The Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit is celebrated for its advanced stealth capabilities, boasting a unique flying-wing configuration and radar-absorbing coatings that render it nearly invisible to detection systems. However, “stealth” does not equate to complete invisibility. In 2021, a vigilant Reddit user spotted a B-2 in mid-air on a live Google Maps satellite image. The rare glimpse served as a humorous reminder that even the world’s most secretive aircraft can occasionally be seen—if only briefly.
The B-2 was discovered on Google Maps
In late December 2021, a Reddit user going by Hippowned revealed their discovery of a B-2 Spirit image on Google Maps. The blurred photograph, captured by Google’s satellite cameras, shows the stealth bomber flying over a field about 50 miles east of Kansas City, Missouri.
The images are no longer on Google Maps
The exact coordinates were 39°01’18.5”,-93°35’40.5”. The bright blue, green, and red colors appeared because of how the satellite cameras worked—they first took separate photos and then merged them to create a sharp, detailed image.
Sadly, these images are no longer available on Google Maps. Now, all that remains is an empty field.
What is the B-2 Spirit?
The B-2 Spirit is based at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, about 20 miles north of the location shown on Google Maps. Between 1987 and 2000, 21 of these bombers were built. They were designed to give the U.S. Air Force a high-tech stealth bomber that could slip past even the most advanced air defense systems.
The B-2 is expected to stay in service until the 2030s
The B-2 entered service in 1997 and saw its first combat action in 1999 during the Kosovo War, later participating in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya. It is expected to be retired in the early 2030s, with the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider set to take its place.
This wasn’t the only B-2 caught by Google Maps
This wasn’t the first instance of a B-2 Spirit appearing on satellite imagery. In 2022, Google Maps revealed another notable capture, depicting the aftermath of a crash at Whiteman Air Force Base. The aircraft, dubbed the Spirit of Georgia, suffered a serious malfunction during an emergency landing in September 2021. After touching down, it skidded off the runway and came to a stop in a nearby grassy area.
The incident resulted in damages exceeding $10 million. Investigators later concluded that tiny fractures in the hydraulic system, combined with faulty landing gear springs, caused the pilot to lose control during the landing—a costly reminder of the delicate engineering and precise handling required for one of America’s most advanced planes.