Four F-35C Lightning IIs with the "Grim Reapers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 101 are slated to perform an inaugural diamond-formation flyover above M&T Bank Stadium during the opening ceremonies of the 117th Army-Navy Game, Dec. 10.

The four pilots are honored to be the first to fly the U.S. Navy's state-of-the-art stealth fighter in celebration of the longstanding and historic rivalry.

"I am very excited to participate in the flyover," said Lt. Brian O'Toole, pilot with VFA 101. "I remember when I told my academy mates that I would fly the F-35 one day. I have always wanted to fly the F-35, even before I was selected for the pilot program."

O'Toole added he is the first in his class to fly the F-35C. Once he graduated, he told himself the next time he would go back to the academy would be in an F-35C as a part of a football game flyover.

The fifth-generation Navy variant stealth fighter, F-35C Lightning II, will bring tremendous capability to the carrier strike group's integrated warfighting package with stealth advantages which allow it to penetrate threat envelopes and deliver payloads, the ability to detect and fuse information from many sources, and link that fused picture to other CSG aircraft, ships, and decision makers.

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