The flyover formation will embody two F/A-18F Tremendous 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 Digital Assault Squadron (VAQ) 129. These plane characterize the strike and digital assault functionality of the “Service Air Wing of the Future,” offering superior expertise and enhanced flexibility to our army combatant commanders. VFA-122 and VFA-147 are based mostly at Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, Calif.; VAQ-129 is predicated at NAS Whidbey Island, Wash. The squadrons will stage and depart from close by Luke Air Pressure Base.
The flyover additionally commemorates 50 years of girls flying within the U.S. Navy. In 1973 the primary eight ladies started flight faculty in Pensacola, Fla., and one 12 months later six of these eight ladies, titled “The First Six,” earned their Wings of Gold. Since then, ladies have served, operated and led at each degree of Naval Aviation.
Lt. Katie Martinez, a Naval Flight Officer assigned to VFA-122, seems ahead to representing Naval Aviation at one of many world’s most-watched occasions.
“It’s not a sense I may even put into phrases,” stated Martinez. “It doesn’t get greater than the Tremendous Bowl, and I’m humbled and honored to have the ability to take part with my pals and fellow Naval Aviators as a part of this once-in-a-lifetime alternative.”
The fifth-generation strike fighter F-35C Lightning II integrates superior stealth expertise right into a extremely agile, supersonic plane that gives unprecedented battlespace consciousness, versatility and survivability. The F-35C, which is the Navy variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, units new requirements in weapon system integration, maintainability, fight radius and payload that carry formidable multimission energy projection functionality from the ocean.
Getting into fleet service in 1999, The F/A-18 Tremendous Hornet, has earned a fame because the spine of the Navy’s service air wing and a workhorse inside the fleet, persevering with its key strike fighter function in opposition to the superior threats of the twenty first century. Designed to satisfy present Navy fighter escort and interdiction mission necessities, the Tremendous Hornet maintains fleet air protection and shut air assist roles, in addition to an rising vary of missions, together with in-air refueling.
The EA-18G Growler is a variant within the F/A-18 household of plane that mixes the confirmed Tremendous Hornet platform with a classy digital warfare suite that performs quite a lot of features together with communications jamming and countermeasures.
Commander, Naval Air Forces (CNAF) is the sort commander for Naval Aviation that oversees the Navy’s plane wings, squadrons, plane carriers, assist amenities and coaching instructions. Based mostly at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., CNAF is accountable for manning, coaching and equipping deployable, combat-ready Naval Aviation forces to compete and win in any setting.
