How the U.S. Air Force and Navy Operate the Biggest Flyover of the Year: Superbowl LX

Story by Neal Bansal and Ethan Wong

nb__shots and visualsofwong

Published by Matthew Dawson February 20th, 2026

Photographs by Neal Bansal, Ethan Wong, and Steven Ditzler  unless specified otherwise

“I was looking forward to the F-22s since it’s been a couple of years since they were last at Moffett, but I was disappointed when I found out they had been pulled.” photographer Ismael Salazar said.

On Thursday prior to the Super Bowl, both the Air Force and Navy hosted a media day at Moffett Federal Airfield, inviting select media members and community groups to get an up-close look at the aircraft participating in the flyover. Attendees had the opportunity to speak directly with the ground crews responsible for coordinating the complex aerial operation, as well as the pilots who would take part in the formation over the stadium. In addition to the various static aircraft on the ground, the 129th Rescue Wing which is based out of Moffett, showcased the CSAR capabilities of their new HH-60Ws across 2 full demonstrations throughout the day.

“The demonstration from the 129th was great and I was able to get some unique photos from being on the ramp.” Civil Air Patrol cadet and attendee David Chen said, “It was also cool getting to talk to all the pilots and crews, while understanding what it takes to be in their position.” 

The following day, crews conducted a full rehearsal over the Bay Area, running the timing sequence under real conditions. Practice flights allowed pilots to confirm spacing, altitude, and approach angles while coordinating with NORCAL approach. The seven ship formation, consisting of one B-1B, two F-35Cs, two F-18Es, and two F-15Cs, flew over the stadium at 5:38 PM, perfectly timed with Charlie Puth’s famous rendition of the National Anthem. Just moments after the initial pass by the formation, a second B-1 in full afterburner roared over the stadium in a vertical climb.

 Apart from the jets participating in the flyover, 2 Fresno F-15C’s were providing a much more critical mission-set from 30,000 feet above. These aircraft operated non-stop on Sunday, refueling multiple times from local KC-135 Stratotankers out of Travis AFB. Their mission fell under the authority of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), standing alert all across the TFR surrounding Levi’s Stadium and prepared to enforce it at all times.

On the day of the Superbowl, months of preparation were finally coming to a close as the National Anthem began, and many of the over 70,000 eyes in the stadium were turned towards the sky in heavy anticipation. Far beyond their view, the 7-ship formation had been formed and ready for over 30 minutes prior, with the B-1’s having completed the first half of their long journey from South Dakota. Just as Charlie Puth delivered the final note of The Star-Spangled Banner, the enormous formation rumbled overhead in tight formation, giving the world a chance to see the true breadth of America’s airpower. Right as those in the stadium were lowering their phones and turning to friends, the second B-1 lunged into view with full afterburner engaged, roaring as it pulled into an unrestricted climb above the stadium. 

Within minutes, social media erupted with every possible angle of the flyover as it streaked overhead in all its glory. The reactions online were overwhelmingly positive, with even Bay Area locals who may not have liked the noise still in awe of the might they just witnessed. Pilots and crews also shared cockpit footage of the flyover, with one clip of the B-1 crew fist-bumping that was aired on national television and went viral online. 

For Santa Clara and Levi’s Stadium, SuperBowl LX marked not just the return of football’s biggest stage, but also a demonstration of America’s continued aerospace capability. As the NFL moves on to next year, the big game will shift south to SoFi Stadium in Southern California, and expectations for its flyover are now sky-high.