Posted on 02/22/2008 7:24:28 PM PST by AzSteven
News just coming out (at least I could not find another report here)
http://www.kuam.com/news/26596.aspx
A 40% readiness rate to perform missions that no aircraft in the history of modern warfare could ever accomplish. The 40% readiness rate unfairly includes a 14 month layup to install the AHFM surface treatment, which eliminates many of the headaches associated with the original handcrafted surface preps. If the Air Force had been wise back when it mattered, they would have fallen on their swords over keeping the B-2 production line open. If only 3 or 4 had been produced a year, that aircraft would have been in production for ever. Now, the same folks who let the B-2 die are willing to go to bat to keep the F-22 production line going. I do hope the F-22 does not suffer the same fate as the B-2. Modern stealth aircraft are needed badly, and comparing their price to aluminum jets who can’t even get in the fight is not fair. You never want to fight the enemy on an even battlefield, ever.
What a beautiful spot to work! I attended a few picnics on the little beach by the old demo torps there. Kids could run around and splash in the water while we attended to BBQ and beer, and watch the sunset over Orote Point. What a beautiful place!
Years ago there was a B2 fly by over Boston on the Fourth of July. I wasn’t aware it was schedualed to do so. Seeing it in the distance it looked like God had torn a jagged hole in the blue sky.
Flew directly overhead, a beautiful aircraft.
Really nice looking air base.
Still a scary and beautiful looking bird.
I don’t know how sturdy these airplanes are, but they are flying wings with no rudder as such, so just a little bit of a tip drag on the ground would produce uncontrollable yaw.
Wow, they filmed that from quite a distance.
Six of one, half-dozen of the other! IIRC (it's been 40 yrs since I flew into/out of Anderson, with normal prevailing winds most landings and takeoffs are towards those cliffs. One doesn't want to land long ... or lose power on takeoff! The first time, I was shocked at how quickly after lifting off you're 100s of feet over very deep ocean. 
No problema! Cuanto? We have dos or tres of las bombas down here in Tucson, amigo.
WW2 Superforts on their way nonstop to Japan had to take off at full military power, firewalled. If an engine farted on the way down the runway, they wound up in the water. And it happened a lot.
Man you’re telling me...when the boats weren’t in, or I had my work orders completed it was off to go scuba, play golf, or hit some tiki bar for the rest of the day.
To top it off we pulled a liberty run to Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, and the PI bout every three months! good times.
Now Im stuck in friggin cubicle supporting the troops on the Gov end.... : (
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Please put my nephew, Justin G., on the list for prayer. His B-2 bomber crashed last night in Guam. Both pilots ejected safely. The other pilot has already been released. Justin is the pilot that remains hospitalized. Back injury is what I have heard - usually from ejection. This was to be the return flight from Guam after 4+ month deployment. Thanks, James C.
Yes, one of the aircrew had a compression injury to the back from the ejection. Not uncommon in these cases.
Man, I’d replay those years if I could!
I was stationed on Guam back in the late 1980’s. The runway can be a bit tricky in that the runway is kind of shaped like a “V.” In other words when an airplane lands or takes off they are actually on a gradual decline then in the middle of the runway the runway starts to incline. I’m not sure of the actual angles but I think it’s in the area of 2-5 degrees each way. I heard plenty of pilots say that it is a difficult runway to land or take off on.
When were you over there? I was there in the late 1980’s.
I was stationed there in the late 1980’s.
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