Extreme Flying: Enduring the 37-Hour B-2 Bombing Mission Over Iran
Flight endurance tactics of B-2 pilots, including frequent urination, use of makeshift urine collection bags, and amphetamine consumption, during 37-hour missions.
Halfway around the world, without a single pause for refueling, seven B-2 stealth bombers flew from the U.S. to Iran and back again, creating a new chapter in modern military history's book of longest aerial raids.
Crammed into their cockpits, two pilots each faced an epic 37-hour journey. While the mission's strategic implications are undeniable, understanding the human element is equally crucial. Melvin Deaile, a retired colonel and now a professor at the U.S. Air Force's Air Command and Staff College, possesses a unique perspective, having experienced similar missions himself.
During a 2001 operation in Afghanistan, Deaile flew for 44 hours. His trial-by-fire offered insights into the methods these endurance pilots employ to conquer the skies for hours on end. One such approach is taking short naps, seizing moments of relative calm to rest a weary body and mind. Yet, achieving this much-needed rest proves challenging.
"You've got the fear factor," Deaile admits, "but eventually, your body needs some rest."
Of course, staying awake is equally necessary. Pilots resort to chemical support in the form of "go pills"—medication akin to amphetamines and sanctioned by military doctors to counteract fatigue during marathon missions. While times may have changed within the Air Force, Deaile notes, these strategies have long been part of the bomber pilots' toolkit.
The B-2 is no ordinary aircraft; it's one of the most costly and sophisticated in active use. However, its bathroom situation presents complications. Featuring a small chemical toilet, aviators reluctantly use it for "emergency cases" to prevent overusage. And given the close quarters between the bathroom and pilots' seats, privacy is scarcely guaranteed. "Who looks away?" Deaile muses.
Dehydration is another concern at high altitudes and within pressurized cockpits. To counteract this, pilots drink as much as a liter of water an hour and use "piddle packs," bags designed for urination and filled with cat-litter material. Food is available on board, but the cramped conditions and prolonged sitting deter many from feasting.
As for the pilots who participated in the Iran strike, they certainly experienced a surreal moment in their careers. A mission shrouded in secrecy, known to only a handful, and involving the deployment of an unprecedented 15-ton anti-bunker bomb, never before utilized in warfare, undoubtedly left an indelible mark.
After a grueling 37-hour journey, the average amount of rest for the B-2 bomber pilots is achieved through short naps, a method employed by pilots to combat fatigue. Despite the use of chemical support like "go pills," staying awake and alert is equally essential.
