A documentary about the Rockwell B1 Lancer, a supersonic variablesweep wing, heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force. From the B1A prototypes to the B1B. The Lancer It is commonly called the "Bone" (from "BOne"). It is one of three strategic bombers serving in the U.S. Air Force fleet along with the B2 Spirit and the B52 Stratofortress as of 2022.
The video also features the story of the B17 Bomber

The B1 was first envisioned in the 1960s as a platform that would combine the Mach 2 speed of the B58 Hustler with the range and payload of the B52 and was meant to ultimately replace both bombers. After a long series of studies, Rockwell International (now part of Boeing) won the design contest for what emerged as the B1A. 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 combination of the high cost of the aircraft, the introduction of the AGM86 cruise missile that flew the same basic speed and distance, and early work on the stealth bomber all significantly reduced the need for the B1. This led to the program being canceled in 1977 after the B1A prototypes had been built.

The program was restarted in 1981, largely as an interim measure due to delays in the B2 stealth bomber program. This led to a redesign as the B1B, which differed from the B1A by having a lower top speed of Mach 1.25 at high altitude, but improved the lowaltitude speed to Mach 0.96. The electronics were also extensively improved, and the airframe was improved to allow takeoff with the maximum possible fuel and weapons load. Deliveries of the B1B began in 1986 and formally entered service with Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a nuclear bomber that same year. By 1988, all 100 aircraft had been delivered.

With the disestablishment of SAC and its reassignment to the Air Combat Command in 1992, the B1B was converted for a conventional bombing role. It first served in combat during Operation Desert Fox in 1998 and again during the NATO action in Kosovo the following year. The B1B has supported U.S. and NATO military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. As of 2021 the Air Force has an inventory of 45 B1Bs. The Northrop Grumman B21 Raider is to begin replacing the B1B after 2025; all B1s are planned to be retired by 2036.

General characteristics

Crew: 4 (Aircraft Commander, Pilot, Offensive Systems Officer, and Defensive Systems Officer)
Length: 146 ft (45 m)
Wingspan: 137 ft (42 m)
Swept wingspan: 79 ft (24 m) swept
Height: 34 ft (10 m)
Wing area: 1,950 sq ft (181 m2)
Airfoil: NACA691902
Empty weight: 192,000 lb (87,090 kg)
Gross weight: 326,000 lb (147,871 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 477,000 lb (216,364 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × General Electric F101GE102 afterburning turbofan engines, 17,390 lbf (77.4 kN) thrust each dry, 30,780 lbf (136.9 kN) with afterburner
Performance

Maximum speed: 721 kn (830 mph, 1,335 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m), 608 kn (1,126 km/h) at 200–500 ft (61–152 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 1.25
Range: 5,100 nmi (5,900 mi, 9,400 km) with weapon load of 37,000 lb (16,800 kg). Max range is 6,500 nmi (12,000 km).
Combat range: 2,993 nmi (3,444 mi, 5,543 km)
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,000 m)
Rate of climb: 5,678 ft/min (28.84 m/s)
Wing loading: 167 lb/sq ft (820 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.38 at gross weight
Armament
Hardpoints: 6 external hardpoints for ordnance with a capacity of 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg), with provisions to carry combinations of:
Bombs:
Mk82 air inflatable retarder (AIR) general purpose (GP) bombs
Mk82 low drag generalpurpose (LDGP) bombs
Mk62 Quickstrike sea mines
Mk84 generalpurpose bombs
Mk65 naval mines
CBU87/89/CBU97 Cluster Bomb Units (CBU)
CBU103/104/105 Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) CBUs
GBU31 JDAM GPS guided bombs (Mk84 GP or BLU109 warhead)
GBU38 JDAM GPSguided bombs (Mk82 GP warhead)
GBU38 JDAM (using rotary launcher mounted multiple ejector racks)
GBU54 LaserJDAM (using rotary launcher mounted multiple ejector racks)
GBU39 Small Diameter Bomb GPS guided bombs (not fielded on B1 yet)
AGM154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
AGM158C Long Range AntiShip Missile (LRASM)
AGM158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)
AGM183 AirLaunched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW)
Previously B61 or B83 nuclear bombs could be carried.
Bombs: 3 internal bomb bays for 75,000 pounds (34,000 kg) of ordnance.
Avionics
1× AN/APQ164 forwardlooking offensive passive electronically scanned array radar
1× AN/ALQ161 radar warning receiver and defensive jamming equipment
1× AN/ASQ184 defensive management system
1× Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (optional)

#bomber #airplane #b1bomber