Alpha1
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2012
- Messages
- 3,618
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December 27, 1942Pre-Production
Northrop N-9M
The Northrop N-9M made its initial flight. Of “flying wing” design, the aircraft was the predecessor to similarly designed aircraft, including the YB-49 and B-2 bombers.
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June 25, 1946
XB-35
Test pilot Max Stanley flew the XB-35, the plane considered to be the grandfather of the B-2.
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November 1, 1975 Significant Events
Experimental Survivable Test bed program (XST)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded contracts to Lockheed and Northrop to conduct Phase 1 of the Experimental Survivable Test bed program (XST). During the XST program, each contractor would design and then build a pole model that was tested at the Air Force Radar Target Scatter (RATSCAT) facility in New Mexico. The winner of the contest would go on to build a flight test vehicle to test the airplane’s radar cross section (RCS) in flight. Lockheed won the competition, going on to build HAVE BLUE and later the F-117A. DARPA approached Northrop to continue their work, which eventually led to TACIT BLUE and later the B-2 Spirit.
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November 2, 1981 Pre-Production
B-2 Contract Awarded
The USAF awarded Northrop Grumman the contract to develop the Advanced Technology Bomber, later named the B-2 Spirit. After a competitive source selection, the development contract was awarded to Northrop. General Electric was awarded the engine contract. The award was for 6 test aircraft, two full-scale test articles and production planning for 127 aircraft, to be bought in fiscal years 1987-1993. Five of the six test aircraft would eventually be delivered to the user, bringing the total fleet to 132 aircraft. Northrop was given Total System Program Responsibility. The ASPA was renamed the Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB).
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February 5, 1982 Significant Events
TACIT BLUE
Northbrook chief test pilot, Dick Thomas, flew the technology demonstrator, TACIT BLUE, for the first time from a classified location in Nevada. The testing of the airplane aided in the development of the B-2 advanced technology bomber. Northrop and Air Force test pilots flew the airplane a total of 135 times, with the final flight coming on February 14, 1985.
Northrop Tacit Blue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Northrop Tacit Blue was a technology demonstrator aircraft created to demonstrate that a stealth low observable surveillance aircraft with a low probability of intercept radar and other sensors could operate close to the forward line of battle with a high degree of survivability.
Final flight of TACIT BLUE
DAYTON, Ohio -- Tacit Blue Whale at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
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April 23, 1988 Pre-Production
ATB Announcement
The Air Force announces it will conduct the upcoming Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB) flight test program at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The B-2 Combined Test Force was officially established, although it had existed prior to this date as a special projects office.
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November 22, 1988Significant Events
B-2 Unveiling
At Palmdale, Calif., the Air Force unveiled the B-2 Stealth Bomber. Guests were kept 200 feet from the aircraft to prevent close inspection.
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July 17, 1989Pre-Production
First B-2 Mission
Northrop chief test pilot Bruce Hinds and Col. Richard Couch, B-2 Combined Test Force director, flew the first B-2 mission -- a two-hour and 20-minute flight from the Palmdale, Calif., plant to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in AV-1 (Tail No. 82-1066).
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May 3, 1990Significant Events
All Air Force Crew
An all-Air Force crew flew Northrop's B-2A for the first time. Lieutenant Colonels Tom LeBeau and John Small flew the stealth bomber on a 7-hour, 20-minute test flight above Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
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February 2, 1993Pre-Production
B-2, AV-6
The last of the six full-scale developmental B-2s used in the test program flew for the first time.
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April 1, 1993Significant Events
509th Bomb Wing Activation at Whiteman AFB, MO
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December 17, 1993Fleet Delivery
Spirit of Missouri
The first operational B-2 stealth bomber, tail number 88-0328, was delivered to Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., on the 90th anniversary of the first manned flight by the Wright brothers. Piloted by General John Michael Loh and the 509th’s Lt. Col. John Bellanger, the two men flew the airplane from Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., to Whiteman. Upon landing the airplane was christened the "Spirit of Missouri."
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