TWO of the most expensive aircraft in the world paid a flying visit to RAF Fairford this week.
The B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers, which cost $1billion each dropped in as part of a world-wide demonstration of the US Air Force bombers’ strike capability.
The aircraft travelled 16 hours non-stop from the Whiteman airbase in Missouri and reached RAF Fairford just after midnight on Tuesday.
A handful of fortunate aviation fans from Cirencester and Fairford Aviation Groups were allowed to look around one of the aircraft while it sat in one of the climate-controlled hangars at the base.
The next day the bombers dropped 2,000 pounds of inert weapons at the Wainfleet bombing range in Lincolnshire.
Major Craig Mockler, who coordinated the mission, said: "It’s a demonstration that we can reach out and strike a long-range base outside the continental United States.
"Procedurally, it’s still the same as combat so when we go to combat there’s really nothing different.
"It’s also building on that relationship we’ve had with the British since World War I."
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