City of Palmdale

Official Web Site


City of Palmdale, California - A Place to Call Home
Strategic Plan   |   Youth   |   Buy Tickets   |   Online Forms & Services   |   Home   |   
  
JOE DAVIES HERITAGE AIRPARK AT PALMDALE PLANT 42
Council & Commission Pay
City Employee Pay
Partners for a Better Palmdale
HOME
CONTACT CITY STAFF
FAQs

B-2 SPIRIT

Aircraft at the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark at Palmdale Plant 42


Nicknamed "Stealth Bomber"


Click for larger photo

A/C SNNone
Date Acquired:November 2000
Acquired From:Northrop Grumman Corporation
Displayed:November 2000
LocationEntrance to the park

History


Model was presented to the Airpark by Northrop Grumman Corporation.

General Information


MANUFACTURER:Northrop Grumman Corporation
PRODUCTION PERIOD:1993 to 1997
NUMBER PRODUCED:21
PRODUCTION SERIES:Production Blocks 10, 20, and 30
ROLES:Originally designed as a land-based all-weather intercontinental heavy-bomber for the US Air Force for nuclear weapons delivery, able to penetrate the most sophisticated air defenses with its low-observable (stealth) characteristics for the Cold War; later modified to also deliver conventional and guided weapons


Performance and Specifications

(Figures given are for the B-2A model)

MAXIMUM SPEED:680 mph (high subsonic)
SERVICE CEILING:50,000 feet above sea level
RANGE:6,000 miles (unlimited with aerial refueling)
WEAPONS:Upwards of 50,000 lbs. of conventional, guided and nuclear weapons can be carried
CREW:Two pilots
LENGTH:69 feet
WINGSPAN:172 feet
HEIGHT:17 feet
MAXIMUM TAKEOFF WEIGHT:375,000 lbs.
POWERPLANT:Four General Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines providing 19,000 lbs. of thrust each
ACHIEVEMENTS:Largest "stealth" aircraft; largest "flying wing" aircraft; considered the most survivable aircraft in the world; most expensive aircraft at $2 billion each
NOTE: The B-2's low-observability or stealth is derived not just from a reduced radar "picture," but also from a unique combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic and visual "pictures."

Back to Aircraft
Bookmark and Share Bookmark or Share