OCC B-2 Spirit stealth bomber Bike "The Spirit of Innovation"

In July 2009, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first flight of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, which occurred on July 17, 1989.

As a visual centerpiece of its year-long celebration of this milestone, Northrop Grumman, the Air Force's B-2 prime contractor, commissioned Orange County Choppers, Newburgh, N.Y. to design and build a B-2 bomber-themed motorcycle.

The B-2 Stealth Bike is named "The Spirit of Innovation" to celebrate Northrop Grumman's leadership in innovative air systems and the spirit of partnership with the Air Force that enabled the successful development of the B-2. Its "tail number" is 0789 to commemorate the date of first flight.

The Stealth Bike's design mimics many of the visual details of the B-2 stealth bomber:

• Its gas tank and extended front cowling are shaped to resemble the B-2's unique cockpit and fuselage; major components are painted to match its color.
• Each side of each wheel contains five machined aluminum B-2 models positioned in the shape of the Air Force star, each model engraved with the tail number of one of the 20 B-2s in the current fleet;
• The "aft deck" of the bike is made from a scrap piece of titanium used for the original B-2 aft deck;
• Top view of the bike reveals that its handlebars and aft deck are set parallel to the "leading edge" of its gas tank, mimicking the B-2's unique "planform aligned" design.

Source irconnect.com