The State - News from Sept. 22, 1989

The B-2 Stealth bomber soared within 90 feet of a giant Air Force jet to practice refueling during its fourth test flight over the Mojave Desert, a military spokeswoman said. The sinister-looking aircraft was maneuvered behind and beneath the Air Force KC-10 refueling jet, the military’s version of a DC-10, to practice for an actual refueling scheduled for later, said Capt. Tess Taft Cowan at Edwards Air Force Base. “It was a successful flight, with all primary mission objectives being completed,” she said. The Stealth, a black boomerang-shaped flying wing, flew for 2 hours, 53 minutes, Cowan said. The time and date of the next test flight of the Northrop-built bomber were not announced. Congressional opposition to the $530-million-per-bomber price tag has threatened to scuttle the B-2 program. The Bush Administration is seeking congressional authorization of $70 billion for 132 B-2 bombers.