If one word could describe this aircraft it would be sleek. From all angles one can see the the airframe’s relatively small cross-section. For those who are interested in aircraft one can see that it resembles the civilian aircraft the Concorde, with its exceptionally slim fuselage and the long drooping slender wing profile with turbofan engines slung under the wing.
The civilian similarities end there though, it bears a closer resemblance to the F-111/FB-111, militarily. The chief similarity or at least the most easily recognisable, is the variable geometry, swing wing allowing for low level high speed penetration of the target area. This wing arrangement also allows for short take-off distances despite the aircraft’s size and weight, without compromising on maneuverability. This aircraft also shares a turobofan engine like its predecessor, however it is slung underneath the wings, as opposed to internally.
It must be noted that despite the technological and mechanical similarity to the F-111/FB-111 this aircraft was the replacment to the B-52, however the naming convention was restarted after the B-70, thus going back to B-1.
This aircraft is a long range strategic bomber meant for low altitude deployment of munitions both conventional and nuclear.
Toward the front, located within the nose of the aircraft is the terrain following radar to aid in low altitude flight, a necessary piece of equipment that helps the huge and heavy bomber make almost blind low level flight. Moving back we have a pair of small composite vanes resting beneath the cockpit. These can be considered control surfaces that aid in flight control at low levels. This terrain following radar, in the nose assembly again bears a striking resemblance to the F-111/FB-111.
At the top and forward of the fuselage is the cockpit that projects up from behind the aircraft’s nose, this cockpit extends upward above the height of the fuselage gradually merging with it. It houses a crew of 4, sitting in pairs side by side, that is pilot and co-pilot in the front row and the weapons officers side by side in the second row, each occupying a personal ejection seat. Early models (B-1A) had a capsule ejection system just like the F-111. This cockpit shields the crew from thermonuclear flash blindness as it equipped with polarized lead zirconium titante.
The fuselage which is made of a titanium and aluminium alloy with some glass composite, houses the 3 bomb bays enclosed by hydraulic doors, 2 of which sit before the wing and one aft. The 2 forward bays can be fitted to house a rotary missile launcher, The Common Strategic Rotary Launcher, used in the B-2 and B-52. Consider this rotary launcher to be like the barrel of a revolver, substituting bullets for missiles.
Toward the mid section of the fuselage sits the wing section, which is a variable geometry or “swing” wing. This wing allows for greater maneuverability while in flight and to operate from short runways. The wings while having 7 leading and 6 trailing edge flaps do not have ailerons, roll control is enacted by spoilers. These wings are not equipped with weapons mounting points, only the engines, housed in nacelles, are slung underneath.
The aircraft is propelled to a maximum speed of 748mph, with the capability of reaching Mach 1.2, by 4 turbofans engines in total, 2 per wing. The front section of the engines, the intakes, are designed to shield the compressor intakes this reducing the radar signature. These engines are not located out from the fuselage but instead are tucked very close to it, before the pivot point for the wing. This allows for the wing to easily adjust its angle.
Behind the wing section is the last of 3 bomb bays and at the end of the fuselage a very prominent tail section. This lower part of this section also houses the the electronics for the rear defenses, it is identified by its conical shape. The upper section consists of all the control surfaces, the vertical tail fin is made of the same composition of the fuselage. The tail fin rudder is made of 3 sections 2 sit above the tailplane and 1 below. The tail plane sits one third of the way up the fin. In keeping with no ailerons on the wings this tailplane section aids in roll and pitch control.
After the tailplane, lies a bulge in the extending beyond it, this houses the defensive tail warning components.
The entire airframe rests on a tricycle landing carriage, with the nose gear located just below the cockpit, retracting forward, the 4 wheeled rear is located between the 2 engines retracting into the fuselage.
The B1-B achieved operational capability in 1986, going on to set flight records in 1987 and 1992 with respect to weight, speed, distance and time to climb. It did not see combat in Desert Storm on account of not being prepared to deploy conventional arms. However it has gone on to serve in Kosovo in 1999, Iraq both in 1998 and 2003 and in Afghanistan in 2001.
| Manufactured by | Rockwell | ||
| Engines | 4 General Electric F101-GE-F-102 turbofan | ||
| Crew | 4 Pilot and Co-Pilot and 2 Weapons officers | ||
| Weight | Empty 192,000lb/87,090 kg |
Max-Takeoff 477,000lb/216,365kg |
Internal Load 75,000 lb / 34,019 kg |
| Dimensions | Wingspan 136 ft 8ins./41.67 m |
Length 174 ft/44.81 m |
Height 34ft. / 10.36m |
| Performance | Max. Speed 826 mph / 1,329 km/hr / Mach 1.25 |
Max. Range 6,449mi/10,377km |
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