Capt. Andi McElvaine from Minot AFB, N.D., was among 83 other graduates of the Air Force Weapons School earlier this month at Nellis AFB, Nev. McElvaine, who graduated at the top of her class, mades history as the first female B-52 bomber pilot. According to the Nellis Bullseye, only 23 percent of the Air Force’s BUFF pilots get to wear a weapons school patch.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
