With its stealth technology, it greatly enhanced the third leg of Americas nuclear triad.
That presented a few problems for the production team.
As if that didnt make it difficult enough, the plane couldnt fly there.
An Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling during a training exercise over England, Aug. 29, 2019. Image: Staff Sgt.Jordan Castelan/U.S.A.F.
In fact, however, the Nazis and the Americans alike experimented with such aircraft.
The concept proved to be way ahead of its time, however.
Yet, just seven years later, the first B-2 was officially unveiled to the world.
A Horten H.IX V1, a prototype of the Ho 229, prepares for a test flight In February, 1945. Image: NARA
Carter knew the Spirit was being developed.
The end of the Cold War was, of course, the mitigating factor.
That included Boeing Military Airplanes, Hughes Radar Systems, General Electric Aircraft Engine, and Vought Aircraft.
A working prop of the German Flying Wing from the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular based on Raiders of the Lost Ark. Image: Richard Johnson
It required a quadruplex-redundant digital fly-by-wire system.
Even today, many aspects of the aircrafts low-observability process remain classified.
The engine intakes also feature S-shaped curves.
The Northrop XB-35 experimental heavy bomber during a May 1948 test flight. In the background is a P-61 Black Widow night fighter. Image: NARA
That required the two-person crew to spend upwards of 20 hours in the cockpit.
In total, the B-2s delivered more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions.
The entire fleet was grounded as the incident was investigated.
This YB-49 experimental bomber takes off for a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base. Image: DoD
It remains the only B-2 Spirit lost to date, but it cost the Air Force $1.4 billion.
Retirement Coming…
However, the B-21 is still a significant leap forward in the evolutionary sense.
A US Air Force B-1 Lancer flown by the 116th Bomb Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Image: CMSgt.Betsy Winn/U.S.A.F.
It is a smaller and lighter aircraft, and its systems are more advanced.
The B-21 will have a longer range, but it will also be stealthier.
Its networking technology from satellites is vastly improved, while its computing power has been greatly advanced as well.
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber seen from above as it flies over the desert near Cairo, Egypt during BRIGHT STAR ’83. Image: NARA
There are other notable improvements as well.
For instance, the B-21 does not incorporate the B-2s saw-tooth trailing edge.
It may be the last bomber, at least in the manned sense, said Curran.
Personnel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, prep an Air Force B-2 bomber for a training mission on Jan. 17, 2019. Image: Amn.Thomas Barley/U.S.A.F.
If there is another bomber it could be unmanned.
But it might still look a bit like the B-2 or B-21.
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber prepares to take off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri on April 4, 2022. Image: DoD
View of a silhouetted Northrop-built B-2 bomber flying a training sortie at sunset on January 6, 1997. Image: NARA
An Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber flies over Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on May 14, 2016. Image: Tech. Sgt.Matt Hecht/N.J.A.N.G.
A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber races down the flight line during takeoff at Whiteman Air Force Base. Image: Senior AirmanJoel Pfiester/U.S.A.F.
A1C Christopher Rucker marshals a B-2 Spirit returning to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii following a routine training mission. Image: Staff Sgt.Danielle Quilla/U.S.A.F.
A front view of the B-2 advanced technology bomber at its rollout Air Force Plant 42 on November 22, 1988. Image: NARA
Three B-2 Spirit bombers taxi on the flight line as part of the Bomber Task Force Europe deployment to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland. Image: Master Sgt.John Hillier/U.S.A.F.
A B-2 Spirit bomber staged on the flight line at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. Image: Senior AirmanThomas Barley/U.S.A.F.
A next-generation bomber, the B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony Dec. 2, 2022 in Palmdale, Calif. Image: U.S.A.F.
The B-21 program is designed to deliver flexible strike options for the defense of the United States. Image: U.S.A.F.
Designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment, the B-21 is expected to play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability. Image: U.S.A.F.
