[Andrew Stephens]

Just had two B2 stealth bombers fly directly (and I mean directly) over my house at 200 feet max altitude. Haven't heard anything that loud for years, if ever.

What's strange is 1) I'm in the UK and there aren't any B2's based here, though we are a few miles from RAF Fairford which stages B52's during combat missions, but these were flying about 90 degrees wrong for approach to Fairford, and 2) they were way lower than normally allowed over large population centres.

They do look ultra freaky in the flesh. I wonder what they were up to?

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

Haven't heard anything that loud for years, if ever.

So, not that stealthy then.

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

What's strange is 1) I'm in the UK and there aren't any B2's based here, though we are a few miles from RAF Fairford

http://www.cynatech.co.uk/gwi/Fairford.htm

USAF Fairford is one of only three forward bases (outside the USA) for B-2 bombers.

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

Due to RAF Fairford's location and infrastructure, the airbase is designated as a forward operating location for the U.S. Air Force. ... In recent years the airfield has been used by American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

I wonder what they were up to?

Since it's too much to hope that they were trying to do a bit of regime change on us, they're prolly either training or off to Georgia/Iran to have a try for this WW3 malarky.

Still, way cool. Unless the noise made you spill your beer.

[richwig83]

Get any pics??

[Andrew Stephens]

No pics, wasn't expecting them and they were gone too fast, since they were so low they went over the rooftops pretty quick. Fairford is indeed a B2 forward base but the USAF don't keep any there as a matter of course, even the ones that visit for the annual airshow fly out of Nebraska (I think), fly past and fly home. Been here 14 years now and these are the first B2's we've seen outside the airshow.

Had a B1 fly over last week also but i figure these are more common outside the US.

edit. The link article does mention that the infrastructure for B2's is currently being built at Fairford but it's not due to be finished for a few years yet.

Also, interestingly Fairford is a space shuttle alternate landing site should things go all runny during take off.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

The link article does mention that the infrastructure for B2's is currently being built at Fairford but it's not due to be finished for a few years yet.

Article looks like it's six years old though.

If they're not permanently there, then this suggests that they're being moved to forward positions for some kind of deployment. Iran a go-go?

Originally Posted by Andrew Stephens 

Also, interestingly Fairford is a space shuttle alternate landing site should things go all runny during take off.

Sweet.

[imitchellg5]

The B2 flys almost exclusively out of foreign airbases, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was there. I know a guy who had top security clearance at a Japan air force base and didn't even know that there were U2s there until he left. They see a lot of service in Iraqistan. My guess is that they were stopping in Britain then heading onto Ramstein, Germany.

And yes, they are a little frightening to see in the air. I've seen them on two occasions, and once was near sunset and it flew right in front of the setting sun.

[ghporter]

Fairford has been a shuttle alternate landing site since the shuttle went live, and is important because it's a launch abort facility. So, for that matter, was Bergstrom AFB outside Austin, TX (now Austin-Bergstrom International Airport); it has to do with both location and the ability to host B25s, which take really strong, really long runways.

I don't know why B2s would be out walkabout at this particular moment. They could be out for some combat missions in Southwest Asia (aka "the sandbox"), they could be on the way to Diego Garcia, they could be on the way to Ramstein AB ('cept it's closed now, isn't it?), or just about anywhere. I just hope they do their job well and get home in one piece (each, of course ).

[imitchellg5]

Oh yes Ramstein is closed. So maybe whatever the replacement was, I can't remember the name right now.

[@pplejaxkz]

Originally Posted by richwig83 

Get any pics??

That'd be cool if there was some pics. That is weird though.

[design219]

This is the beginning.

Stand by.

[Doofy]

I'm sorry but all this talk about Ramstein legally compels me to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w9EksAo5hY

[shabbasuraj]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I'm sorry but all this talk about Ramstein legally compels me to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w9EksAo5hY

LOL wth?

