B-21 Raider Will Have TWO Pilots—Air Force Ends the Debate

[00:00:04][music] So, news from the Air Force is the Air Force announces that the B-21 Raider crew complement. They've announced that the B-21, the nation's newest long range strike bomber, will officially operate with a two-pilot crew complement.

[00:00:21]Additionally, the Air Force is establishing a pilot transition program for select weapon systems officers and combat systems officers who will be chosen to attend pilot training with a follow-on assignment to the B-21.

[00:00:32]Eligible officers will be provided with additional information via command channels when available. Following careful analysis of the B21's advanced capabilities, Air Force leadership determined that a two-pilot configuration optimally supports the aircraft's mission profile. To maximize the lethality and survivability of the raider, it is imperative to retain the deep tactical and combat experience currently residing with the Wizo and Sizo communities. This deliberate talent management strategy secures the future of global strike capabilities, ensuring the Air Force remains posture to extend execute the extended duration long-range strike mission highly contested environment. So, I first read this and it was not the official one. it was, you know, like some news aggregate that took this information and then butchered it cuz they were like, you know, scizos will be pilots and and whatever. And then when you read this, you're like, okay, well, this is something that kind of already existed because for as long as I've been around, WizOs have had the ability to transition. Now, does it make it easier and give them a direct line to the B-21? Probably. But what's interesting is that the only communities in the bomber that have this are the sizos in the B1 and the B-52 because the rest are in the Strike Eagle which would not naturally follow to the B-21. They're not bomber pilots or bomber wizos or bomber scissos or whatever. So, it's interesting that they're doing that, but I think it's intended for as they retire B1 because they still don't know really long range plans to give them a a landing spot.

[00:02:03]But, Gonky, I don't know. What do you What's your read on this?

[00:02:08]>> Well, I think it's a good idea to take passenger princesses and make them pilots. Um, I've seen it.

[00:02:16]>> Make them real people.

[00:02:17]>> Make them real people. Correct. Give them legitimacy to be in this hands.

[00:02:22][laughter] Air Force or Navy. Um, >> no, we like navs now, Gon. We just talked about this.

[00:02:28]>> We do. Uh, you know, I had a F-14 Rio in my class going through as a Hornet guy and I mean, there's no denying, man. I mean, I mean, a wealth of knowledge. Now, they're just learning the the monkey skill flying piece piece of it. And I can see, you know, they're talking about retaining the the talent, right? They want to keep that corporate knowledge alive, especially in the bomber. I don't know as far as I've got a couple bomber friends in the Air Force. I don't know a ton about it, but um I think it's a good idea that the B21 obviously is going to have brand new capabilities.

[00:03:06]Uh it's going to replace like Mover said, at least the B1 >> and one of the articles called it sixth gen, which I did not know the B-21 was considered sixth gen. And I still don't even know what sixth gen means because what what is the guts of the sixth gen that makes it one more gen than the fifth >> marketing? I don't know.

[00:03:28]>> Of course, >> but I think it's a good idea, man. Uh I I think you want to keep that keep that skill. I mean, we talk about it all the time on the on the pilot side. It's it's really no different. Uh, and like you said, this program has been going on for I mean since before we were we were in the in the military and >> I mean we flew with a guy that transitioned from Wizo to pilot.

[00:03:52]>> We did. Yeah. Yeah. He's Dude and the thing is is you know we do a lot of Wizo bashing but I mean like I I've worked with I have Wizo friends in in the fighter community [laughter] and they >> Dude, I'm not a racist. I have Wizo friends. [laughter] >> Correct.

[00:04:09]Um, no, but what I'm saying is like, you know, we I joke, but it's like they would always do all the briefs. They'd always produce all the products. They would always do all the planning.

[00:04:21]They know the the book nerd stuff of it.

[00:04:25]I could execute it obviously, but uh I think it's it's >> Hold on. You're pretty book nerdy now.

[00:04:32]>> I am now when it comes >> at least on the Air Force physical fitness.

[00:04:35]>> Physical fitness stuff. Yeah. But I think it's a good idea, man. Especially new airframe, you know, pair up some of those types with uh, you know, your maybe a couple good good B2 pilot types.

[00:04:45]And >> well, those are going to be the guys that pave the pave the way for the new tactics for this airplane, man.

[00:04:51]>> Well, that's what's so interesting about it to me. I think just speculative. I mean, there probably is something written down somewhere. I just don't know about it. I think this indicates that the B2 is going to be around for a lot longer.

[00:05:04]>> Oh, yeah.

[00:05:05]>> Right. Because natural progression, if you were to say, "Hey, we got the B-21.

