Changes

==History==

Much of the design for the B-2 Spirit came from [[Jack Northrop]], the founder of what is now known as Northrup Grumman. In 1946 the United States military looked for a bomber to replace the aging, [[B-52]] bomber. They wanted a plane that was more advanced and one with better range. The military awarded Jack Northrop with a 88 million contract to build a new bomber. Northrop began working on an idea for a plane which he called the "[[Flying Wing]]". But in 1947, the Air Force mysteriously ended his contract, and the project ended.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dau.mil/pubs/arq/2001arq/Baker.pdf|title=Clipped Wings: The Death of Jack Northrop's Flying Wing Bombers|author=Dr. Bud Baker|format=PDF|language=English|accessdate=2007-08-20}}</ref> The [[United States Air Force]] restarted it quest for a better bomber in 1970. In 1981, the first B-2 bomber was built. The new 172-foot wide flying wing was very similar to Jack Northrop's design, and much of the plane is attributed to him.<ref name="Centennial">{{cite web|url=http://www.centennialofflight.gov/essay/Aerospace/Northrop/Aero40.htm|title=Jack Northrop and the Northrop Corporation|work=U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission|author=Judy Rumerman|accessdate=2007-08-20|language=English}}</ref> The plane became fully operational in December 2003.<ref name="Howstuff" />

== Facts ==

[[Image:Bomberb-2.jpg‎|250px|thumb|right|B-2 Spirit flies over the St. Louis Arch]]