Turkey sandwich, sunflower seeds: Strict diet B-2 bomber pilots undergo before missions

B-2 bomber pilots go through rigorous preparation for weeks ahead of embarking on a mission and a majority of this training includes sleep studies, retired Lt. Gen. Steve Basham told Reuters. Bhasham flew the B-2 for nine years and retired in 2024 as deputy commander of the US European Command.

Basham explained that pilots are trained to be cognizant of foods which speed up their digestion, which slow it, which keep them awake, which make them fall asleep. Because there is a single chemical toilet in the aircraft and they need to take rest as well, during the 36-hour flight.

For Basham, his go-to meal during the training was turkey sandwiches on wheat bread with no cheese, as bland is what they are eyeing here.

B-2 bombers can fly 6,000 nautical miles without refueling but most missions require multiple mid-air refuelings and the process is cumbersome.

Pilots can't see refueling, they rely on visual cues

The Reuters report described the refueling process as 'blind' as pilots can't see the boom extending from a tanker full of gas attaching to the B-2 16 feet behind their heads. They have to rely on visual cues from the tanker's lights and memorized reference points. On moonless flights, it's an inherently dangerous task, Basham said.

The process is more tiring when fatigue kicks in. "Adrenaline kept you going before you went into country," Basham said. "The adrenaline goes away. You try to get a little bit of rest and you still got that one last refueling."

B-2 is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave and a small area behind the seats where pilots can lie down in a cot. Sunflower seeds are another food the pilots rely on to stay awake between meals.

B-2's shape makes it stealthy but its success largely depends on human performance, as it carries only two persons instead of larger teams that older bombers like the B-1B and B-52 required.