The B-2 Spirit was part of the first-of-its-kind trifecta flyover during the National Anthem performance at the LV Super Bowl.
As you already know by now, the Super Bowl LV, in Tampa, Florida, saw a pretty unique three-ship flyover formation including a B-2 Spirit (93-1086/WA callsign DRAGON 51) from Whiteman AFB, Missouri ; a B-1B Lancer (86-0108/EL c/s DRAGON 52) from Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, and a B-52 Stratofortress (60-0012/MT c/s DRAGON 53) from Minot AFB, North Dakota.
The U.S. Air Force bombers carried out a flyover of Raymond James Stadium during the National Anthem performance, a scene depicted by some incredible shots which quickly went viral thanks to the shots taken, among the others, by Matt Haskell and Mike Killian.
America’s game, meets America’s team. #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/8fewjlOxWF
— Matt Haskell (@mhaskellphoto) February 7, 2021
The most exciting 5 seconds in all of sports! What a #SuperBowl #flyover by our @usairforce bomber force. Led by a B-2 from Whiteman AFB & joined by a B-1 from Ellsworth AFB & B-52 from Minot AFB, #SBLV #SuperBowlLV pic.twitter.com/or5fPVZcZw
— Mike Killian (@KillianPhoto) February 8, 2021
More from The Aviationist
The three aircraft (each with a spare) were supported by two KC-135R tankers (61-0308 and 63-7976 which used c/s GASPER71-72) from MacDill Air Force Base.
Interestingly, some really stunning photos of the bombers being refueled before or after the flyover were taken from aboard the Stratotankers by the photographer of the 6th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs team Airman 1st Class David McLoney.
In this post you can find a few of them, those taken after the flyover, in the darkness.
BTW, the B-52s and supporting tankers could be tracked online by means of ADS-B/Mode-S on flight tracking websites:
DRAGO Flt of x2 B-52 heading for Tampa, FL for the #SuperBowl flyover, timing over the Stadium is 23.26.28 Zulu. Will form up with a B-2 and B-1 with tanker support. pic.twitter.com/jjduDAwPzy
— Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) February 7, 2021
