|
Post by pat perry on Aug 29, 2011 11:01:46 GMT 9
The return of B-2 0332 this the B-2 that crashed and burned in Guam it was rebuilt and flown back to the states and is expected to rejoin the fleet. www.wpafb.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123269146Nice save on a $2.2B aircraft Pat P Attachments:
|
|
|
Post by Gene on Aug 29, 2011 11:04:30 GMT 9
we need every cent these days...
|
|
|
Post by Mark O on Aug 29, 2011 12:47:27 GMT 9
They must have kept this incident a secret because this is not the well-publicized B-2 crash that happened on Guam back in 2008. That was "Spirit of Kansas", 89-0127. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andersen_Air_Force_Base_B-2_accidentThis was "Spirit of Washington", 88-0332. I can't find anything on the fire they speak of in the article. Never mind, I found it. www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/03/gns_b2_fire_andersen_030110/I just wasn't using the right search terms. Whoo! My first thought it was from the big crash, but after seeing the video, and photos of 127's remains, I thought, "No way!" Still, very nice they saved this one.
|
|
|
Post by adart on Aug 30, 2011 4:08:27 GMT 9
Great news about saving her.. :2thumbsup
|
|
MOW
Administrator
Owner/Operator
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,821
Location:
Joined: September 2003
Retired: USAF, Civil Service
|
Post by MOW on Aug 30, 2011 20:51:28 GMT 9
Sweet! This is a great save :salute
|
|
Jim Scanlon (deceased)
Senior Staff
FORUM CHAPLAIN
Commander South Texas outpost of the County Sligo Squadron
Currently: Offline
Posts: 5,075
Location:
Joined: July 2007
Retired: USAF NBA: Spurs NFL: Niners MLB: Giants NHL: Penguins
|
Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Sept 2, 2011 1:29:00 GMT 9
This is from DOD Buzz;
Interesting information about the returned B-2.
Jim Too
:god_bless_usa
Home » Air » The Air Force’s B-2 deception
The Air Force’s B-2 deception
By Philip Ewing Monday, August 29th, 2011 12:59 pm Posted in Air An Air Force B-2 Spirit sat idle on Guam for more than a year after an engine fire that officials first characterized as ‘minor,’ then revealed last week was so ‘horrific’ it will sideline the bomber for two more years. The story shows commanders’ sensitivities about tipping their hand too much about their strategic posture in the Western Pacific, but it also raises questions about just how ready the B-2 fleet actually is. An Air Force official story last week described how the fire aboard the B-2 ‘Spirit of Washington’ was so destructive that the bird required extensive repairs and components normally installed during depot-level maintenance. And 18 months of work didn’t put it back on duty: It only got the B-2 to the point that it could limp from Guam to Palmdale, Calif., where it landed Aug. 16 for two years’ more work before it can rejoin the fleet. The Air Force’s story treated the airmen and Northrop Grumman engineers who brought the B-2 home as heroes, but still made it sound like a dicey proposition:
Once the aircraft was ready to again take the skies, the entire team outlined a comprehensive plan to fly the aircraft home. They established very strict controls on weight, altitude, and speed to lessen stress on the airframe. In-flight refueling was used to prevent ever having to take on the weight of a full load of fuel and a support aircraft followed along to assist the flight crew with avoiding turbulent weather and coordinate with air traffic control.
“The 141st Air Refueling Wing (ANG) deployed to Guam from Fairchild, Washington, and provided KC-135s for refueling and to serve as a support plane,” Colonel Williams said. “That allowed us to put a team of Northrop engineers in the support plane where they could monitor the aircraft’s performance and offer technical advice to deal with any issues.” Fortunately for all, this “wounded warrior” took to the skies like the proverbial phoenix traveling the entire distance without incident and landing in Palmdale more than a month ahead of schedule. It now starts a 24 month [Programmed Depot Maintenance] process that will completely return this veteran to operational duty for the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman AFB, Mo. So — for more than a year, the Air Force was without one of its 20 B-2s, even though it physically remained ‘forward’ at the base from which it’s supposed to be ready for tasking. And although the service did announce the Spirit of Washington’s engine fire when it happened, it never made clear that the ‘minor’ mishap had put the bomber out of service. Not surprising, given how secret the B-2s are and the strategic sensitivities in the Western Pacific, but it makes you wonder: Air Force Global Strike Command is supposed to be improving its ‘culture’ and getting serious about its strategic mission. What else should we know that its cloak of secrecy enables it not to tell? h/t: The Diplomat
|
|
|
Post by jimpadgett on Sept 2, 2011 22:20:57 GMT 9
Wonder if the secrecy had it standing alert in Guam while the repairs took place?
|
|