B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Crashes

Photo from source, Wikipedia

I'm not a big military aircraft buff, but the futuristic shape of the stealth fighters always intrigued me. It was a symbol of American know-how and might, and even I was swept up in a little of the patriotism wave felt during the first Gulf War. The plane's unique shape was used along side "Operation Desert Storm" T-shirts and desert cammo pants.

Now, we're in another gulf war, this one much longer, and a lot less popular. The wave of patriotism hit us again, but has long since ebbed. While the right continues their faux outrage over Michelle Obama's "American pride" statement, I for one am not particularly proud of our country. And that does not make me unpatriotic.

But I digress. I'm glad that the crew of the B2-Spirit stealth bomber were able to eject unharmed. We've had so much death already, and so little focus on the people who have died. The men who survived will very likely be well known, at least among the military and military buffs. Had they died, no one outside their units or their families would remember their names.

Side note: Wikipedia says the cost of this plane ranges between $737 million and $2.2 billion. First of all: WOW. Secondly, what could possible make that range so wide? Somebody should tell them they don't really need the gold package and the factory undercoating. . .

[Excerpt]

Stealth Bomber Crashes in Guam

A B-2 stealth bomber crashed Saturday shortly after taking off from Anderson Air Force Base in Guam.

The crash was the first for a B-2, said Capt. Sheila Johnston, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

Both pilots ejected safely. There were no injuries on the ground or damage to buildings, and no munitions were on board. . .

Read more at: New York Times