Test pilot B-21 spoke about the "strange windows" of the latest strategic bomber

On December 2, in Palmdale, California, a demonstration of the latest American-made B-21 Raider bomber took place. Many correspondents were interested in the unusual shape of the aircraft's windows. Meanwhile, back in 2021, the US Air Force unveiled an artistic depiction of the B-21. Already it shows the strange shape of the “windows” (for simplicity, they were designated portholes in the USA) of the aircraft cabin. They were depicted as slanted and narrower than those of its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit.

Defense News took a comment from Todd Harrison, defense budget expert and managing director of Metrea Strategic Insights. He emphasizes that many experts were surprised by this form of “windshields” and even wondered if it would reduce the dignity of the aircraft. The demonstration of the B-21 bomber, the newspaper writes, confirmed that the cockpit windows do indeed have a different shape - perhaps with a wider gap between the two main windows and slightly smaller on the sides - than the B-2.

Test pilot Lt. Col. Clifton Bell claims that from what he has seen, the windshields of the B-21 are not that much different from those of the B-2, and this should not be a problem for the bomber. In his career, Bell noted, he had never flown an aircraft with windshields that could bother him.

The test pilot notes that the military pilots who will pilot this strategic bomber will quickly get used to the shape of the "windows", as there are additional technical possibilities to increase the viewing area.

The choice in favor of just this form of windows could be made for reasons of increasing the secrecy of the aircraft. The view for pilots can be expanded with the help of cameras, sensors or other technical devices, Todd Harrison believes.

Over the next few months, testing of the latest bomber will continue. Now experts are working to study all the aircraft's systems to find out which ones will need further testing during flights.

Comments

[Herman 4223]

Is he still floating on the water, why does he need portholes?

[Normann]

This is also a MAPL, plus the turret from the abrams extends and he is on a caterpillar track, a wunderwaffe in all its glory.

[Jafar]

why does he need portholes

What do you mean why? To illuminate.)

[sergo1914]

Quote: Herman 4223

Is he still floating on the water, why does he need portholes?

This is if the catapult does not work, you can jump out through the window with a parachute. They think about people.

[Bingo]

Quote: sergo1914

This is if the catapult does not work, you can jump out through the window with a parachute.

Decent people come out the door.
In general, the hype about nothing around the prodigy is already laughing. I remember it was the same with Zyama - they dispersed it in the press, discussing everything except the performance characteristics. Then it turned out that he was the advanced one, but he could not swim - he was afraid of dust and dampness, so he squatted without a move and without a weapon in the middle of the Panama Canal.
If there were real breakthroughs in performance characteristics, they would discuss them, they say it flies further or faster, or the price of a flight hour is less. But as you can see, there is really nothing to brag about. We discuss window vents

[orionvitt]

Quote from Bingo

But as you can see, there is really nothing to brag about.

How is nothing? And the price. If the predecessor cost about a lard apiece, then it's scary to even think about this "miracle".

[alexey sidykin]

Quote: orionvitt

Quote from Bingo

But as you can see, there is really nothing to brag about.

How is nothing? And the price. If the predecessor cost about a lard apiece, then it's scary to even think about this "miracle".

They write that at a price less than B-2 it is both smaller and lighter ... the initial price tag is 700 lyam apiece

[Igor K_2]

Do you also suspect that he also has a periscope?

[Herman 4223]

And at least a few torpedo preparations, but what if it comes in handy, and most importantly, no one has this, advanced technology

[Sith]

If there are reviews and high-ranking authorities arrive ... and ask for a ride ... they will show the ground from the porthole or fish ... if they don’t take it successfully

[Argon]

It is not clear why such an aircraft has windows at all, what will they visually bomb? more text - more attention. Afraid that few people will pay attention?

[dauria]

It is not clear why such an aircraft has windows at all

On the T-4, they generally managed forward with a periscope. The nose dropped only when landing.

[novel66]

But it was awesome stuff! everyone is envious

[Asad]

The author in the skill of overflowing from empty to empty surpassed even Kirill Ryabov!

[tralflot1832]

The B-21 is actually a bomber and not a fighter that needs a good all-round view. It’s like in a tank, being in it, the driver’s mechanics don’t really care that he has a small view and the tank has large dimensions. This is a PR campaign, what are we in " lumiki "done, but you feel weak.

[Jafar]

For a tank, poor visibility for a driver mechanic is not a problem. This is a problem for other road users.

[Konnick]

Ask about toilet bowls, otherwise a friend asks if they are narrow or not? He is somehow less interested in windows ...

[tralflot1832]

I can only say a toilet on it at the price of a Ferrari. On an old man B 52, it cost like $ 20000. There was a scandal when an American wanted to pay taxes with a toilet. It was a long time ago.

