Impressive HD Video of the B-2 Released

This has cropped up on numerous sites now. Its a series of clips of the B-2 a different locales in HD. I'm only disappointed in one aspect of it: one clip at the B-2 starting to go into a cloud and they cut it short. It looked like it was going to be really cool.

a reply to: anzha

Looked remarkably like the top view of a certain clip that had everyone in a tizzy.

originally posted by: anzha

Fixed the embed for you. When you post them only use the video number, which is after the = symbol. In this case it's just the P30Jf6bN2EA.

a reply to: Zaphod58

gotcha.

thank you.

Man that looks like one stable platform.... Amazing to look at. I'm sure it isn't as it appears but it looks like you could run a tattoo shop safely in that thing!

That still gives me goosebumps watching it, to think that no other country is near to fielding something like that and the U.S. Is about to up by a gen!

Gorgeous aircraft.

this is some kind of farewell from the B-2?.

a reply to: drwire

A reminder from NG not to forget about them and the B-2 when the new bomber comes out.

The B-2's not going anywhere any time soon.

a reply to: drwire

Unfortunately I think it's for the shareholders, reminding them of the cool things NG has done prior to news hitting of the B-3 competition.

If one of NG's birds get declassified this week then we'll know for sure they lost.

Very interesting choice of clips. Especially the skimming over the clouds shot. Can't wait to see what all the bother is about.

Nice clip. I thought they were a bit touchy about people getting a good look at the back of the B-2? Seems to be showing off plenty in this video, what was the problem before?

Also does anyone know what the little bit of the plane poking out from its belly near the rear is? Looks like it would screw up the RCS, but maybe its a retractable antena or something?

a reply to: gfad

Maybe its 2 fingers up at everyone, you can look at planform all you like, but you just cannot do this..

I still cannot believe the -170 didnt wipe all the clever # and fry itself, understand that components are not built with self destruction, but fielding a stop gap with perhaps limited testing and cutting edge Flight Control Software, I hope they didnt give too much away. I am still of the opinion you could potentially reverse engineer shapes, but FCS and tactics...

a reply to: gfad

The systems they don't want people seeing are stowed and you can't make out enough detail to get an idea if where or what they are.

4 embedded engines in a composite structure radiate a big heat signature. Concealing this signature is one of its true marvels! That and its construction. If you ever see the plane up close, it is appears seamless and another marvel!

a reply to: themadgenius

And the most marvelous of all is that it's covered in duct tape. Hah!

a reply to: Zaphod58

Duct tape?

a reply to: Bfirez

It's not really duct tape, but rivet heads are absolutely awesome at making your RCS bloom, and there are a lot of rivet lines on the airframe. So to keep the RCS down, and make maintenance a little easier, they developed a Grey tape looking material that acts as a RAM coating for rivets that they put along all the rivet lines.

originally posted by: gfad

Also does anyone know what the little bit of the plane poking out from its belly near the rear is? Looks like it would screw up the RCS, but maybe its a retractable antena or something?

It's a retractable radar reflector. It is so that local ATC can see and direct it through controlled airspace. It is retracted when they want to disappear. The F-22 has a similar one on it's belly.

originally posted by: Bfirez
a reply to: Zaphod58

Duct tape?

YEah. didnt you know Duct tape reduced RCS? MY car was practically held together with the stuff. the cops radars would always read as i f my car wasnt there.

Before the F-117 and B-2 were revealed in the weeks and months leading up to their unveiling, people were taking grainy pictures of these aircraft and reporting in-depth details of what they saw. I'm surprised NG or LM hasn't done something similar here.