Do we think the airframe that was rolled out was a mock up or genuine?
https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022...bomber-debuts/
….This B-21, number 001 and designated T1 for the first flight test aircraft, is one of six Raiders in various stages of construction at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. More will follow, though Jones would not say when construction on the seventh B-21 will likely begin.
The first B-21 has undergone ground tests in recent months, as well as final assembly and application of coatings and paint before its debut.
Its next major step will be its first flight to Edwards Air Force Base in California, expected to occur sometime in 2023. Northrop Grumman has said the date of that first flight will be based on the results of future additional ground tests. Those tests will include powering the Raider’s systems on and off, running its engines, performing taxiing test runs, and other integration tests.
Once the Raider is at Edwards, the Air Force will conduct further flight tests.
This first bomber is a production representative aircraft, essentially identical to the production aircraft that will eventually be produced by Northrop Grumman.
Jones said this differs from most new aircraft programs, which usually have their first flight conducted by a nonproduction-representative aircraft, leading to longer testing periods. He said using a production representative aircraft for the B-21′s flight tests is meant to speed up the process….