Inside the Stealth Bomber (Motorbooks ColorTech) (Paperback)

by Bill Sweetman (Author) "December 17, 1993, would have been cold in southern Missouri even if you were not standing in the middle of a windswept airfield, under a..." (more)
Key Phrases: new bomber, weapon bays, stealth aircraft, Air Force, Bill Sweetman, Have Blue (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This book covers the origins of the Northrop B-2 Spirit, describing its complex features and detailing how they are built, how they operate, and the technology that enables them to penetrate enemy air defenses undetected and destroy their targets. Cutaway drawings, aircraft serial numbers, and cockpit details bring enthusiasts inside the top secret world of the stealth bomber.

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 (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #344,438 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

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 (Michigan, United States) - See all my reviews

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)

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.