B-52s and B-1 bombers launch for a strike mission as a U-2 spy plane flies overhead

[mahatmakanejeeves]

The planespotters at Fairford got some nice weather.

I didn't know U-2s were still in service. Man, they're getting old.

B52s and B1 bombers launch for a strike mission as a U2 spy plane flies overhead

CobraEmergency
2.4K Likes
87,431 Views
Mar 21 2026

Royal Air Force Station Fairford (RAF Fairford)
Watch four heavily armed B-52 and B-1 strategic bombers launch from England for the Middle East, as a U-2 spy plane conducts circuit training. This is RAF Fairford at its busiest during major US military Operation Epic Fury.

See a playlist of American bomber deployments to Europe here: • American bombers in Europe

RAF Fairford is a bomber airfield operated by the US Air Force in Europe. It is owned by the UK government but leased to the US government for their operations. Permission was given for the base to be used by a forward deployment of bombers on Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East. As of this video, there are at least 18 bombers on the ground.

The B-52 Stratofortresses ('BUFF') shown in this video are from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base (AFB) in North Dakota. While the Rockwell B-1B Lancers ('BONE') featured are operated by the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth AFB in South Dakota, and the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB in Texas. The U-2 Dragon Lady is operated by the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale AFB, California, with a permanent detachment of the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron at RAF Fairford.

The B-52A Stratofortress was first produced in 1952, while the U-2A Dragon Lady followed in 1956. Both types are still flying in 2026, 70 years later, with the latest variants being the B-52H and U-2S. The U2 was set to be retired by 2026 but this may have now changed as BAE Systems have been tasked with upgrading the reconnaissance platform. The B-52 is being fitted with new Rolls Royce engines, and is set to still be in service by the 2050s.

Recorded: 2026
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CobraEmergency
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[bucolic_frolic]

1. Looks like a week of hot war ahead

Not a surprise.

[Martin68]

2. I didn't know we were still using U-2s. Looked it up on wikipedia and spent a few hours learning about the U-2

and the SR-71 Blackbird. Interesting stuff. The Blackbird was an amazing aircraft, capable of flying at MACH 3.3 and an altitude of 80,000 feet. It was so fast that when missiles were launched to shoot it down it would accelerate and outrun them. The fuselage heated to 500 degrees during supersonic flight. It operated most efficiently at very high altitude and very cold temperatures.