Pictorial History of the B-2A Spirit Stealth Bomber

by Jim Goodall

Schiffer Publishing

Reviewed by David Couche

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This is a pictorial history of Jack Northrop's dream, the B-2A Spirit, a low-observable, strategic, long-range, heavy bomber with the ability to penetrate sophisticated and dense enemy air-defence shields. It is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000 feet, with a range of more than 6,000 nautical miles (nm) (9700km) unrefuelled, and over 10,000 nm (16,000km) with one refuelling, giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours. Stealth technology has rendered radar systems ineffective by greatly reducing their detection ranges. After ten years of service, the B-2A finally achieved full operational capability in December 2003. An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2As armed with precision weaponry could do the job of seventy-five conventional aircraft.

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Over the last thirty-five years Jim Goodall has authored more than two dozen books and articles on military aircraft, naval ships and submarines with a focus on Low Observables, or as it is known today, Stealth. It has taken Jim nearly 18 years to put together this history and take and collect over 500 wonderful colour photographs to illustrate this unique aircrafts history from its inception as an idea to its full operating status. The 509th Bomb Wing also provided many of the photographs of their aircraft and operations. The book is a large format book (12”x9”) hardcover book printed on high quality glossy paper.

The 16 chapters above are photo based chapters covering the B-2’s development, construction, roll out and operational life. Further chapters cover the huge range of ordinance carried, images on the aprons of the many bases they operate from and then we have a “Spirit Family Tree” with a double page spread on every each and every B-2A produced. All photographs have explanatory text sections explaining and complementing the great photos.

This is an excellent quality publication providing an absolute wealth of reference photographs and details. For anyone building the new release Modelcollect 1/72 kit or the older Testor’s kit and want some detailed references, then this is the book for you. This book is highly recommended.

Thanks to Schiffer Military History for the review sample.

Review Copyright © 2019 by David Couche
This Page Created on 15 October, 2019
Last updated 15 October, 2019

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