Northrop-Grumman B-2A "Spirit of New York" (82-1068 / WM) from the United States Air Force at the RIAT 2018, RAF Fairford (United Kingdom)

A stealthy surprise occurred with a flyby of the United States Air Forces Northrop-Grumman B-2A "Spirit of New York" (82-1068 / WM) bomber
all the way from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri (United States).

The Northrop (later Northrop-Grumman) B-2 Spirit, also known as the Stealth Bomber, is an American heavy penetration strategic bomber, featuring low observable stealth technology designed for penetrating dense anti-aircraft defenses; it is a flying wing design with a crew of two. The bomber can deploy both conventional and thermonuclear weapons, such as eighty 500 lb (230 kg) class JDAM Global Positioning System-guided bombs, or sixteen 2400 lb (1100 kg) B83 nuclear bombs. The B-2 is the only acknowledged aircraft that can carry large air-to-surface standoff weapons in a stealth configuration. Of the 21 B-2As procured, nineteen of these are operationally available to the United States Air Force. A sole example is used in the research and development role to further other programs. The series is expected to remain in frontline service into the late 2050s.

The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is the world's largest military air show, held annually over the third weekend in July,
usually at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England in support of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.
The show typically attracts a total of 150.000 to 160.000 spectators over the weekend.
The 2018 Air Tattoo will reflect the 100th anniversary of the RAF with a commemoration
and celebration of a century of service to the United Kingdom and its allies.