Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

American bombers to visit Australia

BY: Mark Dodd, The Australian
03/20/2007


TWO giant US B-52 bombers will be targeting the Top End this week, unloading on the Delamere Range as part of a joint Australian-US military training program.

Capable of carrying 31,500kg of weapons, the aircraft, based in Guam, will visit as part of the Australia-US Strategic Bomber Training Program agreed in 2005.

Delamare Range, used extensively by the Australian army and air force for training, lies 150km southwest of Darwin.

Hopes are high the B-52s will bomb with more precision than a US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet whose pilot nearly destroyed the range's control building during an August 2005 exercise.

Nobody was hurt in the mishap, investigated by the Australian Defence Force, although it triggered an expression of concern about future US-Australian joint training by the Mayor of nearby Katherine.

The B-52s will be supported by a US air-to-air refuelling aircraft temporarily operating out of RAAF Darwin.

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute's Mark Thompson said the bomber training program offered valuable “forward observer” experience for ADF ground personnel.

“One of the things they (ADF) will be doing is learning how to communicate with the (US) aircraft,” he said.

Experience gained from the bomber training program will assist the ADF to meet new threats including those posed by “international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction,” said Defence Minister Dr Brendan Nelson, when he announced the training initiative last July.

The visit will be the second time the Cold War era strategic bombers have visited the Top End since the agreement was signed.

A third B-52 will perform “fly-overs” at the Avalon Air Show between March 23-25.

Screw it, send in the Swiss!!!

If I remember correctly we had a visit (bombing run) from a couple of B2s last year flying in from the pacific.... A pity they didn't do the airshow bit. It didn't even land...