Just for comparison, this was the second of two B2s overhead this QTH around 1330 local on Friday 13th June, ICOSA 12 I think

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps803a10ba.jpg

and zoomed in..

http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/r...psa6c0bc74.jpg

LRS-B already flying?
 

In current issue of Combat Aircraft, on the last article on page 112 by David Axe with the title "Is the US Air Force's New Bomber Already Flying?"

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps2dc914e1.jpg

It was citing the circumstantial evidence that Northrop already has a prototype or two (or three in this case) flying for the entry into the Long Range Strike Bomber competition and a controversy that the USAF had decided there and there to choose Northrop which Boeing was not particularly happy with....

Cheers

Are you sure it wasn't United?

Apparently the B-2A has a rear facing laser, or "laser" (© Dr Evil), to detect contrails, thus enabling the computer, err... pilots, to adjust altitude.

BTW, could the pic be of a RQ-180? (See also http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...2-retired.html )

Wonder if it could be this?

Cheers

Northrop Teases New Bomber in New Ad

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...ps77pkonfi.jpg

I wonder what Walter & Reimar Horten would make of how their designs have evolved since the end of WWII and how they've been deployed.

JAS

probabaly cursing in some aviation heaven that they didn't get a world-wide patent on account of external difficulties - like a World War

You're not kidding. I was at Fairford last year and I witnessed a whole formation of highly secret aircraft fitted with some revolutionary new kind of engine. The contrails actually changed colour mid flight.

Didn't the B2 have a highly toxic chemical mix at some point during it's development that was supposed to prevent contrails? Can't remember what the chemical was now but I seem to remember it melted the containers that carried it.

Heard about that too, thing.

Stealth Aircraft Contrails

I think that's the SR-71?
Isn't there a reference somewhere to sled drivers once turning the contrail hiding mixture on and off in quick succession after exiting hostile territory to spell in morse an extremely rude word for female genitalia?!
Probably urban legend - but a great story...

Over Philippines
 

RQ-180?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...UslNtMu_sEVMYA


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7a5c37a6a.jpeg

How good is US Met. at predicting contrail levels?

I ask because we were [I was] still struggling in 1997 when I retired. Devilish tricky stuff ..... best way to find out is fly¬

USAF ISR Heritage video
 

@2:33


Any thoughts please?

Cheers

Breakdown/analysis here….


https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...tealth-fighter