Rolled out at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California on 22 October 1988; first flight Monday 17 July 1989 from Palmdale to Edwards AFB; operational as test aircraft with 6520th TS / 6510th TW, AFMC, Edwards AFB; unit was redesignated 420th TS / 412th TW on 2 October 1992; used for flight envelope expansion, night flights, night refuelling's, and RCS-testing; placed in flyable storage at Palmdale in March 1993, with 81 sorties flown in 352.6 flight hours; modified to the B-2A-30-NO standard and used as an operational aircraft. Was named Spirit of America on 14 July 2000. Delivery to 509th BW on the same day.
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