SkyWatch Friday :: Stealth
I have permission to publish these photos.
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Andrew has been manning the boom of a KC-135 Stratotanker cruising around the South Pacific fulfilling its role of filling-station-in-the-sky.
Recently the day's sortie involved refueling the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, a/k/a the Stealth Bomber.
Darling son told me he nearly hyperventilated when he saw the B-2 coming towards the rear of the KC-135, where he waited to complete the transaction.
A bit closer. Click for an extra thrill.
As is true of most Americans, military aviation holds a keen fascination for Senior Airman Andrew, TANG, USAF, newly-minted Boom Operator.
None of the tradition, the patriotism, the exceptionalism, the sheer romance of his difficult but rewarding job, is lost on him.
Every such emotion was heightened when the mysterious, esoteric, faintly spooky Stealth was thirty feet from his nose, both aircraft hurtling through the air at approximately six hundred miles per hour.
But he had a job to do, and he did it. Expertly, I might add.
Photos courtesy of the boomer, who conveyed them to his anxious Blue Star mother via text.
And that is all for now.
God Bless America
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Happy Friday ~ Happy Weekend ~ Happy Skywatching
Reader Comments (13)
Wow...what amazing pics! (And refuling mid-air, with anything, is in itself amazing...I thought that was only done in emergency situations).
God Bless America indeed!
Oh my goodness! Wow. I'm at a loss for words.
So close, yet so far away. Thankful the job
was completed safely.
xoxo
Imagine seeing that stealth plane came at ya... wow! Your son is a lucky guy!
I think I may appreciate these photos even more than the average American, having heard Bob and Andrew discuss the Stealth Bomber with awe, checking it out at flight museums, watching shows on it many times.... My men love this stuff! I'll be showing these pictures to Bob tonight and I can tell you that he will be mightily impressed.
Tell your Andrew thanks for his expert service!
Wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW! That is too cool for words - except WOW!
I'm back... As expected, Bob was duly impressed. He was impressed with the B2, but even more impressed that Andrew has that job. "That's pretty impressive - that's a major job that has to be done just right" says he. So be proud, Blue Star Mother! (I know you are) :)
Amazing photos!
Cool.
Not enough "Wows" to express how gorgeous these pics are. So happy that Andrew appreciates and loves what he's doing in a dream job. And I love how he shares with you so you can share with us. Good on both of you!
G.
Amazing photos that very few get to see! Very glad you shared them, our thanks to Andrew, and hope to see more (although taking photos and refueling the Stealth Bomber at the same time may be a little challenging!!).
Rare and awesome photos. Camera-able is strong in your family ;-)
These are really remarkable photographs. Thanks for posting these.