The B‑2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is one of the most advanced aircraft in the world. Built by Northrop Grumman for the U.S. Air Force, the B‑2 is designed to fly long distances, avoid radar detection, and deliver powerful weapons anywhere in the world.
But how far can it really fly on one tank of fuel? And what happens when it’s refueled in the air?
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🛢️ Fuel Tank Size and Basic Range
The B‑2 bomber can hold about 167,000 pounds of jet fuel. That’s more than 20,000 gallons — enough to fuel about 1,000 average cars!
On a full tank, the B‑2 can fly about 6,000 nautical miles (or around 6,900 miles / 11,000 kilometers) without needing to stop or refuel. That’s enough to fly from Missouri (where B‑2s are based) to nearly anywhere in Europe or Asia — and sometimes back — in one go.
That’s what we call the unrefueled range — how far it can go on just one tank of gas.
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🔧 What Affects How Far It Can Go?
Just like with your car, how far a B‑2 can travel on a “tank” depends on a few things:
1. Weight of the Bombs Onboard
• The B‑2 can carry up to 40,000 pounds of bombs or missiles inside its body.
• The more weapons it carries, the heavier it becomes — and the more fuel it uses.
• If it’s carrying a full load, it won’t go quite as far as if it’s flying empty.
2. Altitude
• The B‑2 is designed to fly high — usually around 40,000 to 50,000 feet.
• Flying higher reduces air resistance, saving fuel.
• If it has to fly lower to avoid radar or bad weather, it uses more fuel.
3. Speed
• It usually cruises at about 560 mph (Mach 0.85).
• Flying faster burns more fuel. So for long missions, the B‑2 flies efficiently at steady speeds.
4. Mission Type
• Sometimes the B‑2 must circle a target for a while or wait before attacking. This “loiter time” adds more time in the air and more fuel use.
• If the mission is quick and direct, it saves fuel.
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🛩️ Aerial Refueling: Refilling in the Sky
One of the most amazing things about the B‑2 is that it doesn’t always need to land to refuel. It can refuel in the air using a flying gas station — like the KC‑135 or KC‑10 tanker aircraft.
What Happens During Aerial Refueling?
• A big tanker plane flies ahead and matches speed with the B‑2.
• A fuel boom connects to the top of the B‑2 and transfers fuel mid-air.
• It takes a few minutes and can be done at high altitude.
What’s the Benefit?
• With just one aerial refueling, the B‑2 can fly over 10,000 nautical miles (11,500+ miles / 18,500+ km).
• That’s enough to fly from the U.S. to any country in the world, do its mission, and fly back — without ever landing.
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🕐 How Long Can the B‑2 Stay in the Air?
With a full tank and at cruise speed, the B‑2 can fly for about 11 to 12 hours nonstop.
But with in-air refueling, it can stay in the sky for over 30 hours. In real missions, B‑2 pilots have flown 35-hour missions, which is almost a day and a half in the air!
Of course, the limit then becomes the humans flying it, not the plane itself. Pilots take turns resting and flying, but eventually, they need to come back for sleep and maintenance.
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🧑✈️ How Many People Fly the B‑2?
Surprisingly, just two crew members operate the B‑2:
• One pilot
• One mission commander
They sit side-by-side in a cozy, high-tech cockpit and handle everything from takeoff to refueling to bombing to landing.
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🔁 Real Mission Examples
Here are some real missions that show how far and powerful the B‑2 is:
🕊️ Kosovo War (1999)
• Flew from Missouri to Serbia and back, dropping bombs without ever landing in Europe.
🏜️ Afghanistan (2001)
• Some of the longest bombing missions in history.
• B‑2s flew over 30 hours, refueled multiple times, and returned safely.
🛡️ Pacific Deterrence (Recent Years)
• B‑2s have flown from the U.S. to Guam, Japan, and Australia, demonstrating strength and stealth to rival nations.
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🔍 How Does It Compare to Other Bombers?
Let’s look at two other famous U.S. bombers: the B‑1B Lancer and the B‑52 Stratofortress.
Bomber Max Fuel Unrefueled Range Max Payload
B‑2 Spirit 167,000 lb ~6,000 nmi (~6,900 mi) 40,000 lb
B‑1B Lancer 265,000 lb ~5,100 nmi 75,000 lb
B‑52 Stratofortress 312,000 lb ~7,650 nmi (~8,800 mi) 70,000 lb
• The B‑52 can go the farthest on one tank but it’s not stealthy.
• The B‑1B is faster and carries more bombs, but doesn’t fly as far.
• The B‑2 is stealthy, long-range, and perfectly suited for sneaky, powerful missions.
All three can refuel in the air and fly around the world if needed.
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🔮 What’s Next? The B‑21 Raider
The B‑2 has served since the 1990s, and it’s still one of the best in the world. But the future is coming.
The U.S. is developing the B‑21 Raider, which is like a smaller, smarter, even more advanced version of the B‑2. It will be cheaper to maintain, harder to detect, and built for both nuclear and conventional missions.
Still, the B‑2 remains a key part of America’s defense today — and for the next several years.
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✅ Final Summary: How Far Can It Fly?
• Without refueling: ~6,000 nautical miles (~11,000 km)
• With one refuel: Over 10,000 nautical miles (~18,500+ km)
• Longest missions flown: 30–35 hours, thousands of miles nonstop
• Flight time on full tank: ~11–12 hours cruising
The B‑2 is a flying powerhouse — invisible to radar, armed to the teeth, and capable of hitting any target on Earth with precision.
It’s not just a plane; it’s a flying symbol of global reach and advanced engineering.
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