If a Stealth crashes, does anyone hear it?A U.S. B2 Stealth Bomber crashed in Guam today, but luckily no injuries or casualties were reported. The B2 is one of the sweetest airplanes to ever fly the skies. Minus the fact that its sole purpose is to evade detection and penetrate deep into “enemy” territory to deliver death and destruction, this alien-esque looking design and state of the art (remember, this plane was developed in the 1970-80’s) technology makes for one rad plane.
At $1.2 billion a pop, the U.S. owns 21 of these planes and flies them primarily out of Whiteman Air Force base in Missouri. The fact that these planes flying global bombing missions from Missouri is just plane amazing and/or crazy. I believe the first salvos of the latest Yawn and Snore, I mean Shock and Awe, that started the 2003 invasion of Iraq, where delivered by the Stealth’s from Whiteman. This is the reason why the B2 has flown the world’s longest combat mission and has seen action in every major campaign since Kosovo in 1999. I guess if you spend $1.2 billion on a fancy new toy, you have to show of its amazing capabilities!
Oddly enough, this plane was named “The Spirit of Kansas” which is coincidently where I am from. It was in Kansas that I first experienced “the flying wing” one afternoon while hunting pheasant. There were two of the planes working bombing runs at a local bombing range when they were right above me. They are such an amazing plane that you literally do not hear a sound until they pass, and even then, the sound they emit is nothing compared to other bombers I have heard and seen. Even then, you stand mesmerized by the sight of this black flying wing that just doesn’t look natural. If you ever get the chance to see them, even if you despise their purpose, it is truly worth the sight. I can only wonder at what amazing technology has already been created that the public has yet to see. Trip to Area 51 anyone?
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