British Pilots Train On Upgraded B-2s

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 01/08/2010 | Angus Batey

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

It is among the U.S. Air Force’s most finite resources, but the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is still growing in capabilities, and it’s an aircraft America is happy to allow an ally to use.

A long-standing exchange program that has seen USAF personnel trade places with those from the Royal Air Force was extended to the B-2 in 2004.

The offer to open up the secretive B-2 mission to a key ally was made by then-President George W. Bush in an e-mail to then-Prime Minister Tony Blair. Among the achievements of the first British pilot, Sqn. Ldr. David Arthurton, was piloting the first B-2 to land in Australia. Beside him in the cockpit was Brig. Gen. Robert Wheeler, who is now commander of the 509th Bomb Wing here and in charge of B-2 operations.

“It really is a huge deal to be involved with this program,” says Sqn. Ldr. Jon Killerby, the second RAF pilot to fly the B-2. “With the Joint Strike Fighter venture, this is a great opportunity for us to get our foot in what they call the ‘Stealth Stink.’ Getting guys involved in stealth from an early point will hopefully pay dividends.”

The third RAF pilot to fly the B-2, Flt. Lt. Adam Curd, recently completed his training.

Unlike other USAF/RAF exchanges, where incoming and outgoing RAF pilots overlap for only a few days, Killerby and Curd spent several months at Whiteman AFB. This means the B-2 pilot cadre—around 80 pilots are qualified in the aircraft—remains at full strength. Despite its location in the middle of America, Whiteman is very much a front-line base.

[US Navy Vet]

How nice...now when the Brits go muzzie they will know alot about stealth.

[tet68]

How long before Obama lets Iranian pilots fly it?

[theBuckwheat]

"In the near future, “with Small Diameter Bomb II and mixed payloads, I can carry bunker busters in the right bay and 100-plus Small Diameter Bombs that are launch-and-forget against moving targets in the left bay,” Gallagher says. “This will become a true hunter-killer in denied-access airspace.” The 'package' is made complete with a Special Forces guy in native garb riding a horse and carrying satellite phone to point out particularly needy targets.

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

*Yawn* less than 3% of the population is muslim. This crap is getting really boring...

[Mr. Lucky]

Some gratuitous slurs are funnier than others.