Not reading more.
But comments: losing drawings? That’s about impossible. The real drawings are made and stored by the original designers, which consists of contractor and subcontractors. They will have numerous copies in various form. It’s not simply burned up when the MIL buys it.
As for the B2, it’s a nice bomber.
But the B1 is far too disparaged and forgotten, even evidenced by excerpt remarks. It is the true workhorse of the 2. It has been a backbone of the MIL since it was put in service, no disrespect to the VERY old B52. But, few people are even aware of it. They know the 52 since it’s been around soooo long, and the big deal made out of the flying-wing “stealth” bomber which gets just about every fly-over at any big sport event.
It’s sad that the B1 is so underrated.
> It’s sad that the B1 is so underrated.
There is one on display at the Wright Patterson Museum of the Air force. The thing is an absolute brute.
The B-1B is so underrated because it has been such a disappointing aircraft from it's introduction into service.
It has one of the, if not the worst Fully Mission Capable rates in the Air Force. It was originally designed as a high altitude, high Mach dash speed strategic bomber, then was transformed into a low-level subsonic penetrating bomber.
It's first several decades of service were strictly in the Nuclear deterrent role, with no conventional weapons capability at all.
After the B-2 came online, it was upgraded to carry conventional bombs and use the Sniper targeting pod, and was useful in the W.O.T. as a loitering bomb truck, but still suffered from the lowest availability rates in the Air Force.
Maintenance per flying hour is a staggering 150 maintenance hours per flying hour.
The thing was a sexy aircraft, and was supposed to be a replacement for the B-52. It never fulfilled that role, and needs to be retired when the B-21 comes online.
Why is the B2’s replacement called B21? Why not B3?
I was once siting in the brush watching the US border near Marfa TX with my binos. I heard something behind me and turned to see what it was.
Before I could even look a B-1 passed right over me at about 200 feet. Scared the hell out of me, you can't imagine the roar.
Two days later the SOB snuck up on me again and did the same thing. It had the same effect.
After I stopped shacking I thought well that's just the sound of freedom. After that I had my head on a swivel.