Rockwell B-1B "Lancer"

Rockwell B-1B "Lancer". South Dakato Air and Space Museum. The B-1A was initially developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the B-52. Four prototypes of his long –range, high speed strategic bomber were developed and tested but the program was canceled in 1977 before going into production. The B-1B is an improved variant initiated in 1981. The first production B-1B flew in October 1984 and the first B-1B was delivered to Dyess AFB, Texas in June 1985. The B-1B holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class. The B-1B was first used in combat in support of operations against Iraq during Operation Desert Fox in December 1988. In 1999, six B-1s were used in Operation Allied Force, delivering more than 20 percent of the total ordnance while flying less than 2 percent of the combat sorties. Eight B-1s were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. B-1s dropped nearly 40 percent of the total tonnage during the first six months of OEF., Specifications, Length: 146’; Height: 34’; Wingspan: 137’; Max Weight: 477,000 lbs; Powerplant: Four GE F-101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner; Max Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled; Max Speed: 900-plus mph; Ceiling: 30,000ft; Crew: Four; Armament: 24 GBU-31GPS aided JDAM or 24 MK-84 general purpose bombs., On loan from the National Museum of the Air Force