quote:Originally posted by willd
quote:Originally posted by HighFlyer
Wow! The B2 Stealth is my favorite aircraft ever, I have always wanted to see one for real.
IIRC at the start of either Afghanistan or Iraq war- the US had Stealths and B52s based at Fairford. Was not uncommon to see these beasts flying over South Oxfordshire leaving/returning from Fairford.
In fact isn't Fairford one of the few places outside the US that has specially designed hangers (temperature controlled) for the Stealth and is also a designated Space Shuttle landing field (I beleive with a team of NASA specialists based there when the Shuttle is in orbit).
B52s definately go to Fairford, B2s have stopped off to test the facilities as Willd is correct in that it has special hangers but B2s tend fly missions direct from AFB Whiteman refueling on the way. Fairford is still designated as a Space Shuttle emergency landing site.