The 2024 Army-Navy Flyover: 5 Epic Details On The Aircraft, Squadrons, And Pilots
The 2024 Army-Navy Game, the 125th meeting between the two storied academies, is set to deliver one of the most spectacular pre-game traditions in all of sports: the legendary military flyover. Scheduled for Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Northwest Stadium (formerly FedExField) in Landover, Maryland, this year’s aerial display promises a thunderous showcase of American airpower, featuring elite squadrons and aircraft representing both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy. The flyover is more than just a spectacle; it is a profound display of service, tradition, and the pride of the Black Knights and the Midshipmen.
This year’s event takes place in the Washington, D.C. area for only the second time in the rivalry’s history, making the airspace coordination and the selected units a point of national attention. The contrasting styles of the Army’s rotary-wing aircraft and the Navy’s high-speed fighter jets create a dynamic and unforgettable moment as the teams take the field to compete for the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.
The 2024 Army-Navy Game Flyover: Key Event and Personnel Details
The flyover is meticulously timed to occur precisely as each team runs onto the field, creating a unique dual-display of airpower. The details for the 2024 iteration are a testament to the high-level units involved in America’s Game.
- Event: The 125th Army-Navy Game, presented by USAA.
- Date: Saturday, December 14, 2024.
- Location: Northwest Stadium (formerly FedExField), Landover, Maryland.
- Navy Flyover Time: Coordinated with the Navy Midshipmen’s entrance.
- Army Flyover Time: Coordinated with the Army Black Knights’ entrance.
- Navy Aircraft: Four F/A-18F Super Hornets.
- Navy Squadron: Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), the "Jolly Rogers."
- Navy Home Base: Naval Air Station Oceana (NAS Oceana), Virginia.
- Army Aircraft: Likely UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (and potentially other rotary-wing aircraft).
- Army Unit: The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB).
- Army Home Base: Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), North Carolina.
The Navy’s Roar: Four F/A-18F Super Hornets from the "Jolly Rogers" (VFA-103)
The U.S. Navy’s flyover is consistently marked by the deafening roar of high-performance fighter jets, and 2024 is no exception. The honor of the flyover has been bestowed upon one of the most historic and recognizable squadrons in naval aviation: the VFA-103 "Jolly Rogers".
The Iconic F/A-18F Super Hornet
The Navy’s formation will consist of four F/A-18F Super Hornets, the two-seat variant of the Navy’s premier carrier-based multirole fighter. These powerful aircraft are known for their speed, maneuverability, and the thunderous noise they produce when flying low and fast over the stadium. The Super Hornet is the backbone of the Navy's carrier air wings, representing the pinnacle of modern naval air power. The sheer volume and speed of the pass are designed to electrify the crowd and announce the Midshipmen's arrival.
Honoring the "Jolly Rogers" Legacy
VFA-103, nicknamed the "Jolly Rogers," is famous for its striking black and white skull-and-crossbones tail insignia. This unit, based out of Naval Air Station Oceana, carries a lineage that dates back to 1952. The significance of their participation is amplified this year, as the Navy football team’s 2024 uniform is specifically designed to honor the history and legacy of the Jolly Rogers squadron.
The Tradition of Naval Academy Graduates
A key element of the Navy flyover tradition is that the pilots selected for the honor are often Naval Academy graduates. This ensures a direct, personal connection between the aviators soaring above and the Midshipmen on the field. While specific pilot names for the 2024 flyover are typically announced closer to the game day, the lead aircraft is traditionally piloted by a USNA alumnus, adding a layer of deep, institutional pride to the spectacle.
Army’s Precision: The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade and the Black Hawk
The U.S. Army's flyover presents a distinct and equally impressive display, typically featuring rotary-wing aircraft—helicopters—which offer a slower, more deliberate, and closer view for the fans. The unit responsible for the 2024 aerial component is the esteemed 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), part of the 82nd Airborne Division.
The Workhorse: UH-60 Black Hawk
While the exact composition of the Army’s formation can vary, the most common and likely aircraft to be featured is the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. The Black Hawk is the Army’s versatile utility tactical transport helicopter, a symbol of the Army’s global response capabilities. The Army’s flyover is often described as "much much slower" than the Navy's, allowing the crowd to appreciate the size and detail of the aircraft as it passes over Northwest Stadium.
The 82nd CAB’s Role
The 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, based at Fort Liberty, is renowned for its ability to rapidly deploy anywhere in the world in support of the Global Response Force. Their participation underscores the Army's commitment to decisive aviation operations. The selection of the 82nd CAB for the 125th Army-Navy Game highlights their status as one of the Army's premier aviation units.
The Enduring Tradition of the Flyover
The flyover is one of the most beloved and anticipated traditions of America’s Game, symbolizing the unity and competitive spirit of the nation’s future military leaders. The tradition of a military flyover at a sporting event actually dates back over a century, with the first recorded instance being 60 U.S. Army biplanes flying over the 1918 World Series.
At the Army-Navy Game, the flyover represents the direct connection between the cadets and midshipmen on the field and the operational forces they will soon lead. The spectacular display—with the Navy’s supersonic jets and the Army’s powerful helicopters—is a powerful reminder of the two branches' distinct, yet equally vital, roles in national defense. It provides a "once-in-a-lifetime experience" for players and fans alike, kicking off the final game of the 2024 college football regular season with an unparalleled patriotic fervor.
As the 125th Army-Navy Game approaches on December 14, 2024, the flyover will once again serve as a moment of national pride, a tribute to the men and women serving, and a spectacular opening act for the intense rivalry between the Black Knights and the Midshipmen.
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