509th BW commander takes first B-2 flight

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephen Linch
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Col. Garrett Harencak, 509th Bomb Wing commander, completed his first B-2 sortie in the Spirit of Texas Nov. 9.

The five and half hour training mission started in Palmdale, Calif., and went over Las Vegas, Nev., Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and the Air Force Academy, Colo., and consisted of an air refueling and two "touch and go" landings before coming to a halt in front of Whiteman Base Operations.

"It is a dream come true for any bomber pilot," Colonel Harencak said. "There are more people who have gone to space than flown the B-2."

The command pilot was very impressed with the B-2 even after flying the B-52 and B-1B.
"The B-2 is Air Power at its purest, most elegant and deadliest form," the colonel said. "(It is) an aircraft that cannot be denied access with its range, payload and stealthiness, it has everything that is required to hold at risk any of America's enemies anywhere, anytime - and we can do it from here."