Two Geometries Of Flight

About this piece

Seen from below, a B-2 and a B-52 occupy opposite halves of a blue sky, their contrasting silhouettes separated by a broad interval of open air. Sunlight traces their edges and reveals underside panels, setting the flying wing’s angular simplicity against the long fuselage and paired engines below.

The story

In the clear light of late May, two shapes cross the blue expanse. One gathers itself into a dark, nearly continuous wing; the other extends a long body between wings lined with engines. Bright edges catch the eye before it settles into the shaded metal beneath. Between the aircraft, the sky remains open, giving their passage an unexpected sense of stillness.