How long can the B-2 fly?

69′
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit/Length

How often is the B-2 bomber used?

about 50 times a year
The answer is, about 50 times a year for each of the 20 B-2s in the Air Force inventory, for a total of 1,000 missions annually. That includes routine training flights (both long- and short-duration) and official exercises.

How many B-2 pilots are there?

Only 500 pilots in the U.S. Air Force have been trained and qualified to fly the B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, the 500th pilot graduated the Initial Qualification Training program, Feb. 7, 2020, at the 13th Bomb Squadron, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.

How fast is the B-2 bomber?

628 mph
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit/Top speed

Do B-2 pilots sleep?

During the development of the B-2 Spirit, a lot of research has been conducted on the sleep and energy cycles of humans. Engineers determined that some sleeping facilities may be required because of very long missions. Therefore, while one of the crew members is piloting the plane, another one can sleep in a camp bed.

How many JDAMs Can a B2 carry?

80
Up to 16 satellite-guided JDAM (joint direct attack munition) missiles can be carried. Northrop Grumman is converting the B-2 bomb rack assembly to a new ‘smart’ configuration, which will increase the number of JDAMs which can be carried to a maximum of 80.

How often does the B-2 Spirit actually fly?

The latest foray of the B-2 Spirit—to participate in Foal Eagle, a joint U.S.-South Korean exercise on March 28—got us wondering how often the stealthy, bat-winged bomber actually flies. The answer is, about 50 times a year for each of the 20 B-2s in the Air Force inventory, for a total of 1,000 missions annually.

What does a B-2 Spirit bomber do?

A B-2 Spirit bomber flies across an open stretch of sky. OPERATION ALLIED FORCE — A B-2 Spirit bomber prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker during a mission in the European theater supporting NATO Operation Allied Force. The B-2 Spirit is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.

How many times a year do B-2 bombers fly?

The answer is, about 50 times a year for each of the 20 B-2s in the Air Force inventory, for a total of 1,000 missions annually. That includes routine training flights (both long- and short-duration) and official exercises. Planners try to spread the missions out evenly.

What was the first flight of the Northrop B2 spirit?

On July 17, 1989, the Northrop B-2 Spirit made its first flight, a two-hour sortie from U.S. Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards Air Force Base. Northrop test pilot Bruce Hinds and Col. Richard S. Couch, the B-2 Combined Test Force director, flew the “stealth” bomber.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qA75Tm2YorU