Inside the Marathon Mission Behind Today’s Stealth Bomber Flyovers

[UPDATED] While millions of spectators, both watching television and in person along Pasadena’s Colorado Boulevard, will glimpse the B-2 Spirit bomber for just 30 seconds at the step off of the Rose Parade on New Year’s Day 2025, the dramatic flyover represents the culmination of a complex 15-hour mission involving thousands of military personnel. The aircraft will make two separate appearances – first at the parade at approximately 8:00 a.m., then later at 2 p.m. for the College Football Playoff Rose Bowl game between Oregon and Ohio State.

This year’s flyovers mark the stealth bomber’s second return to the Rose Parade following its temporary grounding in 2023, when B-1B Lancers handled the flyover duties.

Pasadena Now spoke to the pilots, who remained anonymous and went by their radio call signs.

“Imagine the complexity of bringing four airplanes together from different directions, at different heights, all traveling at 6 miles a minute and eventually getting within 12 feet of each other for refueling,” explains one of the pilots, identified by the call sign SHIP, describing the precision required during mid-air refueling operations with KC-135 tankers.

For the three B-2 pilots executing the flyover, the mission carries deep personal significance.

“I’ve been dreaming to perform this flyover since I was a sleepy small boy sitting in my pajamas on the living room floor watching it,” SHIP says. “To now over 20 years later, I’m honored to have the chance to inspire young future pilots who will be watching from their homes.”

The emotional significance extends to family connections – SHIP’s grandfather, a retired Naval Aviator living in Los Angeles, will witness his grandson’s flyover.

The operation begins 24 hours before the flyover at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, home of the 509th Bomb Wing which operates the B-2 fleet.

“The 24 hours prior to the flyover involves thousands at Whiteman AFB preparing the B-2s like a bee hive of activity,” SHIP notes.

For pilot ZEN, himself a former college football player, the Rose Bowl mission holds special meaning.

“Being a former College football player, it is quite surreal for me to be a part of the Rose Bowl and Tournament of Roses tradition… The Rose Bowl in my mind is the absolute highlight of any college football season,” he says.

Planning begins a month in advance, with crews mapping every second of the operation while coordinating with ground crews, parade officials, and refueling aircraft. They must account for variables like Southern California’s winter morning marine layer and prepare for various contingencies.

“We try and look at every variable we can imagine as we plan the mission, so there is nothing that goes unaccounted for,” ZEN explains. “The precise flyovers people will see for the parade and game is a result of days of planning by the crews well before the planes are overhead.”

The B-2 Spirit, a strategic bomber with a 172-foot wingspan capable of flying 6,000 nautical miles unrefueled, represents significant military capabilities. At Whiteman AFB, approximately 5,600 military personnel and 2,000 civilians support its operations.

“Airmen from Team Whiteman, from every unit, job, specialty, background, and walk of life, are proud to take part in this magnificent event and are proud to highlight the incredible capability of the B-2,” says pilot DUKE.

The mission carries additional weight as one of the B-2’s final appearances before its scheduled replacement by the B-21 Raider in the 2030s.

“As with all things the B-2 does, there is no room for error. We stand on the shoulders of giants!” DUKE emphasizes, highlighting the pressure to maintain perfect execution.

For the pilots, the mission represents both the fulfillment of childhood dreams and the continuation of an inspiring tradition.

“I remember watching the B-2 flyover the Tournament of Roses as a kid, so being selected to take part is a dream come true,” DUKE reflects, underscoring how the tradition has inspired multiple generations of aviation professionals.