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B-2 Spirit: The Diva Bomber That Hated Water
25 Dec
Summary
- B-2 Spirit bomber's radar-evading skin was vulnerable to water erosion.
- Water accumulation in the B-2 caused a critical 2008 crash.
- Each B-2 bomber cost over $2 billion, highlighting maintenance challenges.
The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit, an icon among aviation enthusiasts, faced significant challenges due to its extreme sensitivity to water. Its radar-absorbent skin, crucial for stealth, degraded with environmental exposure, particularly moisture. Furthermore, the aircraft's design facilitated water accumulation in various components, leading to operational issues.
These issues were dramatically underscored in 2008 when the B-2 "The Spirit Of Kansas" crashed shortly after takeoff at Andersen Air Force Base. The accident investigation revealed that distorted air data, caused by moisture in critical sensors, led to a stall and subsequent crash. This incident emphasized the aircraft's fragility, especially given its immense cost of over $2 billion per unit.
Maintaining the B-2's stealth capabilities required extensive manual labor, involving the application and repair of thousands of feet of specialized tape and caulk to seal panel gaps. These maintenance tasks could take up to 80 hours and required controlled environments. The subsequent B-21 Raider stealth bomber incorporates more automated coating application, learning from the B-2's demanding, almost diva-like, operational needs.
