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13h ago

Second B-21 Raider Makes First Flight to Edwards Air Force Base

The added airframe accelerates the Air Force's event-driven test program.

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Pictured is the first U.S. Air Force flight test B-21 Raider bomber at Edwards AFB, Calif. last year (Photo on Air Force Website)
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Overview

  • The Air Force confirmed the second B-21 flew Sept. 11 from Palmdale, Calif., to Edwards AFB, where it will join the Combined Test Force.
  • Photographer Jarod Hamilton captured video of the takeoff from Plant 42 with an F-16 flying chase alongside.
  • The aircraft was seen flying with its landing gear down and without the air-data probe and trailing cone used on the first Raider’s early flights.
  • This jet is the fourth B-21 overall, joining two ground-test articles (G-1, G-2) and the first flight-test aircraft (T-1) already operating from Edwards.
  • Northrop Grumman is in low-rate initial production with a plan for at least 100 aircraft, and officials continue to emphasize an event-based approach to testing.