Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Crowds Invited to View B-2 Bomber

Northrop Corp. is throwing open the security gates at its B-2 bomber assembly plant to the public today for the first time.

The unprecedented openness is for a ceremony that includes the naming of the stealthy B-2 Spirit and the naming of the second operational bomber the Spirit of California--in recognition of the state’s contribution to the aerospace industry.

“We want to be able to share that with as many people as we possibly can,” Northrop spokesman Ed Smith said.

Final assembly of the B-2 is done at Northrop’s Palmdale facility at Air Force Plant 42, where about 3,700 people work. In all, about 12,500 people in California are involved in the B-2 program.

Large crowds are expected to take advantage of the opportunity to see the planes close up.

The ceremony comes at a time when Northrop is hoping that Congress will extend the program beyond 20 planes. The company is asking that $150 million be allocated in next year’s federal budget to keep the production line moving until a decision can be made on the purchase of additional planes.

Without the money, Northrop officials said the company and many of its contractors will mothball much of their specialized equipment, and jobs will be lost.

All of the bombers are in final assembly at Palmdale, with the last of the planes scheduled for delivery in four years.

Three of the bat-winged bombers will be on display at today’s outdoor ceremony.

For security reasons, people will have to stand 100 feet from the planes. Cameras are allowed.

The ceremony’s speakers will include U. S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.); Lt. Gen. Stephen B. Croker, commander of the 8th Air Force; Rep. Howard P. (Buck) McKeon (R-Santa Clarita), and Northrop Chairman Kent Kresa. Lancaster and Palmdale have declared today B-2 Stealth Bomber Day.