B2 bombers deployed in UK

[Vulcan]

One is flying over Gloucestershire now. Heading about 110.

 

[Rroff]

You can thank the aliens who crashed at Roswell for the Stealth Bomber

Uh no you can thank the aliens who crashed somewhere around Thuringia in the 1890s.

 

[Eurofighter]

Fly back to the US I don't was to see EU as buffer zone between US and Russia in the future.

That's just geography though. Whether we have planes or not.

 

[Xordium]

That's just geography though. Whether we have planes or not.

You may want to consider retaking geography. Try looking at the top of the world and then from the side (looking towards Europe) and see if you still think the same thing.

 

[Orionaut]

You may want to consider retaking geography. Try looking at the top of the world and then from the side (looking towards Europe) and see if you still think the same thing.

The "Big Board" from Dr Strangelove!

 

[adolf hamster]

isnt the point of the b2 that its got ridiculous range? i don't know how far it can actually fly but i'd be willing to wager that the ability to fly to russia and back without landing was pretty high on the designers checklist. in which case its kind of a lost cause basing them here, unless its just barack obama willy nuke waving at putin

 

[physichull]

It's hard to believe the Nighthawk is now obsolete and retired. If I remember correctly, the USAF is engaged with a replacement programme for the B2 as well.

 

[Domo]

isnt the point of the b2 that its got ridiculous range? i don't know how far it can actually fly but i'd be willing to wager that the ability to fly to russia and back without landing was pretty high on the designers checklist. in which case its kind of a lost cause basing them here, unless its just barack obama willy nuke waving at putin

A B2's range is 6,000 nautical miles without re-fueling or 10,000 with.
This is about a show of force. The US flexing their military might. It doesn't have anything to do with range.

 

[adolf hamster]

A B2's range is 6,000 nautical miles without re-fueling or 10,000 with.
This is about a show of force. The US flexing their military might. It doesn't have anything to do with range.

so i was on the right lines, although both putin and obama likely well know each others capabilities its more a reminder. obama's too smart to hit the button anyway and i doubt putin is entirely crazy enough to do it. the world is safe for now.

 

[Rroff]

so i was on the right lines, although both putin and obama likely well know each others capabilities its more a reminder. obama's too smart to hit the button anyway and i doubt putin is entirely crazy enough to do it. the world is safe for now.

We are still a long way from a situation where resource requirements/availability, economy or general marginalisation forces a major confrontation however I don't think we are as far from the potential for things kicking off in a more major way as some people would like to think - I see many parallels and (denial of) in the same way as happened before previous major/world wars. It would be nice if for once we could transcend our own stupidity and resolve things in a constructive way.

 

[Cosimo]

Great refuelling video:

A B-2 Spirit from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., performed air refueling with a KC-135 Stratotanker from RAF Mildenhall, England June 11, 2014, over Cornwall, England. Whiteman AFB is participating in familiarization training operations while deployed to RAF Fairford.

 

[ubersonic]

You can thank the aliens who crashed at Roswell for the Stealth Bomber

Except that didn't "happen" until 1947 and Germany were designing/building stealth jet fighters/bombers before then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_Ho_229

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_H.XVIII

 

[Ilikeitblackplease]

I'd say having a nuclear deterrant based on our soil that we haven't paid for is quite a big benefit.

If Russuia went to war with America then the UK would be a target anyway, so having these based here isn't a bad thing.

We have bases in the US too. We just don't have planes to park at them .

fixed

 

[ubersonic]

fixed

It still says Russuia

 

[Psy-Blade]

Why do we want planes like that here? we've no control on what they do or who they may bomb.

I'd be very surprised if we just let them fly around whenever and wherever they please... they don't just 'turn up' and decide to land .

 

[Psy-Blade]

I beg to differ. I think there's only one of these but it's still pretty darn cool :

And also the Eurofighter, I think that's a pretty damn cool plane![/

 

[Rroff]

Except that didn't "happen" until 1947 and Germany were designing/building stealth jet fighters/bombers before then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_Ho_229

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_H.XVIII

There is definitely some Horten influence behind the design of the B2 hence my tongue in cheek post earlier.