Incredible Facts About the B-2 Spirit

B-2-A B-2 Spirit bomber soars Pacific Ocean


Are you ready to unravel the mystery of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber? Get ready to discover 50 incredible facts about this aircraft that has captivated the world with its cutting-edge technology and unparalleled stealth capabilities. From its unique design to its impressive weapons systems, the B-2 is truly a technological wonder. But that’s just the beginning. As you delve deeper into this list, you’ll uncover some of the most fascinating secrets about the B-2 Spirit. From its storied history to its most impressive achievements, there’s so much to learn about this remarkable aircraft. So sit back, relax, and get ready for an unforgettable journey through the world of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.

B-2-A B-2 Spirit stealth bomber takes off over Andersen Air Force Base

50.The B-2 stealth bomber was projected to have a unit cost of $737 million when originally designed in the 1980s. However, when research and development is added on, each aircraft was valued at $2.1 billion per unit. Northrop Grumman’s technological breakthrough is a fascinating aircraft with intimidating capabilities, but it is also the source of tension among taxpayers and Congress. Find out what makes the B-2 Spirit so polarizing with these 50 incredible B-2 Spirit facts.

B-2-A B-2 Spirit bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is silhouetted by a Pacific sunset


B-2-A B-2 Spirit bomber soars Pacific Ocean

49.Northrop originally planned on producing 132 B-2 Spirit’s. However, once the Soviet Union collapsed and there wasn’t a need for large amounts of bombers, that number was drastically reduced to 21 aircraft.

B-2_Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the troops at Whiteman Air Force Base_B-2 in background


B-2-A B-2 Spirit bomber from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., is silhouetted by a Pacific sunset

48.The Spirit was designed with “continuous curvature” in mind. Continuous curvature is a technique where the curved, exposed surfaces are designed to deflect radar.

B-2_U.S. Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing prepare B-2 Spirit stealth bombers for air operations


B-2_Vice President Joe Biden speaks to the troops at Whiteman Air Force Base_B-2 in background

47.The B-2’s radar cross-section is a grand total of 1.1 square feet. That’s about the same size as a pigeon.

B-2_Multiple B-2 Spirits land for aircraft recovery as storm clouds gather


B-2_U.S. Airmen from the 509th Bomb Wing prepare B-2 Spirit stealth bombers for air operations

46.The B-2 costs an estimated $135,000 per hour to operate.

B-2_Maintainers and crew chiefs from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare B-2


B-2_Multiple B-2 Spirits land for aircraft recovery as storm clouds gather

45.The B-2 also has a bed, a toilet and a hot plate for food. The bed is a folding cot placed behind the ejection seat area.

B-2_F-15E Strike Eagles and a B-2 Spirit bomber fly in formation over the base


B-2_Maintainers and crew chiefs from the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare B-2

44. The unique-looking YB-49 “Flying Wing” is a long-off ancestor of the B-2. The YB-49’s stealth design was taken to a different level with the “continuous curvature” of the B-2.

B-2_B-2 makes a pass in front of the crowd at the 2011 Defenders of Liberty Air Show


B-2_F-15E Strike Eagles and a B-2 Spirit bomber fly in formation over the base

43. The B-2 can carry 40,000 pounds of bombs. The B-52 bomber can carry much more (70,000 pounds), but the Spirit’s ability to get into enemy territory undetected combined with pinpoint accuracy mean the B-2’s 40,000 pounds of bombs are usually more effective.

B-2_Aircraft propulsion system specialist with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron inspect the interior of a B-2 Spirit engine


B-2_B-2 makes a pass in front of the crowd at the 2011 Defenders of Liberty Air Show

42. The B-2 has a range of 6,900 miles. That means the B-2 can make it from New York to India without refueling.

B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for an integrated bomber operation


B-2_Aircraft propulsion system specialist with the 509th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron inspect the interior of a B-2 Spirit engine

41. In 1984, a Northrop employee named Thomas Cavanaugh was arrested for attempting to leak information of its design to the Soviet Union in exchange for $25,000.

