Science & Tech
Aircraft catching fire prompts Air Force to ground entire B-2 bomber fleet
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- The U.S. Air Force has grounded its entire B-2 stealth bomber fleet after one of the aircraft caught fire during an emergency landing on Dec. 10.
- The entire fleet will be inspected so there will be no aircraft to perform flyovers at the college bowl games this year.
- There are fewer than 20 stealth bombers in the entire fleet.
The U.S. Air Force has grounded an entire fleet of B-2 stealth bombers after one of its aircraft caught fire during an emergency landing earlier this month. The B-2s will not perform flyovers at college bowl games this year.
On Dec. 10, the bomber had an in-flight malfunction, prompting its pilot to make an emergency landing at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. It caught fire while making the emergency landing. No one was reported hurt and the fire was extinguished immediately.
Grounding the entire fleet is significant because there are fewer than 20 stealth bombers in the entire fleet and the aircraft provides, along with the B-52 Stratofortress, the air leg of the country’s nuclear triad. The B-2 has been regularly deployed to the Indo-Pacific. The aircraft was also recently flown to Europe as a show of force. The entire B-2 fleet will undergo thorough inspection during the standdown, 509th Bomb Wing spokeswoman Air Force Master Sgt. Beth Del Vecchio said.
In a statement, the 509th Bomb Wing said the B-1 Lancer will replace the B-2 in the 2023 Rose Parade and Rose Bowl Game.
It was in 1989 when the B-2 stealth bomber made its first flight. Its flying-wing design formed the base of its replacement, the B-21 Raider, which was introduced earlier this month and set to take its first flight next year.
Another B-2 at Whiteman had to do an emergency landing in September 2021 after its hydraulics system failed. This resulted in the collapse of the bomber’s landing gear. The B-2’s left wing dragged for about a mile causing damage of at least $10 million to the aircraft.
Source: AOL/AP
Allen Miller
December 20, 2022 at 11:02 pm
Who wrote this article? There are too many problems with it. The title says B52 with a picture of a B52. Then the whole article is about the B2 which is a completely different aircraft. Does any one in this organization check their facts? No wonder no body knows what is happening in the country when those supposed to be supplying the facts don’t seem to know them.
Vic
December 21, 2022 at 10:23 am
I assume these and our other planes are guarded well? Two major failures grounding all 20 now. With all the MILLIONS of illegals flowing in, plus aost a million “got-aways”, we need to be cautious about our defense system, power grids, water ans food supplies. Lots of groups of camo wearing guys caught sneaking in, others not caught. Also caught 2 Chinese sneaking in last week. Why, when they can just walk in? They’ve also caught two groups of 20 and 30 Chinese “scientists”. Do we realize how little they’d have to carry in to do major damage to machines and grids, hydraulic lines cutting, small vials of bio or chemical material to contaminate water and food supplies?vWe are told he is following Obama pattern of not repairing and maintaining our military equipment, machines, hangers, etc. I remember Trump said he was having to spend fortune repairing them all, they’d been so neglected. One hanger used for plane repairs was close to collapse when he had them checked.
Biden needs to start protecting America. This regime needs to be removed for fraud and allow America to recover from his destruction.
Talltexan
December 23, 2022 at 7:23 pm
There are too many fiddles being played as The Biden cartel continues to destroy our nation. Evil mixed with low IQ’s is a prerequisite for disaster. We are seeing this before our eyes. 2024 I feel will be too late, and could be legitimate cause for a military take-over to save this nation.