visibility Similar

F-105 Thunderchief in the skies over southeast Asia. - NARA - 542329

A fighter jet flying through the air. Jet sr 71 reconnaissance.

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A left front view of the B-1B test program aircraft, originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype, landing after a test flight

A left rear view of the B-1B test program aircraft, originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype, landing after a test flight

An air-to-air left rear view of the B-1B test program aircraft, originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype, during a test flight

A right side view of the B-1B bomber testbed aircraft (originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype) touching down on a runway after a test flight

A right front view of the B-1B bomber testbed aircraft (originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype) touching down on a runway after a test flight

A right front view of the B-1B bomber testbed aircraft (originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype) touching down on a runway after a test flight

A right rear view of the B-1B bomber testbed aircraft (originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype) touching down on a runway after a test flight

An air-to-air right side view of the B-1B test program aircraft banking to the left

A right rear view of the first B-1B bomber testbed aircraft (originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype) taking off from a runway at the Air Force Flight Test Center

A left side view of the B-1B test program aircraft, originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype, landing after a test flight

description

Summary

The original finding aid described this photograph as:

Base: Edwards Air Force Base

State: California (CA)

Country: United States Of America (USA)

Scene Camera Operator: Rockwell International

Release Status: Released to Public

Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

B-1 Lancer is a supersonic variable-sweep wing, heavy bomber built by Rockwell and used by the United States Air Force. It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "B-One"). It is one of three strategic bombers in the U.S. Air Force fleet as of 2018, the other two being the B-2 Spirit and the B-52 Stratofortress. The B-1 was first envisioned in the 1960s as a platform that would combine the Mach 2 speed with the range and payload of the B-52. After a long series of studies, Rockwell International (now part of Boeing) won the design contest for what emerged as the B-1A. This version had a top speed of Mach 2.2 at high altitude and the capability of flying for long distances at Mach 0.85 at very low altitudes. The introduction of cruise missiles and early work on the stealth bombers led to the program being canceled in 1977. The program was restarted in 1981, largely as an interim measure due to delays in the B-2 stealth bomber program, with the B-2 eventually reaching initial operational capability in 1997. This led to a redesign as the B-1B, which differed from the B-1A by having a lower top speed at a high altitude of Mach 1.25, but improved low-altitude performance of Mach 0.96. The electronics were also extensively improved during the redesign, and the airframe was improved to allow takeoff with the maximum possible fuel and weapons load. The B-1B began deliveries in 1986 and formally entered service with Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a nuclear bomber in that same year. By 1988, all 100 aircraft had been delivered. Originally designed for nuclear capabilities, the B-1 switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s.

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Tags

side view program aircraft b test program aircraft prototype flight california edwards air force base b 1 bomber b 1 b bomber bomber jet aircraft test flight high resolution b 1 b test program aircraft b 1 prototype rockwell international us air force usaf air force base military aircraft 1980 s aircrafts public domain aircraft photos us national archives
date_range

Date

23/03/1983
collections

in collections

B-1B Lancer

“The Bone,” the B-1B Lancer - a long-range, supersonic bomber
place

Location

create

Source

The U.S. National Archives
link

Link

https://catalog.archives.gov/
copyright

Copyright info

No known copyright restrictions

label_outline Explore B 1 Prototype, Rockwell International, 1980 S Aircrafts

A close-up view of two GBU-12 laser-guided bombs mounted under the wing of an F-4E Phantom II aircraft

Saab 210 003 - A black and white photo of an airplane on a runway

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X-15 ship 1 on lakebed from back

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians monitor the progress as the Orion ground test vehicle, or GTA, is lifted by crane in the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building. The ground test vehicle is being used for path finding operations, including simulated manufacturing, assembly and stacking procedures. Orion is the exploration spacecraft designed to carry astronauts to destinations not yet explored by humans, including an asteroid and Mars. It will have emergency abort capability, sustain the crew during space travel and provide safe re-entry from deep space return velocities. The first unpiloted test flight of Orion is scheduled to launch in 2014 atop a Delta IV rocket and in 2017 on NASA’s Space Launch System rocket. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov/orion. Photo credit: Dimitri Gerondidakis KSC-2013-3719

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A Japanese Air Self Defense Force flight crewman conducts a prefight check on an F-15 Eagle aircraft's tail during Exercise COPE NORTH 89-1

An air to air side view of two 75th Tactical Fighter Squadron A-10A Thunderbolt II aircraft flying in formation off the left wing of a 134th Air Refueling Group KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft. The aircraft are participating in the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing Exercise HOG STAMPEDE

A right front view of two A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft as they are prepared for takeoff during Exercise Gallant Eagle '82

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – In the Vehicle Assembly Building's transfer aisle at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, an overhead crane lowers the Ares I-X aft center booster segment toward the aft booster and skirt in High Bay 3. Part of the Constellation Program, the Ares I-X is the test vehicle for the Ares I, which is the essential core of a space transportation system that eventually will carry crewed missions back to the moon, on to Mars and out into the solar system . The flight test of the Ares I-X is targeted for no earlier than Aug. 30. Photo credit: NASA/Tim Jacobs KSC-2009-3950

A right front view of the nose section of a B-1 bomber aircraft that has just landed at the base

B-1A Artist Concept 2 - A black and white photo of a plane flying in the sky

Topics

side view program aircraft b test program aircraft prototype flight california edwards air force base b 1 bomber b 1 b bomber bomber jet aircraft test flight high resolution b 1 b test program aircraft b 1 prototype rockwell international us air force usaf air force base military aircraft 1980 s aircrafts public domain aircraft photos us national archives