
They slept on the plane.
Seriously.
Did you know the best addition to the B-2 Spirit after introduction was…a lawn chair? Specifically, the lounger version.
Crew rest was a problem but there isn’t a lot of space in the cockpit. Early B-2 crews were supposed to sleep on basically a camping mat in the area behind the seats where the toilet is. Then an enterprising crew figured out a conventional lawn chair lounger fit neatly in there, was a lot more comfortable and folded up when not in use. Guess what became supplemental equipment on the B-2?
Both crew members were awake, obviously, during critical phases of flight like refueling and combat but each crew member traded off during cruise flight. Cat-napped the entire way there and back. In summer comfort.
