Two historic US nuclear bomberswhose first flights are separated by almost half a century, took to the skies over Missouri together last weekend. It is the stealth bomber B-2 Spirit of the US Air Force and the B-29 Docone of only two examples of the bomber B-29 Superfortress from World War II that still fly, and It was the first time that these legendary aircraft had flown together in formation..
The display was a surprise to attendees. The B-29 had been listed only as a static participant in the Wings Over Whiteman Air Show carried out in the Whiteman Air Force Base. He 509th Bomber Wingwhich initially operated the B-29 and currently the B-2, has told military outlet The Warzone that the formation ‘flew primarily due to the opportunity to have both aircraft available’.
B-29 in formation with the B-2 Spirit Bomber. 🇺🇸 #aviationdaily#aviation#planespottingpic.twitter.com/bKhZxnsk4H
— Matthew Smith (@MatthewKCWX) July 14, 2024
B-29 & B-2 flying in formation during Wings Over Whiteman! pic.twitter.com/0KNe3lxpdo
— Matthew Smith (@MatthewKCWX) July 13, 2024
B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine, propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing and used by the United States mainly in the Second World War and in the Korean war.
Named after its predecessor, the B-17 Flying Fortressthe B-29 was intended for high altitude strategic bombingHowever, it also proved to be highly effective in low-altitude nighttime incendiary bombing and the launching of naval mines to blockade Japan. The B-29s were also the planes that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasakiturning them into the only ones to use nuclear weapons in combatOver the years, the United States has produced nearly 4,000 B-29s.
B-2 Spirit
The concept for the B-2 emerged in the 1970s when the United States was looking for a replacement for the aging B-52 bomber. The goal was to create an aircraft that could be almost undetectable by enemy sensors and carry nuclear weapons to several locations within a few hours.
The defense company that won the contract for the bomber, Northrop Grummaninvested billions of dollars and almost ten years in developing this aircraft. Radar scanners They perceive the resulting 52-meter-wide strategic bomber as an insect.
The B-2 Spirit bomber is unique among aircraft designs due to its design of a single huge wingThere are several advantages to this flying wing construction over conventional aircraft designs. Unlike standard aircraft, which rely on individual wings to support the weight of the fuselage, the B-2 aircraft produces support throughout its entire length. This makes a wider operating range possible.
“One of the world’s most survivable aircraft, the B-2 is the only aircraft that combines long range, stealth and a heavy payload into a single platform,” according to Northrop Grumman.
In 2001, during the Operation Enduring Freedomhe B-2 Spirit of America and five other B-2 bombers set a record with a 44-hour mission over Afghanistan. After a brief stop with the engines running, the B-2 flew back to Missouri, adding more than 70 hours total flight time.
19 B-2 are in service with the US Air Force. The US Air Force intends to use them until 2032at which time the B-21 Raider Northrop Grumman’s is slated to replace them.