---
title: "A U-2 Spy Plane Just Did The Flyover For The College Football National Championship Game"
description: "It's not every day you get to see a Dragon Lady do a thundering game day flyover!"
date: "2019-01-07"
modified: "2019-01-07"
authors:
  - name: "Tyler Rogoway"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/tyler-rogoway"
url: "https://www.twz.com/25838/a-u-2-spy-plane-just-did-the-flyover-for-the-college-football-national-championship-game"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "Manned ISR"
  - "News & Features"
  - "U-2"
  - "U.S. Homeland"
tags:
  - "9th Reconnaissance Wing"
  - "Dragon Lady"
  - "Flyover"
  - "Football"
  - "Game Day"
  - "Levi Stadium"
  - "National Anthem"
  - "NCAA Championship"
  - "Santa Clara"
  - "Stadium"
  - "U-2"
---

# A U-2 Spy Plane Just Did The Flyover For The College Football National Championship Game

![](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-twz/content/2019/01/ccag.jpg>)
*www.twz.com*

For us aviation dorks, the flyover before a big game is usually the highlight of the event. But really, who doesn't get chills down their spine when American military aircraft soar overhead after the crescendo of the National Anthem?

Sometimes [its USAF F-15](<https://www.twz.com/21973/f-15s-boarding-ladder-deployed-accidentally-during-4th-of-july-flyover>) or [US Navy F/A-18 fighters](<https://aviationintel.com/flyovers-back-navair-brought-fire-game-one-fenway-park/>), other times it's [an armada of Army helicopters](<https://aviationintel.com/army-air-brings-the-thunder-with-super-bowl-flyover-2014/>), or pretty much anything and everything in between. Even the [B-2 has its own tradition](<https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/this-stealth-bomber-looks-like-its-making-an-attack-run-1677929316>) of executing the flyover for the Rose Bowl, but I really can't remember when a high-profile game opener was graced by a Dragon Lady—better known as [Lockheed's long-serving](<https://www.twz.com/8395/the-pentagon-thought-it-could-retire-the-u-2-in-1969>) and [iconic U-2 spy plane](<https://www.twz.com/19462/lockheed-is-proposing-a-major-triple-intelligence-upgrade-for-the-u-2-spy-plane>). Well, it just happened at the Clemson versus Alabama NCAA National Championship game at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Check it out for yourself:

https://twitter.com/_/status/1082448183890976769

The U-2, an aircraft that is just [as relevant as ever](<https://www.twz.com/22469/usaf-plans-to-test-a-system-called-symphony-inside-an-irascible-pod-on-a-u-2-spy-plane>), is actually a pretty cool flyover choice for the exact reason demonstrated in the video—it can execute seemingly surreal and freakishly loud slow-speed power-climbs! I have seen this demonstrated first hand and it is really quite spectacular as the pilot puts all that lift and the aircraft's powerful General Electric F118 turbofan engine to work. A freakish climb rate and gobs of thunderous racket ensue.

The U-2 didn't have to travel far for the flyover either. Its home at the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB in Northern California is a relatively short hop away. There are few better pilots in the entire world at being at a very specific time and place than U-2 drivers.

![message-editor%2F1546912747031-u2two.jpg.pc-adaptive.full.medium.jpeg](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1546912747031-u2two.jpg.pc-adaptive.full.medium.jpeg>)
*U-2S Dragon Lady, *Lockheed Martin**

So there you have it, the [mighty Dragon Lady](<https://www.twz.com/10500/u-2-flies-in-alaska-exercise-for-first-time-but-not-as-a-spy-plane>) getting some well-deserved recognition during the NCAA Football Championship!

You can also check out some of the most outrageous flyovers in a piece I did [years ago and linked here](<https://aviationintel.com/game-day-aviation-antics/>). You won't be disappointed. Also, below is a great primer video that showcases all about that goes into making these flyovers a reality.

https://youtube.com/embed/yjUErY3OcK4

*Contact the author: Tyler@thedrive.com*

## Author
Tyler’s passion is the study of military technology, strategy, as well as foreign policy, and he has fostered a dominant voice on those topics in the defense and national security space. Tyler was the creator of the hugely popular defense site *Foxtrot Alpha* before developing *TWZ*, which he continues to lead as the Editor-In-Chief to this day.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/Aviation_Intel>)