DT contributer emeritus Chris Michel gave us a heads up about a series of photos over at Gizmodo that show details of the aftermath of the B-2 crash in Guam a few months back.
Here’s one of them:
Composites have afforded amazing performance capabilities in modern aircraft but they are nasty when they burn. The fibers get airborne in a fire and can get into the lungs of those who might inadvertantly breath the smoke — which is why crash crews are careful to wear respirators even after that flames die off.
Messy, ain’t it?
(Gouge: CM)
– Ward
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Appears salvageable. Could probably sell this burnt to crisp, slightly used, stealth bomber to China for full price, and get our money back. OK maybe not, since China already stole most its secrets over the years.
You know if the aircraft is considered unflyable after this, perhaps a good use for it would be to turn it into a testbed for new technology for the fleet of B-2s remaining. It may also possibly be used as a way to train new pilots, or to offer as a walk through for the media to keep the media away from the main flight line.
If Obama in the Oval office right now he and his wife would be joyfull and would give this b2 to Iran for a gift.
A sad sight.
yo 1 of those cost 2 billion dollars i dont think their gonna just throw it away i sure as hell wouldnt.
This brought back vivid memories of the B50 Crash at the sam site on May 19, 1953. We were able to get the Pilot and Co-Pilot out but not the others. A horrific scene and perpetual memory. we did what we could tghough not enough.
No way is this plane salvageable. After a fire like this, the structures suffered likely heat damage, and the composites are likely damaged in ways we can’t see from this picture (molecular level damage). It ain’t made of RHA and DU like an Abrams! The plane is junk now, never fly again. Never seen a billion dollars go up in flames like that.
If burning of moister was known to prevent this. Why wasn’t SOP?
If burning of moister was known to prevent this. Why wasn’t SOP?
parts!!!! :P
You Tell Me any aircraft crash that is fun or funny to look at!!!.besides the possible lose of life. there is always the (why) did it happen and how do we correct the problem.yes the aircraft looks nonrepairable.but I just imagine there is alot of parts and knowledge that can be glenned from this crash.how not to let this happen again.in order to advance in technology there has to be a few broken eggs.hopefully and praying that no lose of life happens.just like the space shuttles ( but to the misery of every one. people died).I say keep up with all the good work it helps keep us free.
“If Obama in the Oval office right now he and his wife would be joyfull and would give this b2 to Iran for a gift”.
Newwin, you’re out of line, and I think you will regret your statement when you discover that Mr. Obama is far more moderate than you right-wing nuts give him credit for.
Sad about such a beautiful machine, but yes, its scrap…..
I understand that some electrical connectors were not sealed correctly and water shorted out some computers. Ref. above, Obama giving it to Iran, he is correct! Nothing on a crash can be re-used, especially composit.
The aircraft is not salvagable. Some components might be but will need to be bench checked before they know. I helped build 19 of the aircraft and know them inside-and-out. It might berepaired enough to be placed on a pedistal along side the “Arc Light” B-52. Using it for anything else would be cost prohibitive. There are already 2 test beds (never flown) and the Simulators are the only logical pilot training divice. MLH