[Thorzdad]

B2's are pretty cool to see flying so close-up. I suspect that they've been re-deployed to cover contingencies during the Russia/Georgia dust-up. The military does stuff like that all the time.

My B2 story...
Several years ago at the Indy 500. It was one of those horrid, rainy race days. Clouds thick and low. But, management carried-on with the opening festivities. This was to include a B2 fly-by, but the weather was so bad (cold, drizzle, low clouds) no one thought they'd do it.
At the time of the fly-by, everyone was looking for it. Then, this big gray craft just dropped down from the low gray clouds, probably about as low as your fly-by. The effect was like an alien spaceship. It was so eerie and cool, given the weather. And the thing was pretty darn silent until it got right overhead.
They flew the length of the front stretch of the Speedway, then banked slightly and disappeared back up into the thick clouds.
It was very cool to see.

[osiris]

OT, but somewhat related: I woke up this morning with an old Lockheed in front of my home:


It's part of Night At The Museum II.

[imitchellg5]

That's Will Rogers Lockheed. Pretty awesome. Except his real one is crashed up by Barrow, Alaska.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

That's Will Rogers Lockheed. Pretty awesome. Except his real one is crashed up by Barrow, Alaska.

Thanks for clarifying.

[Doofy]

Originally Posted by osiris 

OT, but somewhat related: I woke up this morning with an old Lockheed in front of my home:

You live on a park bench?

[osiris]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

You live on a park bench?

lol no, but one of those large concrete & glass structures called 'buildings'.

[design219]

They're making a sequel?

[osiris]

Originally Posted by design219 

They're making a sequel?

Yes - production started a few months ago, due to be finished May/June 2009.
I know, I know - another sequel.

[ghporter]

Originally Posted by Doofy 

I'm sorry but all this talk about Ramstein legally compels me to post this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w9EksAo5hY

Originally Posted by shabbasuraj 

LOL wth?

Rammstein is a very well regarded "industrial metal" group, with some pretty amazing music and vocals. "Amerika" is pretty disturbing to listen to at some points, but more because it's a great reflection of how a lot of people see the U. S. from the outside. Till Lindeman, the lead singer, can sound like he's gargled gravel and bourbon 8 hours a day, but he's clear and crisp with his delivery.

Music class dismissed.

Back on topic, I got to see a purposeful flyby by a B1 a few years ago. I just happened to be near the Air Force basic training parade ground during their graduation ceremony, and the Lancer flew low and slow over the length of the field, then pulled up, folded back the wings, and zoomed away. Pretty awesome. Of course when I went through basic, graduation was "here's your bleepin' orders, get your nasty expletive away from my deleted squadron and get on that fracking bus!!@!@!" But times have changed, and mom, dad, sister, cousins, the dog, everybody comes and watches the Airmen parade. Then they get to go to the BX! YOW! What fun!

[imitchellg5]

Originally Posted by osiris 

Thanks for clarifying.

NP. I lived for about a year in Barrow, Alaska. Will Rogers was something of a local celebrity. It was really wierd.

[osiris]

Originally Posted by imitchellg5 

NP. I lived for about a year in Barrow, Alaska. Will Rogers was something of a local celebrity. It was really wierd.

WIll Rogers was a little more than a local celebrity - he was huge in his day!
Lots of Broadway and film work. More importantly, he was a man of great wisdom.

[imitchellg5]

For sure, but still to this day he is a celebrity there. I guess it probably helped put Barrow on pop culture's map.

[Andrew Stephens]

solvinated

http://www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/n..._RAF_Fairford/

Two bombers popped over from Whiteman Airbase in Missouri to drop 2,000lbs of inert ordinance on a range in the UK.

The bombers dropped in on Fairford where local plane enthusiasts were shown around them.

So stand down from ww3 alert nners

[ghporter]

On the other hand, doesn't this demonstrate how quickly and easily these aircraft can "show up?"