AEROSPACE & DEFENSE

B-2 Passes Structural Test: The Northrop B-2 Stealth bomber passed its final structural load test with a bang, when the aircraft’s wings broke at 161% of their designed load. Northrop wanted to determine the wings’ breaking point in what ranks as the most costly industrial test in history. The aircraft had already passed the requirement to sustain 150% of the design, and by going up to 161% it showed that Northrop had mastered designing the world’s first plastic composite aircraft structure, industry sources said.