B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base


B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit takes off at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, for an integrated bomber operation

40. Noshir Gowadia, a design engineer who worked on the B-2’s propulsion system, was arrested in October of 2005. Gowadia sold B-2 related classified information to foreign countries and received 32 years in prison for his actions.

B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base


B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base

39. The B-2 was developed as a “Gray Project”, meaning that its development was a secret to the public but was known by certain government agencies and officials.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit taxis down the flightline at Whiteman Air Force Base


B-2_A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit aircraft deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base

38. The B-2 was, and still is, a dramatic leap forward in design technology. It is an all-wing aircraft with no fuselage and no vertical tail – reducing any surface that would cause drag on the plane.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit taxis down the flightline April 25 at Andersen Air Force Base


B-2_A B-2 Spirit taxis down the flightline at Whiteman Air Force Base

37. The B-2 comes outfitted with the Raytheon AN/APQ-181 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Therefore, not only is it nearly invisible to enemy radar, but it can see enemy aircraft using one of the most advanced radars in the world.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit is towed to a parking spot at Hickam Air Force Base


B-2_A B-2 Spirit taxis down the flightline April 25 at Andersen Air Force Base

36. 21 B-2s were built and 20 still exist today. 19 are held at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri and one stays in Edwards Air Force Base, California for testing and new development.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit bomber comes in Nellis Air Force Base


B-2_A B-2 Spirit is towed to a parking spot at Hickam Air Force Base

35. In 2008, the only B-2 – “The Spirit of Kansas” – to ever be destroyed was lost during takeoff in Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

B-2_ B-2 opens the 104th Rose Bowl with a flyover in Pasadena, Calif


B-2_A B-2 Spirit bomber comes in Nellis Air Force Base

34. Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation was awarded a modernization contract in 2014 in an effort to update the B-2 fleet. The ceiling on the contract’s budget is $9.9 billion and will be completed by May 2019.

B-2_ Aircraft Maintenance Squadron safety wires a brake bleed on a B-2 Spirit


B-2_ B-2 opens the 104th Rose Bowl with a flyover in Pasadena, Calif

33. All B-2s have nicknames that begin with “Spirit of…”. The first B-2 is called the “Spirit of America”, and the 19th B-2 is called the “Spirit of Kitty Hawk”; all other B-2s are nicknamed after U.S. states’ names. Ex: “The Spirit of Georgia”.

B-2- A B-2 Spirit flying over landscape


B-2_ Aircraft Maintenance Squadron safety wires a brake bleed on a B-2 Spirit

32. The B-2 has the capability to drop 16 B83 nuclear bombs.

B-2_Northrop B-2A in flight


B-2- A B-2 Spirit flying over landscape

31. The secrecy during the production of the B-2 was so intense that many components were purchased using “front” companies, military officials visited production sites out of uniform and employees were routinely subjected to polygraph tests.

B-2-A B-2 and B-52 fly in formation


B-2_Northrop B-2A in flight

30. The bottom of the B-2 is painted with an anti-reflective paint which blends into the sky at high altitudes and is invisible to radar. This paint makes it invisible to the naked eye at a high enough altitude.

B-2_U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber aircraft from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri


B-2-A B-2 and B-52 fly in formation

29. The leading wing of the B-2 Spirit is angled at 33 degrees.

B-2_Two F-22 Raptors and a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed to Andersen Air Force Base-Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald


B-2_U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit bomber aircraft from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri

28. A United States Air Force assessment concluded that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the job of 75 conventional aircraft.

B-2_The B-2 nicknamed Spirit of Missouri flown by Maj. Matthew Calhoun and Capt. Jared Kennish for a training mission


B-2_Two F-22 Raptors and a B-2 Spirit bomber deployed to Andersen Air Force Base-Master Sgt. Kevin J. Gruenwald

27. A transportable hangar system allows the B-2s to receive maintenance in forward locations rather than traveling all the way back to Missouri. The hangars are 126ft long, 250ft wide and 55ft high.