[Storog dvornik]

I remember the info from the times of the USSR ... The Pentagon ordered simple toilet seats for "ground" toilet bowls at a tender for $ 500 ... The experience of cutting the budget in the USA is at its best + legalized corruption called "lobbyism" ...
Domestic businessmen from the Moscow Region have a lower chimney and thinner smoke ...
Although the trend is similar, at first the general promotes "his" commerce from the military-industrial complex in procurement, upon retirement, he has a position and nishtyaks in the top management of the same military-industrial complex ... Capitalism is nothing new ...

[Zaurbek]

A toilet bowl is not a cheap thing .... An ordinary-looking toilet bowl made of stainless steel for industrial needs (German) costs 100-200t.r. And you add a dry closet, build it into the plane ... there the amounts will come out inhumane.

[Fangaro]

Portholes... Nautilus?
For the pilots of this high-tech American, the less you see, the calmer.
Soon the pilot will become a tribute to tradition. And all control will be either from a comfortable chair, or from a very large FPGA.

[SlavaS]

Remote control will only be needed as long as the AI ​​is weak, but it already shows pretty good results, so the drone will soon be able to get in touch a couple of times during the flight.

[Real Pilot]

Quote: dauria

It is not clear why such an aircraft has windows at all

On the T-4, they generally managed forward with a periscope. The nose dropped only when landing.

Totally agree with you. They fly on it on instruments, glazing is desirable, but the shape is secondary. When taking off and landing, it only matters.

Again, in the presence of cameras and other auxiliary systems, this is not critical. But in case of serious failures of the stabilizing electronics - only ejection, because this aircraft without a tail and with such streamlined shapes, like its predecessor, will be aerodynamically unstable. Landing it manually will be extremely unlikely, given the failures of the EDSU (fly-by-wire control system, fly-by-wire).

[iouris]

Portholes are made for the Illuminati. Windshields - for motorcyclists.

[SlavaS]

Didn't they shoot at Engels from him?

[alexey sidykin]

Quote: SlavaS

Didn't they shoot at Engels from him?

And you, my friend, are a joker, it turns out ... this prodigy has not even risen into the sky, they have been transferred from this year to the previous one. And in general, only the nose of the public was shown from him)))

[Fizik13]

Test pilot B-21 spoke about the "strange windows" of the latest strategic bomber

So you are a reindeer!

[Joseph cooper]

In fact, the windows have not changed. Open image B-2 and B-21. The shape of the window is similar even with a wide gap between them. The proportions are respected in relation to the width and height of their cabins. The B-2 has a more convex cockpit, while the B-21 has a flattened cockpit. Most likely, this is due to an increase in aerodynamic capabilities. The speed limit at which it becomes visible has been removed from the model. Stealths are visible in two cases: when they are loaded with weapons at cruising speed, and when they gain maximum speed, the aircraft becomes visible on radar due to heat generation. The B-21 really has a reduced payload, probably due to the fact that it is a 6th generation bomber, and its “mission”, including leading a swarm of drones, which should carry the basis of the arsenal - Frank Kendall, Secretary of the US Air Force, is worn with this idea. In addition, it is painted white, the lightest and strongest paint on titanium oxide, which itself absorbs and reflects almost the entire electromagnetic spectrum, cooling the body, which also allows you to gain high speeds, almost without heating up - some paints can even cool below the outer temperature. In the B-21, the windows seem smaller due to the frame/gap between them, but with this aerodynamic shape, the air hits exactly on this frame. In fact, this frame is "bearing". On the Internet there are pictures of the view from above. The cockpit of the B-21 is rounded, less streamlined, while the B-2 has an oval, more streamlined cockpit. So the frame is wider for that very reason.

The models still have different tails, perhaps this is somehow related to the masking of the contrail. If so, then the B-21 can sink lower than its predecessor, and again, heat dissipation is low.

It's not clear how different the noses are, but the B-2 could formerly be camouflaged due to its radar cross-section. An electronic warfare antenna can be placed inside there, once the Americans tried to place antennas on the nose of invisibles from the outside, but refused because invisibility was broken. They said about the F-35 that they want to place antennas, but they did not explain where and how.

[Last centurion]

So you need to shy away the electronic warfare so that all the cameras of the pilots go out and they fly according to the compass :)
All American aircraft are big computers and aiming EMP weapons at them should probably be a 100% countermeasure solution.

[vlad500]

I've read fairy tales about electronic warfare!))) This plane doesn't care about the electronic warfare, and besides, it does not fly into the electronic warfare zone. Any aircraft flying at high altitude and having satellite communications do not give a damn !!!)))

[zenion]

And satellite communication doesn't care about this plane if it flies without a gift.