Post by dave on May 17, 2023 21:23:45 GMT
hi,
a artical from the Birmingham Mail...
US heavy bomber warplanes are expected to return to Midland skies within weeks including the iconic supersonic B-1B used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Activity from American Forces has been ramping up at RAF Fairford in recent weeks, raising hopes for plane spotters.
The US Air Force sent a huge C-5 Galaxy transporter plane from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas to the British RAF base, south of Worcestershire, last week. Although American military never announce where bomber deployments will be, speculation from experts is mounting that the noisy B-1B Lancer warplane could arrive within days at Fairford, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Last year, B-52 bombers were deployed to the Gloucestershire RAF base prompting many sightings around Worcestershire, Shropshire and on the edge of Birmingham in Warwickshire as they headed out on missions in Europe.
The noise of the B-52s will pale into comparison against the B-1B Lancer, with jet engines that reach between 127 and 140 decibels on take-off. Scenes are reminiscent to those seen in Top Gun movies, that focus on America's Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor programme.
It has been 18 months since a B-1B plane was last seen at RAF Fairford, back in October 2021. Back then, it was doing a series of training drills with NATO allies and attracted around 100 eager fans to watch it in action.
June is expected to be busy as that is when Germany hosts a huge airborne training drill that includes hundreds of US planes, an insider said. They added that the B-1B is likely to be at Fairford throughout June while the exercise is taking place.The B-1B Lancer, nicknamed the "bone", has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan for its supersonic conventional long-range warplane and precision bombing capabilities.
Used by the US Air Force since 1985, it was originally intended to be a nuclear bomber but changed its focus in the 1990s.
With the bomber now pushing on for 40 years since it came into use, it is set to be phased out in coming years and replaced by the new B-21 over the next decade.
regards,
dave...
a artical from the Birmingham Mail...
US heavy bomber warplanes are expected to return to Midland skies within weeks including the iconic supersonic B-1B used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Activity from American Forces has been ramping up at RAF Fairford in recent weeks, raising hopes for plane spotters.
The US Air Force sent a huge C-5 Galaxy transporter plane from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas to the British RAF base, south of Worcestershire, last week. Although American military never announce where bomber deployments will be, speculation from experts is mounting that the noisy B-1B Lancer warplane could arrive within days at Fairford, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Last year, B-52 bombers were deployed to the Gloucestershire RAF base prompting many sightings around Worcestershire, Shropshire and on the edge of Birmingham in Warwickshire as they headed out on missions in Europe.
The noise of the B-52s will pale into comparison against the B-1B Lancer, with jet engines that reach between 127 and 140 decibels on take-off. Scenes are reminiscent to those seen in Top Gun movies, that focus on America's Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor programme.
It has been 18 months since a B-1B plane was last seen at RAF Fairford, back in October 2021. Back then, it was doing a series of training drills with NATO allies and attracted around 100 eager fans to watch it in action.
June is expected to be busy as that is when Germany hosts a huge airborne training drill that includes hundreds of US planes, an insider said. They added that the B-1B is likely to be at Fairford throughout June while the exercise is taking place.The B-1B Lancer, nicknamed the "bone", has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan for its supersonic conventional long-range warplane and precision bombing capabilities.
Used by the US Air Force since 1985, it was originally intended to be a nuclear bomber but changed its focus in the 1990s.
With the bomber now pushing on for 40 years since it came into use, it is set to be phased out in coming years and replaced by the new B-21 over the next decade.
regards,
dave...