B-2_Tech. Sgt. Kevin Ponton examines the wing surface of a B-2


B-2_The B-2 nicknamed Spirit of Missouri flown by Maj. Matthew Calhoun and Capt. Jared Kennish for a training mission

26. Here are some obscure facts about B-2 Spirits you need to know. The B-2 is powered by four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines. These engines are mounted internally in the body of the wings and have an exhaust temperature control system to minimize thermal signature.

B-2_Staff Sgt. Michael Taylor and Senior Airman Joseph Nelson load a bomb on a B-2 Spirit bomber


B-2_Tech. Sgt. Kevin Ponton examines the wing surface of a B-2

25. The B-2 is the only U.S. aircraft that combines stealth, large payload and long range in a single platform. The Spirit is combat effective up to 50,000 feet of altitude.

B-2_Senior Airman Phillip Ruiz moves a bomb to be loaded onto a B-2 Spirit bomber


B-2_Staff Sgt. Michael Taylor and Senior Airman Joseph Nelson load a bomb on a B-2 Spirit bomber

24. In 1997, each hour of B-2 flight required 119 hours of maintenance. Comparatively, the B-52 and the B-1B require 53 and 60 hours respectively for each hour of flight.


B-2_Senior Airman Phillip Ruiz moves a bomb to be loaded onto a B-2 Spirit bomber

23. Maintenance costs run around $3.4 million per month for each aircraft. A large reason is because the “low-observable” skins require fully air-conditioned hangars that are also large enough to fit its 172 foot wingspan.

B-2_Crew chiefs assigned to prepare to launch a B-2 Spirit at Andersen Air Force Base


22. The B-2s do not run “stealthy” at all times. When apporaching enemy air defenses, pilot’s essentially turn on stealth mode – a series of manuevers that the public does not know.

B-2_B-2 Stealth at Whiteman Air Force Base


B-2_Crew chiefs assigned to prepare to launch a B-2 Spirit at Andersen Air Force Base

21. If the B-2 needs to drop a payload of munitions, the stealth is compromised. The bomb bays are very susceptible to radar.

B-2_B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions


B-2_B-2 Stealth at Whiteman Air Force Base

20. A large majority of the B-2 consists of a carbon-graphite composite material that is lighter than aluminum, stronger than steel and absorbs radar energy.

B-2_B-2 Spirit conducts a fly-by during the Scott Air Force Base 2017 air show


B-2_B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions

19. In 2017 two B-2 pilots flew from Missouria to Libya and back without stopping once. That’s a 32-hour mission with multiple in-flight refuels.

B-2_B-2 selected for 2012 Air Force Marathon


B-2_B-2 Spirit conducts a fly-by during the Scott Air Force Base 2017 air show

18. The B-2 was one of the first planes ever to use the fly-by-wire system. Rather than using mechanical movements to control the flaps directly, the pilots operate a computer that controls the steering.

B-2_Air Force officials have awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide advanced state-of-the-art radar component


B-2_B-2 selected for 2012 Air Force Marathon

17. The B-2 was the first U.S. aircraft in action during Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011. The B-2 assisted in enforcing the UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya.

B-2_Air Force B-2 Spirit crew chiefs stand ready to perform maintenance on the plane


B-2_Air Force officials have awarded a contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide advanced state-of-the-art radar component

16. The B-2’s combat effectiveness was proved in Operation Allied Force in 1998 where it destroyed 33 percent of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks. The B-2 flew nonstop to Kosovo from its home base in Missouri and back.

B-2_A T-38 Talon flies in formation with the B-2 Spirit


B-2_Air Force B-2 Spirit crew chiefs stand ready to perform maintenance on the plane

15. B-2’s operate on a two-man crew and the two crewman run around-the-clock missions sometimes. One crew member sleeps at a time and then they rotate.

