Rare Glimpse: See 3 Stealth Bombers Returning From 25hr Libyan Mission
- Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Talk about a long flight.
Three Air Force stealth bombers are safe in Missouri today after returning from a 5,709-mile, 25-hour bombing campaign in Libya.
“Sometime after noon [Sunday], three Air Force Global Strike Command B-2 Spirit bombers returned to home base after striking targets in support of the international response which is enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya,” a press release on the Whitman Air Force Base website says. “The B-2s landed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., after a more than 25-hour mission in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn.”
And the planes were packing more than enough heat. The release says the bombers carried “45 guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions, each weighing 2,000 pounds.”
The Air Force released video of one of the planes’ return. According to the Daily Mail, “at $2.1bn, they are the most expensive warplanes in the world and rarely leave their climate-controlled hangars:”
The Mail explains that the long flights are necessary because the B-2s are so unique that it’s hard to house them at bases across the world:
A major drawback, however, is the intensive maintenance required by the B-2s, whose heat and moisture sensitive skin must be painstakingly taped and cured after every mission.
In previous conflicts, the maintenance requirements kept the B-2s tethered to their home base at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.
In Afghanistan, that meant 44-hour bombing runs for their two-member crews, the longest air combat missions in history. It also meant few B-2 missions.
But the air force has built special climate-controlled shelters at bases on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia and at Fairford, Gloucestershire, for B-2s, which were built by Northrop Grumman and first flew in 1989.
Despite the need for upkeep, the Mail sums up why the plane, two of which can do the work of 75 conventional military aircraft, is so deadly:
As far as the sleep deprivation, it’s possible the pilots used auto pilot or a fold-out bed behind the cockpit.
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Comments (107)
take it back
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:51pmI have to wonder why we are there to begin with? Is it a move to support international will, or is it to support further turmoil in the region, and world wide. What 3rd world country can with stand a attack from a superpower, and maintain the status quo. Why are we there, I am sure it is a reason we will not know of until much later when we see the repurcussions. I do not trust the communist in our white house. Is the real reason that if turmoil is so great, our counrty will be unable to survive, I think this is the reason, another way to destroy America though high oil prices and when things are so bad push through obam’s final agenda. I love the Military and enjoy them playing with thier toys, but the usurper is someone our military should question and i hope our leaders will clearly see through the sham he is doing to our nation.
Report Post »conservativeinnewhampshire
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:49pmGod Bless our men and women! Thank you for your service, I am glad they are on our side!! Though I am sure Obummer is working on cutting the budget for such awesome and needed weapons!
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:34pmSo what did this cost us? I’m not at all happy with Obama and his double speak.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:46pmhey Tex
Report Post »Neither is Farrakhan, Something smells about this.
betterthantv
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:33pmI saw one of these do a flyover at a race several years ago. It sure is nice to have the coolest toy in the toy box!
Report Post »hamburgerdude
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:06pmI was at the Charlotte race then, too. It was flying so slowly it looked like it would stall!
Report Post »ThoreauHD
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:33pmThose German designed planes sure are pretty.
Report Post »Theleftisda
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:52pmDon’t you mean German concept ?
Report Post »Joe in Kalifornia
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:29pmAs a pilot you lookd at this aircraft and notice that it’s missing parts. It’s missing the control surfaces that are required for flight. Absolutely amazing.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:11pmI did not know they required such defined environments. Learn something new everyday.
BTW…hot off the Blaze Firewire email…a great tribute to our men and women in the great forces from a wonderful elementary school class. So good to see that some schools are still doing their job. Have a watch and listen. This is really good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5pfBUUZNbFM
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 8:36pmI watched and listened and cried.
Report Post »Marine Recon Dad
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:08pmLOVE the bird! I am about 8 miles from where they are built, and saw them on a daily basis. Gotta love this country!
Report Post »BBReggie
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:03pmI’m sooo thankful we still have a military/industrial complex that can conceive, design, build, and operate weapon systems like the B-2. May it ever be true.
Report Post »Tipdog
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:47pmThis was nothing more then a Stunt by the administration. There was absolutely no need for the Spirit to go an a 25 hour Libyan bombing run. There were and are closer assets to the theater of operation. This was a stupid and risky maneuver.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:13pmThis EXACTLY the kind of mission the aircraft was designed to accomplish. One of the reasons it is based here in Mid-Missouri is to protect it. It is less vulnerable in the middle of the country than it would be on either coast.
