Bad to the Bone: Flying the B-1B Lancer

Nicknamed “The Bone,” the B-1B Lancer is a long-range, multi-mission, supersonic conventional bomber, which has served the United States Air Force since 1985. The aircraft is on track to continue flying out to 2040 and beyond. Originally designed for nuclear capabilities, the B-1 switched to an exclusively conventional combat role in the mid-1990s. In 1999, during Operation Allied Force, six B-1s flew 2 percent of the strike missions, yet dropped 20 percent of the ordnance, and during Operation Enduring Freedom the B-1 flew on 2 percent of the sorties while dropping over 40 percent of the precision weapons. Hear from B-1B pilot Thad Darger and find out what is was like to fly the aircraft that holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class.

Presenter: Thad Darger