B-2_A B-2 Stealth bomber flies over the St. Louis Arch


B-2_A T-38 Talon flies in formation with the B-2 Spirit

14. The United States’ fleet of bombers, which consist of the B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress are getting old. These aircraft are an average of 33 years old per plane.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam


B-2_A B-2 Stealth bomber flies over the St. Louis Arch

13. Since 1989, B-2 Spirits have flown more than 14,000 sorties and accumulated more than 75,000 flight operating hours.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit drops Joint Direct Attack Munitions separation test


B-2_A B-2 Spirit lands at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

12.  The Spirit completed its first-ever combat deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 45 sorties in all and releasing more than 1.5 million pounds of munitions.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit Bomber is scheduled to fly over Homestead Air Reserve Base


B-2_A B-2 Spirit drops Joint Direct Attack Munitions separation test

11. A B-2 airstrike was considered in the 2011 raid that resulted in the death of Osama Bin Laden. However, the potential for damage to surrounding civilians was too great to green light the airstrike.

B-2_A B-2 Spirit bomber is followed by two F-117 Nighthawks during a mission


B-2_A B-2 Spirit Bomber is scheduled to fly over Homestead Air Reserve Base

10. There are no operational B-2s on display. All aircraft are either in use or destroyed.

B-2_ B-2 awaits a post-flight inspection


B-2_A B-2 Spirit bomber is followed by two F-117 Nighthawks during a mission

9. Two B-2s flew over 13,000 miles round trip from Missouri to South Korea in March of 2013 as a part of the annual United States – South Korea exercises. This was the first time a B-2 went over the Korean Peninsula.

B-2_ A B-2 Spirit soars through the sky over Pacific Ocean


B-2_ B-2 awaits a post-flight inspection

8. The B-2 has a maximum speed of 630 mph – about 140 miles an hour shy of Mach 1. With a takeoff load of 336,500 pounds, that’s impressive!

B-2_ a B-2 Spirit bomber during a mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam


B-2_ A B-2 Spirit soars through the sky over Pacific Ocean

7.  There has been an out-of-court settlement between the U.S. government and Northrop Grumman regarding allegations of fraud and/or overcharging.

B-2_ A B-2 launches from the runway at Andersen Air Force Base


B-2_ a B-2 Spirit bomber during a mission at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

6. In 1988 the B-2 was unveiled at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. Spectators weren’t allowed to get closer than 200 feet and no one was allowed to see the rear of the aircraft.

B-2- Northrop B-2 Spirit in the Cold War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force


B-2_ A B-2 launches from the runway at Andersen Air Force Base

5. Northrop wasn’t alone in building the B-2. In 1991, the B-2 project employed more Boeing employees than anything Boeing was building themselves.

B-2 Broncos cheerleaders check out B-2 cockpit during tour


B-2- Northrop B-2 Spirit in the Cold War Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force

4. The B-21 Raider is being developed behind closed doors as we speak. The earliest estimations have the B-21 taking over for the B-2 as the United States’ predominant stealth-bomber by 2030.

A B-2_awaits clearance to taxi onto the flightline, at Andersen Air Force Base


B-2 Broncos cheerleaders check out B-2 cockpit during tour

3. The B-2 Spirit costs roughly three times its weight in gold.

B-2- B-2 deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., sits on the parkway


A B-2_awaits clearance to taxi onto the flightline, at Andersen Air Force Base

2. The Department of Defense authorized Northrop Grumman to upgrade the B-2 Spirit to Extremely High Frequency (EHF) Satellite Communications. This is extremely rarefied air compared to the conventional UHF and VHF frequencies.


B-2- B-2 deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., sits on the parkway

1. The B-2 Spirit has an internal navigation system that relies on stars rather than GPS Satellites. The astro-inertial navigation can not be jammed electronically and maintains the aircraft’s low radar profile. Also see these additional B-2 Bomber Facts.

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