KursadA Posted November 28, 2022 Share Posted November 28, 2022 Time really does fly - we now have only four days before the B-21 roll-out on December 2 (this coming Friday). USAF had said photography would be allowed (with some limitations on lenses and angles) - so we will finally get to see what it looks like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted November 28, 2022 Share Posted November 28, 2022 A former program engineer of ours, was moved over to the B-21. She's been tight lipped, but said it's been finicky. I'm hoping she coughs up a patch, she's promised. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 28, 2022 Share Posted November 28, 2022 1 hour ago, ST0RM said: I'm hoping she coughs up a patch... Back in 1988 when the B-2 was rolled out my girlfriend's brother worked for one of the local LA newspapers (remember those?) He gave me the etched metal plate they used to print the rollout photo on the front page. (this image) I still have it, safely stored away .. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Da SWO Posted November 28, 2022 Share Posted November 28, 2022 4 hours ago, habu2 said: Back in 1988 when the B-2 was rolled out my girlfriend's brother worked for one of the local LA newspapers (remember those?) He gave me the etched metal plate they used to print the rollout photo on the front page. (this image) I still have it, safely stored away .. I like the star formed with B-2 shapes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted November 29, 2022 Share Posted November 29, 2022 (edited) I also have a B-2 coffee cup from the program, it has the B-2 star logo in heat sensitive paint so when you fill the cup with hot coffee the logo "uncloaks" and magically appears. I worked on the flight simulator for the B-2, but we were told it was just an engineering sim. not a specific aircraft. We did the out-the-window CGI visuals. Northrop would cover up all the instruments when we were in the cockpit so we couldn't see anything but the window frames. . Edited November 29, 2022 by habu2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted November 29, 2022 Share Posted November 29, 2022 9 hours ago, habu2 said: I also have a B-2 coffee cup from the program, it has the B-2 star logo in heat sensitive paint so when you fill the cup with hot coffee the logo "uncloaks" and magically appears. I worked on the flight simulator for the B-2, but we were told it was just an engineering sim. not a specific aircraft. We did the out-the-window CGI visuals. Northrop would cover up all the instruments when we were in the cockpit so we couldn't see anything but the window frames.. Between the etched plate and coffee cup, you've got some cool memorabilia. I did speak with her vis text yesterday and she tracked down some good loot for me. And the flight sim work, thats an story. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Searching online for updates and coverage info, not finding anything. Any idea what time the reveal is scheduled and if there will be live coverage on any websites? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken Cartwright Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I found one reference that said 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share Posted December 2, 2022 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fasteagle12 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, Ken Cartwright said: I found one reference that said 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST I just read that the time is now 8:00pm Eastern time....I'll be watching via the Youtube post (above in Kursad's post). Edited December 2, 2022 by fasteagle12 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ST0RM Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 I'm going to laugh when the artist renders are spot on and a collective "ahh crap" is heard by the lack of surprise. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 Based on the renderings I think they should call it the B2.1.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted December 2, 2022 Author Share Posted December 2, 2022 I personally have no expectation of being surprised, we know the renderings came from USAF and reflected the actual design. It is still exciting to witness the actual aircraft for the first time and observe some of the details, e.g. the coating, shapes of antennae and openings etc. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
fasteagle12 Posted December 2, 2022 Share Posted December 2, 2022 10 minutes ago, KursadA said: I personally have no expectation of being surprised, we know the renderings came from USAF and reflected the actual design. It is still exciting to witness the actual aircraft for the first time and observe some of the details, e.g. the coating, shapes of antennae and openings etc. I heard that there are going to be a lot of restrictions on photo angles, videos, etc. Hopefully, we'll be able to see some of those details.. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 My cat Georgie is watching with me and mowed along with people cheering while designers and other employees were recognized. 😁 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 It’s a lot chunkier than I expected - currently we can only see the frontal view though. I was a bit surprised the coating seems to be a lighter gray. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 13 minutes ago, KursadA said: I was a bit surprised the coating seems to be a lighter gray Well ... it may be the coating for the rollout, it may be "The" coating, it may be a simulated coating because of it being a prototype test article, it may be the regular service coating because it is the prototype test article. But the true issue here is, when is the model kit with full interior detail being issued and in which scales? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 I must say, for all the advanced technology on display, whoever was responsible for the closed captioning really dropped the ball. The worst was when they introduced Kathy Warner as Caffeine Warner in the caption... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 What color is it FS 26270, and I’m not convinced that it’s real as I can’t see any panel lines on it 🤷♂️ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KursadA Posted December 3, 2022 Author Share Posted December 3, 2022 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
habu2 Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Which will fly first, the B-21 or the B-52J/K ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
southwestforests Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 1 minute ago, habu2 said: Which will fly first, the B-21 or the B-52J/K ? Probably the one which first crosses the airport fence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scotthldr Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 Sure hope either one is flying before it gets to the fence line🫣 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
achterkirch Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 (edited) https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/this-is-the-b-21-raider-stealth-bomber Edited December 3, 2022 by achterkirch Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Charlie D. Posted December 3, 2022 Share Posted December 3, 2022 2 hours ago, KursadA said: It’s a lot chunkier than I expected - currently we can only see the frontal view though. I was a bit surprised the coating seems to be a lighter gray. Same here! I’m surprised at how thick it is and those windows are a trip! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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