Earlier this year a US B-2 Spirit stealth bomber crashed on takeoff in Guam due to water damage on some of its sensors. This video shows a successful takeoff, followed by the doomed plane's liftoff, pilot ejections and crash/burn sequence. (More info here) These planes cost between 1.2 and 2.4 billion dollars each, and due to their range, size (their wingspan is longer than the first flight at Kitty Hawk) and stealth capabilities, they are to the US air fleet what the aircraft carrier is to American sea power--not only a dominant force capable of striking decisively almost anywhere on the planet, but a "big stick" in US diplomacy that affects the way our enemies deal with us politically. This plane was one of only 21, so now we're down to 20.
Bonus: Here's an interesting article on the people who fly this baby.
1 comment:
Wow, that was a big explosion for just being that far off the ground. It's amazing how much one of those babies cost. It looked like the pilot was trying to get her back down before she blew. Crazy stuff!
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