One of the world’s most recognisable – and yet mysterious – aircraft has made its first visit to the Dubai airshow.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is described as a ‘low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber, capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defence shields’.
But to visitors to Dubai 2005 yesterday, it was simply an amazing sight to behold as the black Star Wars shape – something that looks as if it would be more at home in a sci-fi comic book – droned stealthily overhead.
Although the appearance of the Airbus A380 held the crowds spellbound, it was the B-2 Spirit that made them gasp with amazement. Its distinctive profile comes from the unique ‘flying wing’ construction. The leading edges of the wings are angled at 33°, while the trailing edge has a double W shape.
Capable of attack missions up to 50,000ft (15,000m) and with a range of more than 6,000nm (11,000km) unrefuelled, the B-2 was initially delivered to Whiteman USAF base in Missouri, where most are still based. So impressed was the USAF that a spokesmen commented that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry could do the jobs of 75 conventional aircraft.
Whether that’s true or not, the crowds lining the static display line at Dubai looked hugely impressed and strangely stilled. The mysterious B-2 has that effect on people.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is described as a ‘low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber, capable of penetrating sophisticated and dense air-defence shields’.
But to visitors to Dubai 2005 yesterday, it was simply an amazing sight to behold as the black Star Wars shape – something that looks as if it would be more at home in a sci-fi comic book – droned stealthily overhead.
Although the appearance of the Airbus A380 held the crowds spellbound, it was the B-2 Spirit that made them gasp with amazement. Its distinctive profile comes from the unique ‘flying wing’ construction. The leading edges of the wings are angled at 33°, while the trailing edge has a double W shape.
Capable of attack missions up to 50,000ft (15,000m) and with a range of more than 6,000nm (11,000km) unrefuelled, the B-2 was initially delivered to Whiteman USAF base in Missouri, where most are still based. So impressed was the USAF that a spokesmen commented that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry could do the jobs of 75 conventional aircraft.
Whether that’s true or not, the crowds lining the static display line at Dubai looked hugely impressed and strangely stilled. The mysterious B-2 has that effect on people.
Source: Flight Daily News
