No Raptor Roar: Super Bowl Flyover Reveals Biden’s Military Strain

Paul Riverbank, 2/8/2026F-22s pulled from Super Bowl flyover, spotlighting evolving military demands and the adaptive spectacle.

Katie Spencer, who oversees sports outreach for the Air Force, offered the update with the even-keeled delivery typical of the military but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. She put it plainly: “Operational tempo has increased, and so the F-22s got pulled for some operational assignments.” She didn’t elaborate—military plans rarely play out in public—but it’s no secret that U.S. assets like the Raptor have seen heightened deployment lately, especially in the Middle East’s simmering cauldron.

So, the playbook’s been adjusted. Instead of the Raptor’s razor-edged roar, spectators will catch a different flavor of American might. Out front: the B-1 Lancer—a bomber with a silhouette as unmistakable as its nickname, the “Bone.” Joining it, a mosaic of fighters: the workhorse F-15C Eagles, Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, and the cutting-edge F-35C Lightnings. Not exactly a shortage of muscle or history up there.

For Spencer and her team, the switch isn't just about plugging gaps. “We wanted a unique display of air power,” she said, echoing a sentiment as much about narrative as it is about hardware. The B-1, she pointed out, is “beloved”—its reputation for precision and thunder conjuring a sense of reliable drama. “They really replicate what it means to be time over target at a certain point,” Spencer explained, nodding to the strategic value behind the theatrics.

There’s another layer, too. These demonstrations are drills in disguise—a real chance for crews to practice the kind of split-second coordination the real world demands. Crews aren’t just putting on a show for television cameras; they’re clocking valuable, unforgiving training hours. “These flyovers serve as time-over-target training for our crews,” Spencer explained, “and recovery drills for maintainers.”

Let’s not kid ourselves: for the 70,000 fans who’ll fill the stands—and the millions at home—what matters most is the spectacle. There’s something unmistakably American about that sudden, chest-thumping rumble overhead, a sound that’s equal parts thrill and reassurance. “Fans are really going to see something special,” Spencer promised. “They’re going to feel the sound of freedom in the pits of their soul when this formation flies over.” Hyperbolic? Maybe. But if you’ve ever been under a flyover, you know she’s not wrong.

So, the Raptor sits this one out—no vapor trails from the world’s finest air superiority fighter this year. But the message, sent in afterburners and bone-shaking decibels, still reverberates: even when circumstances change, tradition adapts rather than fades. The Super Bowl flyover persists, loud and proud, tying together skill, symbolism, and an unspoken reminder of what’s demanded of those in the cockpit and on the ground.

The spectacle, in other words, will go on—different in outline, familiar in spirit. Sometimes, the story behind the formation proves just as captivating as the sight itself.

The absence of the F-22 Raptor at this year’s Super Bowl flyover is bound to leave a few heads swiveling upward, searching for the familiar thunder they expected. In a twist emblematic of our times, operational priorities have yanked the Air Force’s flagship fighter from Sunday’s show above Levi’s Stadium. Script-flipping news for the military buffs, but just as much a story for the millions who tune in to the spectacle as much for the senses as for the football.Katie Spencer, who oversees sports outreach for the Air Force, offered the update with the even-keeled delivery typical of the military but laced with an undercurrent of urgency. She put it plainly: “Operational tempo has increased, and so the F-22s got pulled for some operational assignments.” She didn’t elaborate—military plans rarely play out in public—but it’s no secret that U.S. assets like the Raptor have seen heightened deployment lately, especially in the Middle East’s simmering cauldron.So, the playbook’s been adjusted. Instead of the Raptor’s razor-edged roar, spectators will catch a different flavor of American might. Out front: the B-1 Lancer—a bomber with a silhouette as unmistakable as its nickname, the “Bone.” Joining it, a mosaic of fighters: the workhorse F-15C Eagles, Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets, and the cutting-edge F-35C Lightnings. Not exactly a shortage of muscle or history up there.For Spencer and her team, the switch isn't just about plugging gaps. “We wanted a unique display of air power,” she said, echoing a sentiment as much about narrative as it is about hardware. The B-1, she pointed out, is “beloved”—its reputation for precision and thunder conjuring a sense of reliable drama. “They really replicate what it means to be time over target at a certain point,” Spencer explained, nodding to the strategic value behind the theatrics.There’s another layer, too. These demonstrations are drills in disguise—a real chance for crews to practice the kind of split-second coordination the real world demands. Crews aren’t just putting on a show for television cameras; they’re clocking valuable, unforgiving training hours. “These flyovers serve as time-over-target training for our crews,” Spencer explained, “and recovery drills for maintainers.”Let’s not kid ourselves: for the 70,000 fans who’ll fill the stands—and the millions at home—what matters most is the spectacle. There’s something unmistakably American about that sudden, chest-thumping rumble overhead, a sound that’s equal parts thrill and reassurance. “Fans are really going to see something special,” Spencer promised. “They’re going to feel the sound of freedom in the pits of their soul when this formation flies over.” Hyperbolic? Maybe. But if you’ve ever been under a flyover, you know she’s not wrong.So, the Raptor sits this one out—no vapor trails from the world’s finest air superiority fighter this year. But the message, sent in afterburners and bone-shaking decibels, still reverberates: even when circumstances change, tradition adapts rather than fades. The Super Bowl flyover persists, loud and proud, tying together skill, symbolism, and an unspoken reminder of what’s demanded of those in the cockpit and on the ground.The spectacle, in other words, will go on—different in outline, familiar in spirit. Sometimes, the story behind the formation proves just as captivating as the sight itself.