Operation Epic Fury Training and Crew Currency
Training Flights Replace Combat Ops at RAF Fairford
RAF Fairford | April 2026
Following weeks of intense operational activity during Operation Epic Fury, RAF Fairford entered a noticeably quieter phase as the ceasefire took hold. The constant stream of combat launches slowed almost overnight, and for nearly a week the ramp remained unusually calm, with only limited movement around the base.
As the nervous ceasefire continued, the bomber crews at RAF Fairford returned to the skies with regular training and currency missions usually lasting between eight and nine hours. Many of these sorties followed a familiar route, refuelling over Cornwall with tankers operating from RAF Mildenhall before continuing south toward the Mediterranean, tracing the opening stages of the same route that combat missions had taken toward Iran only days earlier.
Most flying days saw between two and six aircraft launching, often spread throughout the morning and afternoon. B-1 Lancers once again became a familiar sight taxiing toward Runway 09, although the atmosphere was very different compared to the opening stages of the operation. Gone were the heavily loaded departures and visible weapons configurations. In their place came routine crew training flights, proficiency sorties and continuation training designed to keep both aircrew and ground crews current during the stand-down in combat operations.
Even without the pressure of active missions, departures still drew attention from locals and aviation enthusiasts alike. The unmistakable howl of the engines rolling down the runway echoed across the countryside, while afterburner departures continued to shake windows and rattle homes in nearby villages. For many watching from the fence line, it served as a reminder that even routine bomber operations carry an extraordinary level of power and presence.
Support traffic also remained active throughout the ceasefire period. Tankers, transport aircraft and logistics flights continued to move through Fairford and other European bases, sustaining the deployed force while maintaining readiness should the situation deteriorate again. Bomber Task Force deployments from RAF Fairford regularly integrate with aerial refuelling assets and coalition partners across Europe and the Mediterranean as part of wider readiness operations.
Although combat sorties had paused, RAF Fairford remained very much operational. The return of currency and training flights demonstrated how quickly strategic bomber forces transition from wartime operations back into sustained readiness, ensuring crews remain prepared for whatever comes next.
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