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The Air Force’s new nuclear stealth bomber, the B-21 Raider, has taken its first test flight
AP News ^ | BY TARA COPP Updated 10:29 AM CST, November 10, 2023

Posted on 11/10/2023 11:08:47 AM PST by Red Badger

Edited on 11/10/2023 11:43:05 AM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The B-21 Raider took its first test flight on Friday, moving the futuristic warplane closer to becoming the nation’s next nuclear weapons stealth bomber.

The Raider flew in Palmdale, California, where it has been under testing and development by Northrop Grumman.


(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: History; Military/Veterans; Travel
KEYWORDS: palmdale
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To: desertsolitaire

Ancient astronaut theorists say YES!!!


21 posted on 11/10/2023 11:35:59 AM PST by Demiurge2 (Define your terms!)
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To: Red Badger

Fun to use in Battlefield 1942 Secret Weapons expansion pack.


22 posted on 11/10/2023 11:37:14 AM PST by wally_bert (I cannot be sure for certain, but in my personal opinion I am certain that I am not sure..)
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To: Red Badger
Video of the B-21 Raider: https://twitter.com/i/status/1722993343485866184
23 posted on 11/10/2023 11:37:55 AM PST by Yo-Yo (Is the /Sarc tag really necessary? Pray for President Biden: Psalm 109:8)
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To: Red Badger
Mil Aviation buffs - B2 'we can have a lot of fun'
24 posted on 11/10/2023 11:38:01 AM PST by C210N (Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.)
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To: Red Badger

Cool!


25 posted on 11/10/2023 11:42:56 AM PST by SkyDancer (~Definition Of A Business Jet: A Mailing Tube For Executives ~)
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To: grobdriver

Blended-wing (and I think it’s a cranked-wing) design is the way to go for stealth bombers and (eventually) tankers.

B-21 is significantly smaller than B-2 yet electronics is what...? 30 years more advanced? And radar image has shrunk much more than physical size proportionally.


26 posted on 11/10/2023 11:44:05 AM PST by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: Red Badger

Cool plane, bro. How long before the woke military has a grand announcement that a drag queen will be the first to pilot it, or that a woman will be the first to crash it.


27 posted on 11/10/2023 11:44:52 AM PST by Obadiah
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To: beethovenfan

B2 gets used all the time, why wouldn’t B-21 be?


28 posted on 11/10/2023 11:45:42 AM PST by steve86 (Numquam accusatus, numquam ad curiam ibit, numquam ad carcerem™)
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To: steve86

Yeah, “used” as in flybys over football games. That’s not what I meant by “used”.


29 posted on 11/10/2023 12:22:18 PM PST by beethovenfan (The REAL Great Reset will be when Jesus returns. )
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To: Red Badger

Can’t seem to find any initial data on gross weight, max take-off weight, etc - to compare with the B-2. Anyone?


30 posted on 11/10/2023 12:53:38 PM PST by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: Psalm 73

Probably secret.......................


31 posted on 11/10/2023 12:54:53 PM PST by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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To: Psalm 73

It’s smaller for greater stealth, with as little as half the payload.

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/b-21-raider-designed-low-risk


32 posted on 11/10/2023 1:12:52 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: grobdriver
Maybe they added some cup holders.

HAHA -- the B-2 doesn't have a bunk, the crews use a lawn chair for one of them to sleep while the other one is monitoring the autopilot. There's no seat for a third crewmember.

33 posted on 11/10/2023 2:46:38 PM PST by zipper (In their heart of hearts, all Democrats are communists)
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To: Red Badger

If ever there was an airplane destined to generate ‘flying saucer’ reports ...


34 posted on 11/10/2023 2:48:24 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: Red Badger
in that cockpit in between those two primitive jet engines

I'd take that over the Me-163 Komet's H2O2 rocket engin.

35 posted on 11/10/2023 2:50:54 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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To: grobdriver

BTW, the B-21 is capable of missions without crew aboard. A superdrone.


36 posted on 11/10/2023 2:51:37 PM PST by jjotto ( Blessed are You LORD, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.)
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To: desertsolitaire

IIRC, a Soviet Physicist wrote a book on the theoretical design for stealth planes. The Soviets allowed it to be open published. Lockheed Martin used the theory to develop the F-117. The reason for it’s choppy look was that computer programs of the day didn’t have the computational power to design a smooth skin. Lockheed actually ended up hiring the Russian physicist.


37 posted on 11/10/2023 2:57:29 PM PST by shotgun
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To: Red Badger

Whoa!!...


38 posted on 11/10/2023 2:58:11 PM PST by sit-rep
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To: NorthMountain

I’m given to understand that a peroxide leak would dissolve the pilot in his seat. Yipes.


39 posted on 11/10/2023 4:12:19 PM PST by FrozenAssets (You don't have to be crazy to live here, but it helps)
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To: FrozenAssets
Yeah ... I've read the same thing.

The book Ignition! is an informal history, written by 'one who knows', on the development of liquid rocket fuels. It's fascinating, funny, and frightening.

40 posted on 11/10/2023 4:18:12 PM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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