The USAF B-1B Lancer Bomber is the Air Force’s supersonic component of its long range bomber force that includes the B-52 H (featured at Airfest 2007 and 2008) and the B-2 Stealth Bomber, which will fly over this year’s Airfest during Saturday’s show. With the retirement of the EF-111 and the famous F-14 Tomcat, the B-1B is the only active swept wing aircraft in the US arsenal. Capable of speeds of Mach 1.25 at altitude, the B-1B has an impressive array of modern technology including passive electronically scanned array radar with electronic steering beams and a GPS based navigation system. Nicknamed “The Bone”, the B-1B is a much sought after but seldom seen aircraft at air shows.
B-1B Lancer Specifications
General Characteristics
Crew: 4 (aircraft commander, copilot, offensive systems officer and defensive systems officer)
Length: 146 ft
Wingspan: Extended: 137 ft
Swept: 79 ft
Height: 34 ft
Empty weight: 192,000 lb
Loaded weight: 326,000 lb
Max takeoff weight: 477,000 lb
Powerplant: 4 × General Electric F101-GE-102 augmented turbofans
Dry thrust: 14,600 lbf each
Thrust with afterburner: 30,780 lbf each
Fuel capacity, optional: 10,000 U.S. gal fuel tank for 1-3 internal weapons bays each
Performance
Maximum speed: At altitude: Mach 1.25 (830 mph)
At low level: Mach 0.92 (700 mph)
Range: 6,478 nmi (7,456 mi)
Combat radius: 2,993 nmi (3,445 mi)
Service ceiling: 60,000 ft
Armament Hardpoints: six external hardpoints for 59,000 lb of ordnance and 3 internal bomb bays for 75,000 lb of ordnance.
Bombs:
84 × Mk-82 AIR inflatable retarder general purpose bombs
