B-1 bomber crashes in Qatar; crew safe
- Thread starter DerAdlerIstGelandet
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Matt308
Glock Perfection
$hit
mkloby
Senior Master Sergeant
I'm happy the crew is safe.
SoD Stitch
Banned
Heard about this on NPR earlier today; heard the crew ejected safely, and that the crash was due to "mechanical failure". Unfortunately, another billion-dollar B-1 "bites the dust", literally figuratively.
evangilder
"Shooter"
Billion dollar bomber? The unit cost on the B-1s was about $283 Million. While not cheap, it's not a "billion dollar bomber".
I'm glad the crew got out safely.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
And I think there's something like 30 of them in the bone yard - easily replaced if necessary.
SoD Stitch
Banned
I stand corrected . . . . . .
I know there have been quite a few upgrades and retrofits since the B-1 went into service, so the actual cost of the a/c is probably a little more than 283M.
And, once again, I'm plugging my (second) favorite magazine, Smithsonian's Air Space; go here for a very recent article on the B-1's "comeback":
Air Space Magazine | Military Aviation | The Bone is Back
Matt308
Glock Perfection
Konigstiger205
Staff Sergeant
At least the crew got out safely because after all the human factor its the most important in an army.You can have 1000 B1's, if you don't have anyone to fly them they are useless...
SoD Stitch
Banned
Now, how many OTHER strategic bombers can do that? One? Zero? I don't think a Tu-160 could do that without losing a wing or two.
Lucky13
Forum Mascot
Glad that the crew made it out....
Matt308
Glock Perfection
Not wanting to take away from the exhilaration of the Bone's pilots making it home, but you have to admit that a 50m (145ft) long airplane weighing up to 148,000kgs (360,000lbs) doing a high performance roll is pretty DAMN impressive.
evangilder
"Shooter"
It was REAL impressive. I saw it happen. Unfortunately, in those days I only had a 300mm lens, so I didn't cath it with the lens. I remember hearing a a collective gasp from the crowd and thought to myself "That kicked azz!"
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
As I mentioned a few times here my father in law was the production test pilot on the B-1B. He set a whole bunch of world speed and altitude records during the 4th of July weekend, 1987. Upon returning from his last B-1 flight in front of a whole gaggle of folks he came over Plant 42 in Palmdale (Rockwell's B-1 production facility) and proceeded to do an immelman withthe wings extended - despite his pending retirement, he did get an asschewing.
Matt308
Glock Perfection
wilbur1
Tech Sergeant
Man i would of loved to see that flyboy! the look on his co's face musta been classic
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
In the Antelope Valley, it's still talked about when people recollect the B-1 production days.Man i would of loved to see that flyboy! the look on his co's face musta been classic
Glider
Captain
When Concorde went out of service the display pilots wanted to roll it on their last airshow but the Insurance people refused. Now that would have been something to see.
Matt308
Glock Perfection
And perhaps catastrophic (c.f., B707 roll during Seafair). The 367 had rather significant damage, but the marketers and operators in attendance were sold. She still sits down at Boeing Field Seattle. Ugly colors, but beautiful plane.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rILk6-4SMJQ
1G my @ss. In theory perhaps.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rILk6-4SMJQ
1G my @ss. In theory perhaps.
