B-2 Spirit

B-2 Spirit and B-2 stealth is secretly designed bomber in the area 51 by the companies Northrop Grumman, General Electric and Boeing using an old concept of "flying wings" and an innovative computer design technique of "united in W wing" .

The bomber named Northrop-Grumman B-2 Spirit, although it is known as B-2 Spirit or B-2 stealth (stealth English "hidden", "slinky"), since it is almost invisible plane to radar. Another admirable quality is that although extremely thin the plane can carry tons of bombs and missiles, including nuclear warheads.

The unit cost of the bomber B-2 Spirit is around $ 2 billion, one of the air war machines more expensive in the world.

The aircraft is already a legend as his legacy had begun at the end of the gulf war, destroying key targets like airfields, air defenses and even a giant fortress.

The B-2 Spirit is the second generation of stealth fighter type (stealth) produced in the world and the first capable of carrying thermonuclear bombs.

The airplane is exclusively made for the United States Air Force (USAF) and can not be purchased or manufactured in any way by any other government, even though ally. The B-2 has never been detected in space aéro enemy or shot. The only record of a B-2 lost is due to an accident in which the ailerons responded with excessive efficiency on takeoff, damaging its fuselage. The two pilots were saved from the accident.

• Overviews

Crew: 2 - pilot and co-pilot / commander

Capacity: 80,500 kg (177,000 lb)

Length: 21 m (69 ft)

Wingspan: 52.4 m (170 ft)

Height: 5.18 m (17 ft)

Wing area: 478 m² (5150 ft²)

Empty weight: 71,700 kg (158,000 lb)

Gross weight (loaded): 152,200 kg (336,000 lb)

Takeoff weight: 170,600 kg (376,000 lb)

Fuel capacity: 75 750 kg (167 lbs 000) fuel load

• Motorization

Number of engines: 4x

Motor type: Turbofan

Manufacturer / Model: General Electric F118-GE-100

Thrust per engine: 7847 kgf (17,300 lbf) (77 kN)

• Performance

Maximum speed: 1010 km / h (628 mph)

Cruising speed (Mach): 0.7351 Ma (900 km / h)

Full speed Mach: 0.828 Ma

Full Speed ​​Node: 545 kn (1010 km / h)

Range: 11,100 km (6900 mi)

Service ceiling: 15,250 m (50,000 ft)

• Weapons

Pumps: 2x internal bays for up to 23,000 kg (50,700 lb)

80x pumps Mark 82, GBU-38 500 lb (227 kg)

36x CBU 750 lb (340 kg)

16x Mark 84, GBU-31 2000 lb (907 kg)

B61 or B83 16x