This guy got a ride in the right seat of a B-2! How awesome would that be?!
https://theaviationist.com/2019/07/...-cockpit-of-a-flying-b-2-stealth-bomber/
Northrop B-2 Spirit - First Cockpit Video
- Thread starter john_pifer
- Start date
{censored} awesome
I remember when R. Lee Ermey did a video of him flying in a B2 for his TV show a few years ago. When I was a young Airman in the USAF I was picked to give a briefing on the technical details of the B2 and it is absolutely fascinating what it is capable of. Despite the fact that it is a 30 year old Cold War era platform it still remains as arguably the most sophisticated aircraft in the world.
Can I fly it???
I dont think the cockpits of current military aircraft should be filmed and broadcast across the world. Let the Chinese and Russians work a little harder to figure out what it is capable of, rather than just watching a YouTube video that shows every instrument, button, and gizmo, right there in the video, for all to see.
Originally Posted by BusyLittleShop
Can I fly it???
Originally Posted by bubbatime
I dont think the cockpits of current military aircraft should be filmed and broadcast across the world. Let the Chinese and Russians work a little harder to figure out what it is capable of, rather than just watching a YouTube video that shows every instrument, button, and gizmo, right there in the video, for all to see.
Originally Posted by walterjay
Amazing! But what i really want to know is if it comes from the factory with Mobil1
Originally Posted by bubbatime
I dont think the cockpits of current military aircraft should be filmed and broadcast across the world. Let the Chinese and Russians work a little harder to figure out what it is capable of, rather than just watching a YouTube video that shows every instrument, button, and gizmo, right there in the video, for all to see.
Last edited:
Originally Posted by BusyLittleShop
Originally Posted by bubbatime
I dont think the cockpits of current military aircraft should be filmed and broadcast across the world. Let the Chinese and Russians work a little harder to figure out what it is capable of, rather than just watching a YouTube video that shows every instrument, button, and gizmo, right there in the video, for all to see.
That's incredible.
Anyone notice that the fuel flow to the #1 engine was substantially different (ie: #1 engine was significantly throttled down)? As though the engines thrust is used to manouevre the aircraft. Unlike a conventional airliner that will effect rolls entirely with the ailerons and rudder and will only adjust engine output in response to loss or gain of speed.
At 0:59, #1 = 3275, #2 = 5274, #3 = 5281, #4 = 5568 and a corresponding reduction in the N1 and N2 turbine % indications. And the plane was clearly in a turn to the left. So those engines must be constantly throttling down and up all the time individually and independantly when they're flying as part of the stability control system.
Edit: If you go to 4:50 or so and keep watching, you see that the fuel flows are all over the place when they're approaching the tanker. That must be terribly stressful for the engines, gas turbines really don't being subjected to power setting changes all the time... An engine out situation could be a real giant problem in that airplane, unlike the B-52, KC-135, or 747 where they just shut the engine down, adjust the trim, and keep flying...
Edit: No sound in that video, but it must be annoying as heck as a pilot to have the computers doing thrust changes all the time..
Originally Posted by pitzel
Anyone notice that the fuel flow to the #1 engine was substantially different (ie: #1 engine was significantly throttled down)? As though the engines thrust is used to manouevre the aircraft. Unlike a conventional airliner that will effect rolls entirely with the ailerons and rudder and will only adjust engine output in response to loss or gain of speed...
Originally Posted by pitzel
Anyone notice that the fuel flow to the #1 engine was substantially different (ie: #1 engine was significantly throttled down)? As though the engines thrust is used to manouevre the aircraft. Unlike a conventional airliner that will effect rolls entirely with the ailerons and rudder and will only adjust engine output in response to loss or gain of speed.
At 0:59, #1 = 3275, #2 = 5274, #3 = 5281, #4 = 5568 and a corresponding reduction in the N1 and N2 turbine % indications. And the plane was clearly in a turn to the left. So those engines must be constantly throttling down and up all the time individually and independantly when they're flying as part of the stability control system.
Edit: If you go to 4:50 or so and keep watching, you see that the fuel flows are all over the place when they're approaching the tanker. That must be terribly stressful for the engines, gas turbines really don't being subjected to power setting changes all the time... An engine out situation could be a real giant problem in that airplane, unlike the B-52, KC-135, or 747 where they just shut the engine down, adjust the trim, and keep flying...
Edit: No sound in that video, but it must be annoying as heck as a pilot to have the computers doing thrust changes all the time..
Originally Posted by Astro14
If you're flying formation, thrust changes are made about every second. It's the nature of formation flying.
If a gas turbine can't handle that, it shouldn't be in a military airplane. Period.
Tanking is simply formation flying with contact between the airplanes.
Throttle response is the same regardless of flight regime. A certain throttle position = a certain engine RPM*.
When making lots of small, fine adjustments, for example, during a carrier landing or in formation, you're moving the throttles constantly.
I used to "walk" them against each other. Rock my hand clockwise/counterclockwise a tiny bit, so I could feel one move, in relation to the other, and know by feel that it was really a tiny bit, say 1/8", and them match them up.
I didn't just push or pull them when fine adjustments in power were needed. Push/pull was for big changes in power.
I find myself doing the same thing now in a 757/767. I make more frequent power changes than many pilots when flying an approach. I am more precise, I think, about approach parameters as a result of my background. I still walk the throttles when I want little changes in power.
*Note that RPM and thrust are very different. 70% RPM might be about 5% of rated thrust, 85% RPM about 20% thrust, and 105% RPM is 100% thrust.
Originally Posted by Astro14
If you're flying formation, thrust changes are made about every second. It's the nature of formation flying.
Quote
If a gas turbine can't handle that, it shouldn't be in a military airplane. Period.
The B-2 (and U-2) uses a variant of an F-16, F-14, and F-15 (export) engine, the GE F118. It is very robust. If I remember correctly it was about 6000 hrs between rebuilds in F-16 service.
Last edited:
Originally Posted by tom slick
The B-2 (and U-2) uses a variant of an F-16, F-14, and F-15 (export) engine, the GE F118. It is very robust. If I remember correctly it was about 6000 hrs between rebuilds in F-16 service.