In addition to the very special maintenance requirements it almost never touches land anywhere else because they are kind of on the pricey side. You can basically have a squadron of B-2’s or an aircraft carrier. With the major exception of stealth the B-2 has precious little in the way of self protection.
Report Post »teachermitch32
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:13pmThis was the most frugal way to go. Did you read the article? These birds carry about 45 times the payload of other deliveries.
Report Post »Telcoman
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:22pmTipdog I have to disagree with you on your point. The B-2 is piratically invisible to radar, so it makes sense to use them to take out radar sites (and anything else they can hit while they are there). Then we can use our other tactical birds with less worry about them being painted and shot at. And if nothing else, good training for the crews.
Report Post »BRAVEHEART
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:35pmThe B-52 can actually carry a larger payload, but it can be seem 1000 miles away on Radar.
Report Post »proliance
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 3:29pmTeachermitch32, its not that the B-2 carries more weapons than other bombers, its that it can go into combat alone. It doesn’t need fighter protection or jamming aircraft. One plane with an aircrew of two now does the work of many.
Report Post »zigzag
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:45pmAwesome! Amazing technology!
Report Post »donedunn
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:38pmThe B-2 is a great plane. The engineers got special permission to show Jack Northrop that his flying Wing dream was coming true before he died. There was a team restoring the only remaining YB-49. I wonder if they ever completed it.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:35pmShe is one mean mother and we are lucky to be under her wings of protection. God bless our military.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:29pmProud to be An American.
Report Post »Telcoman
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:27pmBeautiful bird that is and a dedicated crew (both in the air and on the ground). Keep them flying guys and may God Bless. Sites like this make me miss my military days.
Report Post »Pyx
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:23pmOblahblah, define the mission !
Report Post »crazytalk
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:43pmExactly…doesn’t the US dictator have to go before congress for permission. It’s not like the war powers act is constitutional, but WTF? We need to get out of the business of taking out other dictators. Can’t solve all the worlds problems. Need to get our own house in order. Does anybody think the troops are burned out? Your boys and girls are gonna get drafted here pretty soon!
Report Post »Lets start the impeachment. Nice plane….bla…bla…bla…best offense is a good defense. Lets keep it that way.
Captain Bud
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:22pmAgreed. The blackbird is one of the most remarkable airplanes ever built IMHO. To go from piston technology in the 400mph range in WWII to a “stealthy” airframe that will fly @ Mach 3+ @ 80,000 ft MSL in about 20 years is absolutely fascinating to me…
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:16pmIt looks like a boomerang about to hit you in the face when it lands!
Report Post »Sergei
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:22pmAwesome American firepower!
Report Post »RugerHoyt
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:20pmI wouldn’t want to be the enemy when those start flying over.
Report Post »branch manager
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:13pmHopefully we will never become the enemy.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:11pmNot as pretty as my favorite, the SR-71, but still a pretty bird.
Report Post »Tayper
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:38pmI agree!
Report Post »donedunn
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:40pmI got the chance to “see” or rather hear an SR71 take off out of Edwards. All I saw was the afterburner, but it still left a lump in my throat.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:26pmIs this the one you’re referring to?
Report Post »http://sr71.net/pictures/Airplanes/NASA_SR-71/tn/SR71-07.jpg.html
teddrunk
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:59pmYup Showtime, that’s it….25 years ahead of it’s time.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:07pmGOD BLESS YOU ALL!
May HE keep you safe and under HIS wing.
THANK YOU for all you do to keep us safe at home.
Report Post »and to the republic
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:06pmmakes ya proud to be an American…
Report Post »marine249
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:05pmsay what you want
Report Post »wonderful sight
PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:12pmOne for the Fly Boys in blue.
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:59pmIt looks “hawt & secksie.” (Wonder where H‘n’S is anyway?!)
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:00pmNot if you’re its target!!!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:05pmIt just looks mean!!!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:36pmYEAH, it does!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:53pmlol .. my dad was a private pilot .. so we spend a LOT of time at airports .. when my brother was little he always saw a “face” on the front of each plane .. some were smiling and some were not .. he always walked way away from the “mean” planes! Thanks for the memory!
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:28pmRoger that!
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:05pmThat’s one cool looking aircraft. It once flew over a Rockwell plant in Melbourne Florida when I was working there and it was quite a sight.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:08pmI live in Columbia, MO so we see them fairly often. Once or twice a year they fly over a UMC football game. Abosolutely amazing. You hear almost nothing until they are past you, and then it sounds as though the earth shakes.
