Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (5 Viewers)

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60 years ago today. A legend was born.

The first Lockheed SR-71A, 61-7950, takes off for the first time at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, 22 December 1964. An F-104 Starfighter follows as chase.

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On this day 50 years ago.

The first prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer, 74-0158, takes off at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California, 23 December 1974.

The Rockwell B-1 Lancer intercontinental bomber made its first flight, flown from Palmdale, California, to Edwards Air Force Base.
The first of four prototype Rockwell B-1A Lancer Mach 2.2 strategic bombers, serial number 74-0158, made its first flight from Air
Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California. The aircraft commander was company test pilot Charles C. Bock, Jr. (Colonel, U.S. Air Force,
retired) with pilot Colonel Emil Sturmthal, U.S. Air Force, and flight test engineer Richard Abrams. After basic flight evaluation, the
B-1A landed at Edwards Air Force Base, about 22 miles (35 kilometers) to the northeast of Palmdale.

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"The general wants to talk to you".

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Must be the 305 BW Bunker Hill AFB later Grissom AFB IN. Seems every time I see their birds the were setting on their a$$ doing nothing!

The B-58 was a super critical weight and balance aircraft. Fuel to far aft and this is the result. If the forward radar antenna was removed there was a weight to hold its weight. If the pod was not fuel correctly it set on its a$$.

Only two BW operated the Hustler operationally. 48th first at Carswell AFB later Little Rock AFB and the 305th. Though I came much later than the B-58 lasted (all were gone by 1970) I served with both units, 48rd SW Anderson AFB Guam, B-52D and G KC-135's, (Guam is good by order of the base commander) and the 305th at Grissom AFB all tankers and EC-135's.
 

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