Crew shows unique capabilities of B-1 Lancer at Berlin Air Show
BERLIN, Germany — An Air Force B-1 Lancer aircrew is participating in the ILA 2010 Berlin International Aerospace Exhibition and Conferences from June 8 to 13 to show off the bomber’s unique capabilities.
The B-1 is one of the aircraft being featured in the Berlin Air Show’s 1,153 exhibits from 47 countries.
“We are excited and happy to be here in Berlin to showcase our aircraft to a foreign country as well as show our aircrew to the public,” said Air Force Maj. John Ferguson, 28th Bomb Squadron flight commander from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. “It is a unique experience.
Carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multi-mission B-1 is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.
“We are showing them some parts of the B-1 and answering some of the questions they may have,” Ferguson said. “They are surprised on how it looks like.”
According to Air Force Maj. Chris Plourde, assistant director of operations, this is a great experience for him as well as his crew because of the people’s love for aviation.
“They’re inquisitive and very excited to see the B-1 because they’ve never seen one before,” Plourde said. “They are just astounded on the size of the aircraft, how maneuverable it is. They are amazed how old it is when we tell them it’s 25 years old and how fast it flies.”
The six-man B-1 team not only acts as tour guides but they are also responsible for everything that the aircraft would need, such as maintenance and planning.
“Without the maintenance crew, we wouldn’t be able to launch this aircraft and keep it flying,” Plourde said. “Without them, this would be just a permanent static display.
Overall, Ferguson said the team work is phenomenal.
“Our teamwork is great,” he said. “We work well together. All the crew are sharp and they’re all professionals.”
Find more articles tagged with:
-
81st FS plays critical role in NATO exercise
The 81st Fighter Squadron is participating in a Ramstein ROVER 2012 Sept. 5-22.Find more articles tagged with:
-
JMTC hosts CE participants for 3rd year
The Joint Multinational Training Command, or JMTC, here, is hosting more than 40 nations and multinational organizations participating in Combined Endeavor for the third year in a row.Find more articles tagged with:
-
ILA 2012 features US military aircraft
More than 300 aircraft from about 50 different nations are on display this week at the Berlin Air Show, commonly know as ILA 2012.Find more articles tagged with:
-
German exchange pilot brings C-17 for the Berlin 2012 Air Show
As the Charleston based C-17 Globemaster III landed in Germany for the 2012 Berlin Air Show, one aircrew member brought with him a different set of experiences.Find more articles tagged with:
-
Soldiers honored for rescuing German counterparts
A U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk pilot and a flight medic received an award during the opening day of the Berlin Air Show, Sept. 11, for their heroic efforts that saved 12 German army soldiers.Find more articles tagged with:
-
AES Airmen test capabilities on new airframe
Airmen from the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron tested their aeromedical evacuation capabilities on a new airframe here Sept. 3.Find more articles tagged with:
-
ISAF and NTMA senior enlisted brief NATO partners
ISAF senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Capel provided an operational update to International Senior Enlisted Symposium attendees at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.Find more articles tagged with:
-
USS Farragut Departs Germany, Arrives in France
The guided-missile destroyer USS Farragut (DDG 99) arrived in La Rochelle, France, for a port visit, Sept. 7.Find more articles tagged with:
-
World’s Largest Communication Exercise Kicks Off
Combined Endeavor 2012, the world’s largest military communications exercise, kicked off Sept. 6 at the Joint Military Training Command on U.S. Army Garrison Grafenwöhr, Germany.Find more articles tagged with:
-
USAF, RAF tankers fly two-ship formation in valuable training sorties
Several aircrews from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Air Force teamed up Aug. 16 - 17 to perform valuable training that may have been the first of its kind.Find more articles tagged with:
Comments: 0