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An air-to-air underside view of the B-1B test program aircraft, originally the No. 2 B-1 prototype, refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during 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.

label_outline

Tags

underside view program aircraft b test program aircraft prototype stratotanker stratotanker aircraft flight california edwards air force base b 1 bomber kc 135 stratotanker refueling b 1 b bomber bomber jet aircraft test flight high resolution b 1 b test program aircraft kc 135 stratotanker aircraft b 1 prototype rockwell international us air force usaf air force base air to air view military aircraft 1980 s aircrafts public domain aircraft photos 1980 s us national archives kc 135
date_range

Date

28/07/1983
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, Kc 135 Stratotanker Aircraft

A view from the boom operator's station of a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft as it refuels an 81st Tactical Fighter Wing A-10 Thunderbolt II during Certain Sentinel, a part of Exercise REFORGER '86

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Senior Master Sgt. Barry, 340th Expeditionary Air

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An air-to-air overhead view of a 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft refueling as seen from the boom operator's station aboard a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft during Exercise TEAM SPIRIT '85

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

An air-to-air left underside view of an RF-4C Phantom II aircraft firing a rocket

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

A left side view of several KC-135A Stratotanker aircraft parked on the flight line

A right underside view of a Soviet Mig-23 Flogger aircraft

An air to air underside view of a 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-4E Phantom II aircraft. The F-4E is on one of its last flights before being replaced by the F-16C

A United States Air Force (USAF) B-1B Lancer bomber from the 116th Bomb Wing (BW), Air National Guard (ANG), Robins Air Force Base (AFB), Georgia, peels away from a 2-ship formation during a training mission over the Georgia skies

Topics

underside view program aircraft b test program aircraft prototype stratotanker stratotanker aircraft flight california edwards air force base b 1 bomber kc 135 stratotanker refueling b 1 b bomber bomber jet aircraft test flight high resolution b 1 b test program aircraft kc 135 stratotanker aircraft b 1 prototype rockwell international us air force usaf air force base air to air view military aircraft 1980 s aircrafts public domain aircraft photos 1980 s us national archives kc 135