigorous Navy flight training program represented a personal challenge, just like it did for their male counterparts, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command.
Ensign Jane Skiles, one of the first eight women chosen, expressed her determination to a reporter, saying, “Learning to fly has been one of my ambitions. … I know the training will be very demanding, but like anything worth doing, I’ll have to work for it. … When I win my wings I want to feel that they mean the same thing pinned on me as they would on any man who had undergone the same training.”
Super Bowl LVII pits the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. ET, Feb. 12, and the game will be broadcast on Fox.
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