B2 Spirit At The 2005 Edwards AFB Airshow

The B-2 started life as a black project known as the High Altitude Penetrating Bomber, then became the Advanced Technology Bomber and used the project code word Senior Cejay. It later became the B-2 Spirit.

An estimated 23 billion US dollars were secretly spent for research and development on the B-2 in the 1980s. An additional expense was caused by changing its role in 1985 from a high-altitude bomber to a low-altitude bomber, which required a major redesign. The first B-2 was publicly displayed on November 22 1988, when it was rolled out of its hangar at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California.

It's a deadly weapon and it cost way too much money but I must admit I'm fascinated by its appearance. Here are some beautiful photos from the B2 Spirit.

(thanks Rusty)