The B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is one of the most impressive aircraft ever built, and its size often surprises people. When comparing the B-2 to a football field, the bomber actually spans wider than the playing surface itself.
B-2 Spirit Dimensions
The B-2 Spirit has the following specifications:
- Wingspan: 172 feet (52.4 meters)
- Length: 69 feet (21 meters)
- Height: 17 feet (5.2 meters)
- Wing Area: 5,140 square feet
Football Field Comparison
A standard American football field measures:
- Length: 360 feet (including end zones) or 300 feet (playing field only)
- Width: 160 feet (53.3 yards)
This means the B-2’s wingspan of 172 feet is actually 12 feet wider than a football field. If you parked a B-2 Spirit across the width of a football field, the wingtips would extend past both sidelines.
Visual Comparison
To put this in perspective:
- The B-2’s wingspan covers more than half the length of a football field (172 feet vs 300 feet)
- The bomber is wider than the field itself (172 feet vs 160 feet)
- At 69 feet long, the B-2 stretches from one goal line to about the 23-yard line
- Standing 17 feet tall, the B-2 is about as high as a two-story building
Why the Flying Wing Design
The B-2’s distinctive shape is called a “flying wing” configuration. Unlike conventional aircraft, the B-2 has no fuselage or tail section. The entire aircraft is essentially one massive wing, with the cockpit, bomb bays, engines, and fuel tanks all housed within the wing structure.
This design gives the B-2 a wingspan approaching that of the massive B-52 Stratofortress while maintaining a length only slightly longer than a fighter jet. The flying wing shape is critical to the B-2’s stealth capabilities, minimizing its radar signature from multiple angles.
Comparing to Other Bombers
The B-2’s proportions are unique among American bombers:
- B-52 Stratofortress: 185-foot wingspan, 159 feet long
- B-1B Lancer: 137-foot wingspan (swept), 146 feet long
- B-2 Spirit: 172-foot wingspan, 69 feet long
The B-2 has the second-largest wingspan of America’s bomber fleet, yet it’s by far the shortest in length, creating its distinctive bat-like silhouette.
Operational Significance
The B-2’s massive wingspan contributes to its impressive range of over 6,000 nautical miles without refueling. Combined with its stealth technology, this allows the B-2 to strike targets anywhere in the world while remaining virtually undetected by radar systems.
Only 21 B-2 Spirits were ever built, each costing approximately $2.1 billion, making them among the most expensive aircraft in history. Their size, stealth, and strategic capabilities make them a cornerstone of America’s nuclear deterrent.
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