Inside the Stealth Bomber (Motorbooks Colortech) [Paperback]

Bill Sweetman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Motorbooks Colortech | Publication Date: June 28, 1999

Climb into the top-secret world of Northrop's stealthy B-2 Spirit! This behind-the-scenes look at the 1990's most talked-about weapon covers the origins of the Northrop B-2 Spirit, describes its complex features, details how it is built, how it operates, and how it penetrates enemy air defenses and destroys targets. Cockpit photos and details, weapon descriptions, aircraft serial numbers, and cutaway drawings bring you up-to-date on this stealthy flying wing design.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

An internationally recognized expert on modern military aircraft, Bill Sweetman has also written the previous MBI titles Aurora: The Pentagon's Hypersonic Spyplane and F-22 Raptor, among others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Zenith Press (June 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760306273
• ISBN-13: 978-0760306277
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #934,070 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The B-2, Finally Explained, February 1, 2002

By 

Mark "arch-nerd" (Daytona Beach, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Stealth Bomber (Motorbooks Colortech) (Paperback)

Bill Sweetman, one of the great aviation writers of our time, has finally shed light on the most mysterious aircraft of our time: The B-2 Spirit. I read Bill Sweetman's original B-2 book, which consisted mainly of conjecture (it was written around 1989), and the new "Inside the Stealth Bomber" is a welcome and timely followup.

For the first time, a concise history of the B-2's origin and development is presented. Bill also gives a good account of B-2 operations, which is quite relevant now that the aircraft has seen action in Afghanistan and Kosovo.

Another first is the photographs of the B-2 weapons bay, which had previously been off-limits to photographers. The pictures in this book, like those in all Sweetman books, are quite rare and very gorgeous in their full color glory.

Of all the books on the B-2 out there, this is the definitive one. It is an excellent aviation reference, and it is also easy and enjoyable to read. Check out "Inside the Stealth Bomber" as soon as possible.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book On A Complex Subject, March 2, 2001

By 

Peter (California, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Inside the Stealth Bomber (Motorbooks Colortech) (Paperback)

Bill Sweetman is the aviation author for Popular Science magazine so he's really knowledgable on military aircrafts.

I find this book really enjoyable. Bill Sweetman took a LOT of information (cancellations, upgrades, test results, this happened, that didn't, that was supposed to, etc.) and laid it all out so the reader knows what actually did and didn't happen in the B-2's long and confusing construction process.

Bill also obtained exclusive photos that aren't classified but surely never before seen by the ordinary public in news magazines and newspapers. Photos such as the cockpit instruments, bomb bay, landing gear, construction process, weapons, etc. He really did "get inside the stealth bomber."

Bill also didn't guess or put "N/A" for items he knew nothing about. The information is factual and I'm sure he did his homework. His educated guesses are the best I've ever read and he provided evidence as to why he thinks of that guess.

It's a great read with lots of specs and technical information. If your interested in the B-2 and want to see the final product after its lengthy confusing construction history, this is the book for you. Also great for the illustrator and scale modeler.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inside the Stealth Bomber, March 6, 2008

By 

Glen E. Marsden (U.P. of Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Inside the Stealth Bomber (Motorbooks Colortech) (Paperback)

I worked on R&D for this bomber, but security regulations made it impossible to gather some of the information found in this book.
It is comprehensive and well researched.
It filled in a lot of the gaps for me.
Anyone interested in the newer aircraft technology would enjoy it.