Northrop B-2 Spirit
Northrop · jet, 4 engines · ICAO B2
The Northrop B-2 Spirit has the highest wingspan-to-length ratio and the widest main gear of the 364 types on this site, and the lowest tail and the shortest length among the 28 four-engine types. The runner-up in wingspan-to-length ratio, the Air Tractor AT-503, trails by 29.4%.
Airport design codes
- V
Design Group V. Set by the wingspan; the tail height alone would give Group I.
- C
Approach Category C. Band: 121 to 140 kt.
Gear and weights
| Cockpit to main gear | 43.2 ft | 13.2 m |
|---|---|---|
| Span-to-length ratio | 2.49 | |
| Max. takeoff weight | 375,998 lb | 170,550 kg |
| Main gear code | 2D | |
| Taxiway Design Group | 5 | |
| ICAO wake category | Heavy |
Where it sits
The B-2 also has the lowest maximum takeoff weight, the shortest wheelbase and the shortest wingspan in Design Group V (23 types). Its FAA reference approach speed, 140 kt, the input that sets its Approach Category, is 1 kt under the 141 kt floor of Category D. Its wingspan clears the 171 ft line that opens Design Group V by 1.0 ft. By length it falls between the Hawker 4000 and the Bombardier Challenger 300.
Main gear 47.4 ft wide (14.4 m), 28% of the span; wheelbase 43.2 ft (13.2 m), 63% of the length.
US records: 1,158 US flight-plan operations in FY2024; 21 on the US register.
Closest in size on this site
- Northrop B-2 Spirit
- Douglas DC-3
- Douglas Super DC-3
- Douglas DC-6
Source: FAA Aircraft Characteristics Database, October 2024 release. How we measure.