The aircraft transformed into a highly advanced bomber with improved avionics technology, stealth and armament. In July 2019, B-2 marked 30 years since its first flight. An assessment published by the USAF showed that two B-2s armed with precision weaponry can do the role of 75 conventional aircraft. In the first three years of service, the operational B-2s achieved a sortie reliability rate of 90%.
It is manufactured at the Northrop Grumman facilities in Pico Rivera and Palmdale in California, US.Īfter ten years of service, the B-2 Spirit finally achieved full operational capability in December 2003. The leading edges of the wings are angled at 33° and the trailing edge has a double-W shape. Its distinctive profile comes from the unique ‘flying wing’ construction. It is capable of all-altitude attack missions up to 50,000ft, with a range of more than 6,000nm unrefuelled and over 10,000nm with one refuelling, giving it the ability to fly to any point in the world within hours.
It also celebrates Enderby Island, one of the greatest Sub-Antarctic Islands in the world. The Enderby brothers were at the forefront of Antarctic exploration for almost 40 years in the early 1800’s and the name Spirit of Enderby honours their work. The Spirit of Enderby is one of the last family operated expedition vessels of her size and ice class in the world. The ship is manned by an extremely experienced Captain and crew, and expeditions are accompanied by a passionate and knowledgeable expedition team. The emphasis and focus of every expedition is to get passengers ashore as often as possible for as long as possible with maximum safety and comfort. Meals are prepared by Australian chefs who provide excellent international cuisine. The ship features a combined bar/library lounge area and a dedicated lecture room.
The ship carries a maximum of only 50 passengers in clean, comfortable twin and triple share cabins, most with en-suite facilities and all with windows or portholes. Built in 1984 for polar and oceanographic research and refurbished in 2012, the Spirit of Enderby is a fully ice-strengthened expedition vessel, ideally suited to Antarctic expeditions due to its strength, manoeuvrability and small passenger numbers.