B2 Spirit from Ralph Dagza on Vimeo.

The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is a multi-role stealth heavy bomber, capable of deploying both conventional and nuclear weapons. It is operated exclusively by the United States Air Force. Its development was a milestone in the modernization program of the U.S. Department of Defense. The B-2’s stealth technology is intended to aid the aircraft’s penetration role in order to survive extremely dense anti-aircraft defenses otherwise considered impenetrable by combat aircraft.

The plane’s shape is designed to fool the eye, making it difficult to tell whether it’s coming or going. Click on the images above to see them in Hi-Res.

On 23 February 2008, B-2 s/n 89-0127, named Spirit of Kansas, crashed onto the runway shortly after takeoff from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. The crash of the Spirit of Kansas, which had 5,100 flight hours, was the first ever for the B-2. Both pilots ejected before the crash and survived, but the aircraft was completely destroyed, at an estimated loss of US $1.4B. No munitions were on board because it and three other B-2s were returning to Whiteman Air Force Base from a temporary deployment to Guam. (via Popular Mechanics)

If you look at the pictures, The B2 looks like its covered in bird shit…
Now we know what $1.4 billion looks like.

I’ve been inside the B2, of course no cameras were allowed. This plane has a toilet that looks like a chest cooler and it has the capacity to fit two pilots and eleven farm animals. The B2 can also be used to airlift 10,000 Mountain Dew cans, perfect for humanitarian missions. For longer trips, the B2 has a built in iPod adaptor and satellite radio so the pilots can listen to Howard Stern. (Practice safe OPSEC)

Update: A popular video podcast called “Diggnation” featured the crashed photos of the B2 bomber. Watch the video to see Alex Albrecht and Kevin Rose’s reaction. (link)

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