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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:28 am Post subject: B-2 Stealth Bomber Crashes in Guam! |
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A stealth bomber has just crashed in Guam, USA!
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B-2 stealth bomber crashes on U.S. base
(CNN) -- A B-2 stealth bomber crashed early Saturday morning local time in Guam, according to the Air Force.
Two pilots who were aboard during the crash, at Andersen Air Force Base, ejected from the bomber and were in good condition afterward, according to an Air Force statement.
The pilots were from the 509th Bomb Wing. The military didn't release their names.
Emergency responders were on the scene of the crash. A board of officers will investigate its cause.
The crash is the second in three days of an Air Force craft.
An Air Force fighter pilot was killed Wednesday after two F-15C jets collided during a training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico. The planes were from the 33rd Fighter Wing, a combat-flying unit out of Eglin Air Force Base near Pensacola, Florida.
Source: CNN; Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 2008; http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/02/22/stealth.bomber.crash/index.html |
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Zutronius
Joined: 16 Apr 2007
Location: Suncheon
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| Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Ouch. Expensive loss. |
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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 5:04 am Post subject: US Military Investigates Crash! |
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I'm glad nobody was hurt or killed. 
Here is an updated article about it:
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US military investigates stealth bomber crash
Sat Feb 23, 7:25 AM ET
The US military was investigating on Saturday after a B-2 stealth bomber crashed on take-off from the Pacific island of Guam, the first such incident involving the futuristic craft.
Both pilots on board ejected safely as the 1.2-billion-dollar radar-evading plane, with its distinctive triangular shape, went down at Andersen airbase on the remote island, the US air force said.
"Two pilots from the 509th Bomb Wing were on board and ejected. They have been evaluated by medical authorities and are in good condition," it said.
"Emergency responders are on scene. A board of officers will investigate the accident," said the headquarters of the US air force in the Pacific.
It was the second US air force crash this week after two F-15C jets collided during training over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, killing a fighter pilot.
Crowds gathered at the crash site after the bomber, one of just 21 in the air force inventory, went down at about 10:45 am (0045 GMT).
A thick plume of smoke rose over the airbase and officials closed one of its two runways, diverting planes to Guam International Airport, the Pacific Daily News website said.
"Everybody was on their cellphones and the first thing everyone wanted to know was did the pilots make it out in time," said an eye-witness quoted by the website.
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell, here with visiting US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, confirmed the crash but did not give further details.
"We are grateful for the safety of the pilots," said Mike Cruz, acting governor of the US territory.
"The Air Force and Guam have a long-standing relationship and we help each other in this community we share, especially during times like these."
The long-range bomber was visiting from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Operated exclusively by the US, the B-2 has never crashed since first seeing combat in the air war over Kosovo in 1999.
The 172-foot (52-metre) wide stealth bomber, which can carry nuclear as well as conventional weapons, has also been used in US campaigns over Iraq and Afghanistan.
It emits minimal exhaust, noise and heat, making it hard to detect by radar or infra-red.
Guam, in the northwest Pacific, and neighbouring US territories including the Northern Mariana Islands are considered by Washington as strategic locations in the Asia-Pacific region.
Guam, population 170,000, is home to one of the largest US military naval bases in the region and 8,000 marines will soon be relocated there from Japan.
The US and Japan are spending 15 billion dollars on the relocation of the marines from Japan, which is expected to further boost Washington's military strength in the Asia-Pacific.
Source: Yahoo News; http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080223/wl_afp/usmilitarybomber_080223122518 |
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Geckoman
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:21 am Post subject: Moisture Caused the Stealth Bomber to Crash! |
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The investigation into the cause of the crash has been completed and it turns out that moisture is what caused the stealth bomber to crash. Just moisture. Nothing more. Maybe stealth bombers should start wearing rain coats. 
See this article about the investigation's conclusion below or at http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/06/06/crash.ap/index.html
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Air Force: Moisture caused $1.4 billion bomber crash
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii (AP) -- The Air Force said the first crash of a B-2 stealth bomber was caused by moisture in sensors and estimated the loss of the aircraft at $1.4 billion.
The crash probably could have been avoided if knowledge of a technique to evaporate the moisture had been disseminated throughout the B-2 program, Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, who headed an accident investigation board, said Thursday.
The Spirit of Kansas abruptly pitched up, rolled and yawed to the left February 23 before plunging to the ground at Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam. Both pilots ejected safely just after the left wing made contact with the ground; it was the first crash since the maiden B-2 flights nearly 20 years ago.
"It was just by the grace of God that they were safe, and the good [ejection] system," Carpenter said.
Water distorted preflight readings in three of the plane's 24 sensors, making the aircraft's control computer force the B-2 to pitch up on takeoff, resulting in a stall and subsequent crash. Watch $1.4 billion aircraft crash to the ground �
Carpenter said the pilots and crew followed procedures and "the aircraft actually performed as it was designed. In other words, all the systems were functioning normally."
However, a technique learned by some two years ago that had gone widely unknown and unadopted probably would have prevented the crash, Carpenter said. The technique essentially heats the sensors and evaporates any moisture before data calibrations.
"This technique was never formalized in a technical order change or captured in 'lessons learned' reports. Hence, only some pilots and some maintenance technicians knew of the suggestion," according to Carpenter's executive summary of the accident.
The report said, "The human factor of communicating critical information was a contributing factor to this mishap."
The general said his responsibility was solely for the investigation of the crash and added that the report was forwarded to commanding officers to determine whether any disciplinary measures are required.
The sensors measure air pressure to help calculate everything from airspeed to altitude. Because of the bad data, flight computers had inaccurate airspeed and wrongly indicated a downward angle, which contributed to an early rotation and uncontrolled 30-degree pitch up.
Carpenter said the lack of altitude and airspeed prevented the pilots from correcting the aircraft.
Guam, 3,700 miles southwest of Hawaii, is known for its humidity. But the Air Force said water in the sensors never caused any problems.
The Spirit was delivered in February 1995 and expected to be in service for another 50 years.
The bomber had been returning to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where the 21-plane fleet is based. The Air Force grounded the B-2s after the crash and resumed flying them in late April.
Carpenter said procedures and policies are now in place to guard against similar crashes.
"It's fortunate the crew was able to safely eject. It's unfortunate, however, that we lost one of our nation's penetrating bombers," said Gen. Carrol H. Chandler, commander of Pacific Air Forces.
Source: CNN; June 6, 2008; http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/06/06/crash.ap/index.html |
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