Wednesday, April 1, 2015

B-2 Spirit visits LAX



Despite being the busiest civilian airport in the western United States, LAX periodically receives visits from military aircraft. The most obvious is Air Force One and its entourage. Not to mention the Coast Guard helicopters based here. But today we had a special treat when a Northrup Grumman B-2 Spirit gave us a low pass over the north complex. To my knowledge, this was the first appearance of the Stealth bomber at LAX, despite the fact that they were built not far from here.

Several waiting departures have a front-row view as the stealth crosses over the threshold

Straight down the runway. Rock-steady at fifty feet

What a sight! I asked around, and nobody I talked to could remember ever seeing a stealth at LAX before

As the stealth reaches midfield, the glare and haze make it hard to spot

Low pass done, it's time to run. We say goodbye as the stealth climbs away through the late afternoon haze


A little while later, another not-so-stealthy departure climbs out through the sunset


12 comments:

  1. Well done! Classic shots!

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  2. Very stealthy indeed! Happy April first to you too.

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  3. Could you use your red edit pencil and point it out? I can't see it for the life of me, even with my new bifocals.

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  4. If only ALL aircraft were that stealthy! I'll bet you couldn't even hear it as it flew by. The government could build an airport anywhere they wished. Photography from Imperial Hill would be much less satisfying, however...

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  5. I just realized that you just put out the biggest April Fools Joke. ::::: faceplate::::::

    Geez

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  6. You genuinely had me scanning the first few pictures looking for the B-2, well played!

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  7. I'm not even going to tell you how long I looked for the plane....then I saw the date. Very well played.

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  8. Good to "see" you back-missed your postings! Do you have any vintage shots of the Stealth fighters from a few years back?

    Thanks and keep posting!

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  9. Randomly got to your page from airliners.net from a post done years ago about A380s and the TBIT, and got excited when I started to read this post. 9 days after April 1 and you got me, you magnificent bastard. 10/10.

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  10. Very good Capt V! ;-)

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