Alerts Sign-up
The interiors of the United States Air Force's B-2 Spirit bombers provide a minimal yet essential setup for long-duration flights. Inside these stealth bombers, pilots seek rest on a fold-down cot positioned next to the weapons-release switch. Captain Chris "Thunder" Beck, with experience piloting both the B-2 and the B-52, noted, "After you do a few long-duration flights, anything under twenty hours doesn’t seem like a big deal."
Each B-2A is equipped with a microwave and a small chemical toilet within its limited space, emphasizing the importance of crew comfort over prolonged missions. These amenities ensure the crew can maintain endurance during extended flights, such as those from Missouri to Libya and back, lasting up to 40 hours.
Mel Deaile recounted a mission following the September 11, 2001 attacks, beginning from Whiteman Air Force Base, engaging in multiple refuelings, and targeting runs across Afghanistan. During these missions, the crew's ability to alternate rest periods on the modified "cot" is crucial. Deaile recalled, "After spending about 25 hours en route, the strike window was only two hours over enemy territory."
