Key Points and Summary – Video from aviation photographer Jarod Hamilton shows the second B-21 Raider launching from USAF Plant 42 (Palmdale) around 8 a.m. PT on Sept. 11, gear down and escorted by an F-16—classic early flight-test cues.
-The Air Force hasn’t confirmed the sortie or destination, but observers expect a ferry to Edwards AFB, home to the B-21 Combined Test Force.
The second B-21 Raider has flown! #b21 #b21raider pic.twitter.com/PxgOmpceny
— jmh.creates (@JarodMHamilton) September 11, 2025
-The jet is one of four pre-production airframes currently in testing (with reports of six built overall): two for ground tests (G-1/G-2) and two for flight trials (T-1/T-2).
-The sighting underscores a steady march toward production of America’s next-gen stealth bomber.
It’s Official: Second B-21 Raider Takes Flight in California
Only days after officials suggested that a second B-21 Raider will fly “very soon,” video has emerged showing the maiden flight of the second aircraft.
The footage was shared on X by aircraft photographer Jarod Hamilton who revealed that the aircraft took off from the U.S. Air Force’s Plant 42 in Palmdale, California. The flight occurred at 8am local time, September 11, and shows the aircraft flying with its leading gear extended – indicating that the aircraft is still in the initiating flight testing phase.
“The second B-21 Raider has flown!” Hamilton wrote in the post containing the video.
The clip (see above) shows the aircraft flying immediately overhead, accompanied by an F-16.
Speaking to The War Zone, Hamilton offered some additional information about the clip and how he came to film it – and it appears to have been captured by chance.
With no prior information about when the B-21 Raider would fly – reports have simply suggested it would fly “soon” since earlier this summer – Hamilton said that he and a group of other plane spotters were surprised to see the aircraft moved out of its hangar.
“We saw the B-21 roll out and then it sat there and we waited for it,” Hamilton said. “We heard the engine noise and thought maybe they were doing taxi tests. But when the F-16 showed up, I knew.”
Hamilton also described being impressed by the “sound” and “power” of the aircraft, but was unable to confirm how long the test flight lasted. Observers did, however, confirm that the aircraft was trackable for a matter of minutes before it eventually disappeared from sight.
What We Know So Far: B-21 Raider Flight
The U.S. Air Force has yet to confirm that the flight took place, or where the aircraft may have landed.
Given that the first pre-production B-21 Raider made its maiden flight from Plant 42 in 2023 and was ultimately moved to the Edwards Air Force Base, however, there is speculation that the aircraft was flown to the exact location.
Not only is the Edwards base located in California, it is also home to the B-21 Combined Test Force – the U.S. Air Force’s dedicated unit for testing and evaluating the B-21 during its development and early flight program.
B-21 Raider Bomber. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
The aircraft seen in the video is one of four B-21 pre-production aircraft currently in testing, though recent reports have suggested that there are a total of six in existence.
Out of those four, two – designated G-1 and G-2 – are understood to be used for ground testing.
The other two, which are designated T-1 and T-2, are used for flight testing.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York who writes frequently for National Security Journal. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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