Posted on 05/07/2026 6:11:15 PM PDT by Red Badger
Senior Airman John Linzmeier/U.S. Air Force via AP
Over the decades, many United States Air Force aircraft have gone into the famous boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, but few have come out again. The warbirds there are generally there for the long haul, and no matter how well prepped for storage, it seems likely that many of them, after a few years, are no longer recoverable.
Now, though, we learn that one warbird has emerged, phoenix-like, from the boneyard. It's a B1B Lancer, known to the crews as the "Bone." Formerly named Rage, the rebuilt, refitted, refurbished B1B is now to be dubbed Apocalypse II, and it's back on duty.
The U.S. Air Force may once have eyed the B-1B Lancer for retirement, but the swing-wing bomber is now set to remain in service longer, and the fleet is even regaining a jet it had previously retired. The B-1B in question was once parked in the “boneyard” in the Arizona desert, but is now back in service after an intensive regeneration and depot maintenance effort.
The Air Force announced today that the B-1B, serial 86-0115, formerly named Rage, had departed Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, after nearly two years of depot maintenance work to return it to operational status. Work was led by the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, and the bomber left Tinker on April 22 of this year.
Here's the bird on a test flight, in bare metal trim; looks a bit worn here, but it's flying again.
The Apocalypse II on a test flight.
Getting the bird back on duty wasn't easy.
The Lancer was returned to combat-capable status after spending time in Type 2000 storage at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The jet originally arrived at the boneyard in 2021, as one of 17 B-1Bs retired in 2021 that were sent there to consolidate the fleet from 62 to 45 aircraft to help improve overall readiness rates and help redirect funds toward the type’s replacement, the B-21 Raider.
Here's the Apocalypse II now.
Neat stuff, and it's great to see a classic American warplane back on the line.
It will be some time before the new B-21 is in active service, and while we still have a considerable B-52 fleet to deliver tons of high explosives all at once, and the B-2 fleet for when stealth is in order, our experiences in Iran lately have reminded us that there's still a role for something capable of carrying a big bombload while being, not stealthy, but faster than a scalded cat with its tail on fire.
Now, the question is, how many more Bones are to be reborn? From this report, that's not clear:
Fiscal Year 2027 budget documents show the Air Force intends to invest $342 million to upgrade its remaining 44 B-1Bs between 2027 and 2031. “This request provides the necessary funding to modernize the platform, ensuring its lethality and relevance through 2037,” the document states.
With the B-1B now set to fly beyond its once-expected sunset, demand for the bomber shows no sign of easing, including recent heavy tasking for Operation Epic Fury. With that in mind, bringing the refurbished Apocalypse II back into the fleet will help keep it ready for the missions yet to come.
Good stuff. But let's turn that refurb team, the great 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, loose on any remaining Bones in the boneyard that can be recovered. We may need them, and we may need them sooner than expected.
Editor's Note: This article was updated post-publication for clarity.
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Aviation Ping!................
Been buzzed by those things.
Impressive....
That Arizona aircraft “boneyard” was amazing when I saw it back in the early 1970s. It’s no doubt even more so now,
Thank you “B-1 Bob” Dornan
“Impressive’’.
Indeed. I would imagine if you’re looking at a B1 going over head it means you weren’t the target.
I have friends that work at Tinker. It’s more than “just a job” to those dedicated and patriotic guys (and some gals).
If you haven’t walked around or under a B-1, jump at the first opportunity. They look regular sized in photos - in person they are HUGE.
It’s still the prettiest plane in the world.
I’ve seen them!. I live next to Eglin AFB.
Go to google earth and pull up Davis-Monthan AFB. It’s like “Where’s Waldo” for military aviation nerds.
CC
“Thank you “B-1 Bob” Dornan”
If he hadn’t been so complacent about immigration, legal as well as illegal, he might have held on to his seat longer.
We tried to get him to join us with Prop 187 but he parroted the usual GOP establishment fantasy about latinos being natural conservatives.
Then Loretta Brixey ran against him using her maiden name of Sanchez. And his once American north OC district, which was being transformed by heavy Mexican immigration, predictably voted for her.
There was good evidence of voter fraud but the Republican party refused to help him challenge the election. The Bush idiots were already dominating the party and hell bent on courting latinos. And apparently they would rather have lost a seat than “offend” their new favorite constituents, who weren’t going to vote for them anyway.
Top three anyway.
B-1B, F8U-2N, and A-10 tied for first...
Chasing Clinton around New Hampshire in 1996 thinking he would draw attention to his GOP Primary bid did not help, nor did becoming a full time resident of Virginia. I worked in the same building as his office, and was pretty excited about it. I then asked a staffer how often he was there. “Never” was her reply. Loved his public stance, but he was responsible for his own downfall. You are correct, The Party of “Pick Pocket” Pete Wilson led the way to permanent minority status in CA.
The boneyard tours were discontinued a few years back. If they ever start them again, I plan to go on one. Just driving past is impressive.
Take a look at the Pima Air and Space Museum too, on Valencia Road just east of I-10. Some of the planes are indoors, but you can see lots on Google Earth. I need to go there again, but the weather’s getting hot so I might wait until fall.
There’s a guy on youtube who’s done both short subjects and longer videos about the aircraft at Pima. Good stuff.
CC
“Impressive’’.
Indeed. I would imagine if you’re looking at a B1 going over head it means you weren’t the target.
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Red Flag war games in Nevada.
Something between 57-70 feet directly overhead, wings back, burners lit.
Shook the ground (grin).
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