Posted on 06/24/2010 11:51:30 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
No, that’s the B-52 superbomber. I think Brown called the special B-1s “Vampires.”
The bone had a longer alert time and wasn’t supersonic at low altitudes. The conversion to the B-1B eliminated the variable inlets that gave it that speed. Meanwhile, the GLCMs were ready to go and could be posted much closer to their targets.
I agree, but the B-1B sat largely unused for how long?
The GLCM offered a cost/benefit payback that blew the B-1/B-1B away. IIRC, the B-1Bs were removed from the list of nuclear delivery vehicles.
The F-117’s were similar. Panels and exterior components were all drill on assembly. A lot of hydraulic lines were custom fit.
There were so many usable on codes for certain parts that you had to be really paying attention to what part numbers you ordered.
Hand built aircraft.
F-162?
Typing Error
As I understand it, the GLCM was threat to get the USSR to sign the SALT treaties. They signed so we didn’t cover Germany and Turkey with the things. I think the Pershing’s scared the hell out of them with the short flight times.
Yes we will. Probably sooner than we think.
You’re probably right.
Pretty much, but it was the INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) treaty. At the time, I was a Lance missile officer coming into Germany just as the Pershing II was being deployed. The GLCM and the Pershing II were the deal-makers, although other items were added in (launch platform limitations, etc.).
After the treaty was ratified, I remember the large contingent of Soviet officers sent to count every single piece of hardware. The used the verification process to try to gain additional intelligence, but the US never really tried to hide launchers. Everything was parked out in the open.
Both the GLCM and the Pershing II were real threats, so the Soviets took them very seriously. I remember being at Ft. Sill during some of the missile assembly de-mils and destruction. Drunk Soviets all over the place.
EB-1C Vampire II
The EB-1C Vampire II is a modification of the B-1 Lancer supersonic strategic bomber used by USAF. It uses many advanced weapons and technology. The bomber carries the AIM-120 air-to-air missile and an anti-ballistic weapon known as the ABM-3 Lancelot which is a plasma yield missiles. It is also capable of transporting, rearming, and refueling small UCAV’s. The airframe is also modified by having no horizontal tail stabilizers and a shortened tail. The EB-1C also uses Mission Adaptive Skin Technology which slightly changes the fibersteel skin of the bomber, greatly enhancing the maneuverability. Utilizing super-cockpit technology ground crew can monitor all aircraft diagnostics and see what the pilots helmets are seeing. The engines are also very advanced, boosting the speed dramatically. This bomber is akin to the proposed B-1R bomber by Boeing.
The BONE is an amazing plane. I have a few shots of the pair of BONEs that did some extremely loud, extremely impressive fly-bys at Oshkosh about ten years ago.
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