After the first ever crash of a B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber in Guam in February 23 this year, the stealth aircraft return to flight April 15 after a 53-day safety pause. Though accident investigation goes on, Air Force and Air Combat Command maintenance and safety experts gave the 509th Bomb Wing officials the green light to fly.
The B-2s have been flying almost 20 years and are renowned in the Air Force for their unprecedented safety record, according to General Harencak.
The B-2 Spirit of Kansas that crashed had logged more than 5,000 flight hours and 1,036 before Feb. 23 and it was renowned in the maintenance community for being a great jet.
The B-2 is airpower at its purest, most elegant and deadliest form. It is an aircraft that cannot be denied access with its range, payload and stealth-ness. It has everything that is required to hold at risk any of America’s enemies anywhere, anytime and we can do it from here.
-Gen. Gary Harencak, 509th Bomb Wing commander