Report Post »PA PATRIOT
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:13pmI have heard reports that the enemy is dead long before he/she hears or sees the bird.
Report Post »Geowchap
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:14pmIt is a beautiful aircraft!
Report Post »redneck
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:17pm25 hours of bombing is a real moral boosts.
Stuck_in_CA
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:22pmOperation “Odyssey Dawn”… Is there a some government agency, in a big brink building, with “deep-thinkers” sitting around a round table, that comes up with these titles? Geesh!
Websters: Odyssey: A long wandering, usually marked by many changes of fortune.
Dawn: Beginning.
So WHERE is this deployment; the beginning of a long wandering, leading us to, exactly? Will we even make it to 2012?
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:24pmNeat Aircraft, nice landing, GO USA!!!
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:35pm@82nd Airborne~
Did you see my reply to you under the Franklin Graham story? If not, please read it.
I was not the one who called you the name. I copied the comment and responded to it. Please go read it.
I would never disrespect you, Sir. NEVER! I looked for a comment from you all day yesterday, but you were nowhere to be found. Thank you.
Report Post »redneck
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:38pmFew dozen empty missile crates, miles of destruction, now comes Miller Time!
Report Post »Leadthemtothelight
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:46pmKeep talkin smack Gadhafi….our boy’s will keep reloading!
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:46pm@Showtime
No Problem! I just misunderstood. I was getting a little hot under the collar about other posters. Didn’t mean to take it out on you. I apologize. I respect & enjoy your posts.
One small detail: I was an NCO, not an officer. You never call an NCO “sir”; that’s because we work for a living! (Military “humor”)
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:52pm@82nd AIRBORNE ~
Here is the link to that page:
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/franklin-graham-japan-quake-tsunami-could-be-signs-of-second-coming/
Report Post »Showtime
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 12:56pm@82nd Airborne -
ROFL!
Sir, I “sir” anyone I respect. I said “sir” to my second husband because I respected him.
For the record, I divorced my first husband. “Sir” was not one of my terms for him! He was a “short, sawed-off SOB,” even though he was a veteran. Ironically, it’s HIS SS that I draw!
Report Post »OutOfTheAether
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:09pmfor sure. That is one awesome looking aircraft. comes with impressive specs, too!
Report Post »felina g
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:13pm“The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation.”
– Sen. Barack Obama, 12/20/2007.
Report Post »YellowFin
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 1:48pmI wonder how much this entire operation cost the taxpayers of the U.S.
Report Post »Uncle Crusty
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:21pmUmmm, now THAT is American inginuity and grit, that is an amazing piece of equipment there! It sure costs a lot to maintain and fly it, but it pays for itself in keeping the world a more civil place! yeah yeah we pay throught the nose for it…well worth it to sleep well at night, isn’t it?
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:51pm………..
Report Post »Welcome home……..nice job.
I.Swear.By.My.Life.and.My.Love.of.it
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 2:56pmI know we have the strongest military but I just now realized how bad-a$$ it is. That was awesome!
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 5:02pmOperation “Oddysey Dawn”??? Just one more example of whats wrong with the world today, when they obviously get hippies to makeup names for military campaigns, to make them sound more friendly and inspiring…..How about something a little more intimidating, and to the point folks….like maybe Operation Exploding Terrorists?….now that sounds like a case of whoop ass getting pulled out.
Report Post »MiketheTrucker
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 7:36pmWhat a sweet ride, but it doesn‘t look like it’s “thick enough” to carry a payload. Awesome technology!
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on March 21, 2011 at 9:18pmIf you think the B-2 Spirit is cool check out it’s Great Grandaddy…the Horten 229. I also reserve a soft spot for the BUFF, nothing like a wing of B-52D’s during an Arclight strike to put the fear o god into your enemy. The B-1 Lancer (now B-1B) is another great bomber.
My fav SS bomber that had a way too short service life was the B-58 Hustler. It still holds some world records to this day…likely never be beatenb unless Air Force decides it needs another SS bomber at some point…the B-1 Lancer was the last SS bomber in the Air Force…it was cancelled by Carter in 77 but a revamped slower variant (sub sonic) the B-1B was revived by Reagan in the early 80′s. Reagn did wonders for the US Forces in the 80′s…if not for his two terms and his commitment to excellence we would not have many of the planes/tanks/weapons systems/ships etc we have today.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on March 22, 2011 at 3:00amFedEx ?
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