A heat signature is a dead giveaway that a plane is in the sky, and the B-2's designers went to lengths to obfuscate it, even using the same kind of heat-absorbing tiles that protected the Space Shuttle during re-entry, placed near the engine exhaust.
An on-board system alerts the crew if the plane is creating contrails -- the vapor trails that form when ice crystals coalesce around aircraft exhaust gases -- allowing them to change altitude.
Finally, the B-2 is very quiet, and can only be heard once it's passed overhead. Never-before-seen video of B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. These features, known collectively as low observable technology, are not always in operation, but are activated when the plane needs to become invisible.
Among other things, pilots must press a button in the cockpit marked "PEN," to penetrate enemy defenses. They won't tell you the whole procedure, but it's true -- they do stealth up when they come near the target area," said Grant.
Project Habbakuk: Britain's secret attempt to build an ice warship. Two days in the air. B-2 missions have lasted as long as 44 continuous hours -- such as one flown in from Missouri to Afghanistan during operation Enduring Freedom -- which is why there is a flat space behind the cockpit where one of the two pilots can rest, along with facilities to store and heat food, as well as a toilet.
While no B-2 has ever been lost in combat -- the plane doesn't even have defensive weapons -- one was destroyed in an accident in , when it crashed shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base on Guam the pilots ejected safely. Another B-2 was severely damaged in a fire in and sustained extensive repairs before coming back into service. All B-2s are named after a US state except two, "Spirit of America" and "Spirit of Kitty Hawk" and are among the most high-maintenance planes in existence, and tens of hours of servicing are needed for each hour of flight.
The delicate skin of the plane, which provides additional stealth, must be stored at cool temperature, requiring air-conditioned hangars that contribute to the high operating costs. The 21 B-2s that were built also had to bear all the costs associated with the program's research and development, which would have been more evenly spread over a larger number of aircraft.
The next generation. Because of the small fleet and its classified technologies, the B-2 is a coveted plane to fly, and only a few stathundred pilots have ever boarded one. When you fly, you're right up on the front edge, so the perspective is very different and it takes some real skill to refuel and to land.
The B-2 completed its first-ever combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying 22 sorties from a forward operating location as well as 27 sorties from Whiteman AFB and releasing more than 1. The aircraft received full operational capability status in December On Feb. The prime contractor, responsible for overall system design and integration, is Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Sector. Boeing Military Airplanes Co. Skip to main content Press Enter.
ACJ Ghostrider. CV Osprey. C Hercules. Major Commands. Air Force Special Operations Command. Air Force Global Strike Command. Air Combat Command. Air Force Materiel Command. Air Education and Training Command. Air Mobility Command. Sniper Pod. Its stealth capabilities were virtually unmatched. The B-2 can carry sixteen 2,pound B83 nuclear bombs, but its official limit of 40, pounds of ordinance means it can carry a massive amount of precision-guided munitions.
The B-2 has a max range of 6, miles on a single tank, but aerial refueling can keep the bomber up indefinitely. On one bombing mission, two B-2s flew a hour round-trip mission from Missouri to Libya, and were refueled in the air 15 times. Each of the current 20 B-2s in service are named after a states. The B-2 is a flying wing aircraft, so it has no fuselage or tail. This means it has low drag, high structural efficiency, and generates more lift than other fixed-wing aircraft.
The B-2's max speed is Mach 0. Because of its capabilities, B-2s have been deployed to Guam to keep an eye on North Korea. They are also extremely important for keeping top rivals like China and Russia in check. At home, the B-2 is often seen in flyovers during sports events. The Air Force plans to retire the B-2 in the early s. Check it out in action.
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