Show-Me State Times

U.S. Air Force personnel from the 110th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron successfully executed a hot pit event with the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber on August 21, 2024, during a Bomber Task Force mission. This operation involved landing, refueling, and taking off without shutting down the aircraft's engines.

"If we lose a tanker or don’t get a tanker for aerial refueling, a hot pit enables us to move our jet from location to location, refuel and complete the mission," explained the deputy commander of the 110th EBS and B-2 pilot.

During this procedure, pilots conducted an engine-running crew change while ground staff connected the bomber to a refueling tank. After refueling, the aircraft took off again. The process has been streamlined over time within the wing.

"In the past, our hot pit crews have been a large group, with a big footprint, going out and setting up," said the deputy commander. "With more iterations of this process, we’ve been making it leaner under the Agile Combat Employment concept, where we can land a jet with the minimum number of people, turn the jet, and then get it airborne."

Hot pits are conducted globally to ensure aircrew and support personnel maintain readiness and proficiency. This particular event was part of a broader BTF deployment from Royal Australian Air Force Base Amberley in Australia.

Bomber missions aim to enhance joint force lethality and deter aggression in regions like Indo-Pacific by showcasing U.S. Air Force capabilities worldwide.

The 110th EBS includes members from both Whiteman Air Force Base's 509th Bomb Wing and 131st Bomb Wing in Missouri as well as support from Pacific Air Forces personnel.