From certain angles, the B-2 still looks like an alien spacecraft.
As detailed in the report Exclusive Interview Led by newly appointed 393rd Bomb Squadron commander Lt. Col. Joseph “Zorro” Manglitz, Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri returns with the air show on July 13 and 14, 2024, after a five-year absence.
In fact, the event features an amazing line-up highlighted by unique aircraft formations, making the 2024 Over Whiteman Air Show an unforgettable event.
During a conversation with Col. Keith Butler, commander of the 509th Bomb Wing, something special emerged and he revealed the surprises that will be in store for the audience. B-2 Spirit bomber,exclusive Whiteman Air Force Basestole the show flying in formation with the historic B-29 Superfortress “Doc” and two T-38 Talon jet trainers.
B-2 pilots at Whiteman AFB must be qualified in both the B-2 and the T-38. As “Zorro” explained to us, the T-38 serves as a companion trainer, which is essential for maintaining their flying skills. Pilots must fly twice a month, and trainers usually fly more frequently.
The T-38 is very different from the B-2 and provides tremendous value by allowing pilots to perform aerobatics, test various instrument approaches, and practice close formation flying. This contrast helps keep pilots proficient in stick and rudder skills, ensuring they are proficient in a variety of flight conditions.
As such, the T-38 aerobatic jet trainers play a vital role in maintaining the proficiency of bomb squadron pilots: they help the 393rd Bomb Squadron Tigers maintain basic flying skills, allowing them to focus on advanced tactics and missions when flying the B-2.
Interestingly, one of the T-38 pilots had a Go-Pro camera mounted in the cockpit and captured some very interesting footage of the B-2 flying in Vic formation with two Talon aircraft.
The video was taken from the left echelon and shows the B-2 doing a low-level visual flyby around Whiteman with the T-38.
The video includes multiple aerial perspectives, capturing footage of the craft against a clear sky and the ground in the background: From certain angles, the Spirit still looks like an alien spacecraft, 36 years after its launch (November 22, 1988) and 35 years after its first flight (July 17, 1989).
T-38 Talon
The T-38 Talon is a twin-engine, high-altitude supersonic jet trainer known for its versatile design, cost-effectiveness, ease of maintenance, high performance, and excellent safety record. It is used primarily by Air Education and Training Command for joint professional undergraduate pilot training, and is also used by Air Combat Command, Air Force Materiel Command, and NASA in various roles.
The T-38 has swept wings, a streamlined fuselage and a tricycle landing gear with a steerable front wheel. It has two hydraulic systems to power the flight controls, with key components located at waist height for easy access. The T-38C has a “glass cockpit” with advanced avionics displays and a head-up display, while the AT-38B is equipped with a gunsight and a practice bomb dropper.
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the founder and editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s best-known and most-read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major global magazines, including Air Force Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime, and cyber warfare. He has reported from the United States, Europe, Australia, and Syria, and has flown several fighter jets in different air forces. He is a former Italian Air Force Second Lieutenant, private pilot, and Computer Engineering graduate. He has written five books and contributed to many more.
