Tag Archives: b-2

Kit Bashing, Technology, U.S.

Repairing 1/1 scale T-38 Talon and other Whiteman Gate Guards (and a reduced scale B-2 bomber)

Video

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

During the middle of June, 2019, 509th Maintenance Squadron ‘low-observable maintenance’ Airmen began work to restore Whiteman Air Force Base’s (in Missouri) T-38 gate guard named Spirit of Heartland.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 18JUN2019.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

The T-38 is one of several 509th Bomb Wing static displays on base which also includes the B-29 Superfortress, B-47 Stratojet, B-52 Stratofortress and the FB-111A Aardvark.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Parker J. McCauley, 06AUG2019.

In May 2018, the B-29 The Great Artiste was restored.  According to the official report  “…the original aircraft was lost during a crash landing at Goose Bay Air Base, in Labrador, Canada, in 1949. So, another B-29 was painted as a replica for static display. The static display was eventually moved to Whiteman AFB from Pease AFB when the New Hampshire base closed in 1991.”

USAF photo by Airman Michaela Slanchik, 10AUG2017.

In August 2017, a reduced scale B-2 Spirit was donated by Northrop-Grumman.  The B-2 replica weighs 600 pounds and is 22 feet in length compared to the actual B-2’s true length of 172 feet.  It is one of 50 donated by Northrop Grumman.

USAF photo by Senior Airman Joel Pfiester, 13SEP2016.

In September 2016, the FB-111A gate guard underwent corrosion prevention painting, some calling it operation Dark Vark.

In 2015, the Missouri Air National Guard 131st Bomb Wing moved to Whiteman AFB, and brought their F-4, F-15 and F-100 gate guards with them. Missouri Air National Guard video by Technical Sergeant Elise Rich, June 2015:

Guam: 1/1 SCALE F-4 PHANTOM-2 MODEL

Wyoming Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sergeant Charles Delano.

Down in the mud, shot-up, Wyoming SLUF

International, Technology, U.S.

World War Three, 2016: B-1, B-2 & B-52, the new ‘Integrated Bomber Force’, B-B-B-B-BAAD to the Bone!

Video

17 August 2016 (17:05 UTC-07 Tango 01) 27 Mordad 1395/13 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/15 Bing-Shen 4714

Bomber Assurance And Deterrence = BAAD

As a show of force against ‘enemies’ in the oil rich South China Sea area (anybody remember the U.S. occupation of Vietnam?) The U.S. Air Force is conducting strategic bomber ops using all three of its strategic bombers for the first time.

“The unique thing about our opportunities here as part of the continuous bomber presence is we really have the chance to train across all of the mission sets that the B-1 is capable of. We will routinely, on a day-in and day-out basis, get to train with the land, air and naval forces of both the US and our allies and partners in the region. It’s really an unmatched training opportunity for our squadron.”-Lieutenant Colonel Seth Spanier, commnader 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron

B-1B Lancer (aka Bone) from South Dakota takes part in bomber operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

“It also gives us the chance to work with other bomber aircraft we have inside Air Force Global Strike Command as well as some of our regional allies and partners for national security and deterrence in this part of the world.”-Lieutenant Colonel Keith Butler, 13th Bomb Squadron director of operations for the B-2

B-2 Spirit from Missouri taking part in bomber operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

“We’ve been out here the past six months flying Pacific Power Projection sorties, so all over the Pacific area of responsibility doing assurance deterrence missions.”-Captain Kaitlin Tardieu, B-52 driver

B-52 Stratofortress from North Dakota takes part in bomber ops at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

The B-1, B-2 and B-52 have been to the U.S. Territory of Guam before, but not as a combined bomber team.    The U.S. Pacific Command’s area of operation covers 52% of the world!

Video of B-1, B-2 & B-52 take-offs from Guam:

USAF news report on BAAD:

OPERATION PACIFIC PATHWAYS: OBAMA PREPS FOR WAR WITH CHINA, AT SAME TIME SELLS CHINA NUCLEAR MATERIALS!

U.S., AUSTRALIA & JAPAN INVADE VIETNAM, AGAIN! PREPS FOR WAR WITH CHINA!

OBAMA SENDING 60% OF NAVAL FLEET TO SOUTH CHINA SEA OIL FIELDS!