[00:05:11]It's the successor to the B2. It's going to be two pilot." Well, guess what? We already have a two pilot B2. We need to transition all those people. Now, granted, at least in the air reserve component, sometimes they act like it's the first time they've ever tried to transition anything. And, you know, >> do you tell >> Yeah. I don't know [laughter] where I don't know why I would know that, >> but you know, they would naturally go, "Hey, we got all these B2 pilots. We got to do something with them. Here you go, B21."

[00:05:39]So, to me, this says that's not the fleet that's going away, which means you're going to have B1. But on the other side, we have in general a pilot shortage, not from the the we have a production problem because of the T7, T38, all that nonsense, but we also have a retention problem because of the airlines. So now you're kind of like, okay, we need two pilots because they've determined that HAL is not ready to be, you know, B21 Bravo, you know, the the co-pilot. So they want to make it two pilot for these long missions. And so they're they're going to need more people. And they're like, "Hey, Sizzos, Wizzos, we'll give you a deal. We'll put real wings on you as long as you can uh and we'll make guarantee your follow on to this cool new sixth gen bomber.

[00:06:33]Yeah, I guarantee if it wasn't for the fact that the B21 can probably do some really long range stuff, the crew would be one pilot, one Sizo, but because it's going to have some serious >> Oh, they're going to have to crew rest.

[00:06:46]They're going to have to crew rest between them, >> right? Which is why I think for sure two pilots is the way to go because uh it's going to, like I said, it'll probably take off, fly halfway around the world, do its thing, and come back.

[00:06:59]>> The article I just read did not say this. There must have been another article unless I'm completely Doug, you have that article that I just read. Is it still up? Is that still this?

[00:07:06]>> No, I got it.

[00:07:07]>> Say B1. It didn't say anything about B1 in here.

[00:07:09]>> Nope, I got it up right here.

[00:07:12]>> Yeah.

[00:07:13]>> Yeah. I mean, they might be targeting the B1.

[00:07:16]>> I mean, it makes sense.

[00:07:17]>> It does make sense 100%. and you know, but um I [clears throat] would be willing to bet man if if you have any tactical sizzo exper like even a strike eagle guy that wants to go fly the B21. I mean, he has I mean, think about the weapon the weapon load. Some of it's going to be the same, right? And they're going to want a melting pot of like a think tank, right? With a new >> You think they'll do the same thing for the EX with the Strike Eagle community?

[00:07:48]>> I don't know. Pro maybe.

[00:07:54]I don't know. Another fourth gen jet.

[00:07:55]Maybe not. I don't know, man. That's >> I mean, they're gonna have to do something with those Wizzos, too.

[00:08:03]Yeah. Yeah. I mean >> I mean but then that plane's not going away anytime soon. So >> no, >> you know, I mean they're not looking for >> Well, the question with the Strike Eagle Wiz is are will the EX eventually replace all the all the Strike Eagles, right?

[00:08:23]>> I don't I don't think so. It's [clears throat] a very different mission, >> right? So, if the airplane that you wanting to transition to is >> I just meant pilots like cuz we have a pilot shortage and they're like, "Hey, you go get some real wings. Learn how to fly."

[00:08:40]>> Yeah. Or they can look at us and be like, "You want to fly?" Nope.

[00:08:44]>> I do. Don't stop answering for me. You told Jared Isaacman you didn't want We didn't want to go to space. That is false. Mover wants to go to space. Mover wants to fly a jet again. Mover wants to fly the Apache.

[00:08:56]>> No. No. I literally said we want to fly, but they say no.

[00:09:01]>> Don't say it like that then.

[00:09:02]>> We're the only ones raising our hand, dude. And they're like, "Anyone?"

[00:09:05]>> I know. We were going to talk about the Navy Reserve offering bonuses, and we're like, "We'd do it for free." [laughter] >> Exactly.

[00:09:12]>> You don't even give me a bonus. I've never accepted a bonus in my entire life.

[00:09:16]>> I haven't either because of all the bonuses they've given, I've never gotten a bonus.

[00:09:21]>> I never have either. I don't want the devil's money. [laughter] I like my freedom.

[00:09:27]>> Yeah.

[00:09:28]>> Yeah. I You know though, I tell you what though. I guarantee you. Well, I'd be willing to bet the B-52. You think it'll outlive the B21? [laughter] >> Well, that's what I'm saying. It's like, well, yeah, the B1, they're going to have to get rid of those, but they could just send them to the B-52.

[00:09:41]>> Correct. Correct.

[00:09:42]>> Which >> will not die. Yeah.