11/19/2023 0 Comments B2 bomber cockpit toiletBut sightings are rare because there are only 20 in service. The B-2 sometimes makes appearances at air shows and even conducted a fly-over at the Super Bowl over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida in January of 2021. Some Spectators Have Caught a Rare Glimpse Of course, we must keep in mind this is entirely dependent on how often Google Earth updates its maps. They could count the number of take-offs, for example, and receive an early warning on intercontinental missions as well as training sorties. Adversaries have noticed and could possibly use Google Earth to show B-2s taking off from Whiteman AFB in the future. This is, after all, the most expensive and advanced bomber in the Air Force’s arsenal. It’s probably not fair to criticize the bomber’s stealth signature based on one incident on Google Earth, but it is alarming that an app available to anyone with Internet service can track the B-2. But is there actually a real problem here or not? Here is a quick rundown of the B-2s history and some very key facts about this one-of-a-kind bomber.ī-2: Is the Sighting on Google Earth a Showstopper? The enterprising person who used Google Earth cheekily referred to the B-2 as conducting a “ crop dusting mission” and you can see the agricultural scene below the bomber in the video here. This photo was captured by Google Earth, and it has some critics wondering why the stealth technology on the B-2 didn’t hide it better. It also has food-heating facilities and a toilet.B-2 Stealth Bomber – All of the Facts You Don’t Know and the Latest Controversy: Civilians have pounced on a recent stilled image of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber that appeared over a farm in Missouri close to Whiteman Air Force Base. As such, the plane also integrates a small, flat space behind the cockpit where the two pilots can rest. It has been known to have carried out sorties as long as 44 hours such as when it flew from Missouri to Afghanistan in 2001. The aircraft is also designed to remain in the air indefinitely, as long as it is refuelled. Making a 200 ton airplane turn invisible is no easy feat which is what makes the B-2 Spirit a standout in the US' aerial arsenal. The B-2's stealth features are not perennially in operation when it is in flight but can be activated as the bomber approaches its target. In 2010, a B-2 suffered extensive damage in a fire but returned to service following repairs. In 2008, a bomber crashed having taken off from the Andersen Air Force Base on Guam but both pilots escaped unscathed. Yet, no B-2 Spirit has ever been lost in combat. The stealth features of the jet are so highly trusted that the plane does not actually have any defensive weapons. As such, the bomber needs to be stored under cooler temperatures. Moreover, the reason it cannot be housed in any conventional military facility is due to the heat-absorbing tiles that line its surface that further obfuscate radar signals. The B-2's engines are also hidden in its aft section and leave no trace of a heat signature further enabling it to go undetected. However, the B-2 is designed without any vertical shapes such as a tail or a fuselage, and coupled with its smooth surface, it is able to scatter radar waves, making it appear no larger than a small bird on radars. From the angle and intensity of the reflection, the size and location of an object can be determined. Radar systems work by sending out pulses through the air that reflect off aerial objects and bounce back to the transmitter. Its 'flying wing' design is among a number of features that makes it near impossible to detect by anti-aircraft defence systems. With a total wing span of 172 feet, and weighing under 340,000 pounds, the B-2 is a veritable marvel of stealth engineering. The B-2 Spirit: A marvel of stealth engineering
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