Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Supersonic B-1s start moving through D-M (Davis-Monthan AFB)
Arizona Daily Star ^ | Aaron Mackey

Posted on 01/16/2008 5:04:41 PM PST by SandRat

The first of dozens of supersonic Air Force bombers have begun to land at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base to be upgraded as part of an effort to increase the jet's role in conflicts abroad.

The U.S. Air Force's entire fleet of 65 B-1 Lancer bombers is scheduled to move through D-M in the coming months as base personnel and defense contractors outfit the aircraft with the latest targeting and surveillance technology.

Work on the first B-1 already has begun and should take another week and a half to complete, said 2nd Lt. Mary Pekas, a base spokeswoman.

Another bomber is scheduled to land in February, with new jets arriving each week, according to a base news release. There may be as many as five bombers being upgraded on base at any given time.

Originally developed as a replacement for the B-52, the B-1 is a swept-wing, four-engine jet capable of reaching 900 mph and carrying nuclear weapons.

The bomber is much larger than the A-10 attack jets based at D-M. Flying at 1,000 feet, the B-1 generates noise roughly equivalent to that of a chain saw, according to sound comparison figures.

To limit the noise impact over Tucson, Col. Kent Laughbaum, the base commander, has ordered that the bombers take off and land from the southeast end of D-M when weather allows.

The upgrades, done through a Boeing contractor, will modify the B-1 so that it can carry advanced targeting pods. The pods will allow the aircraft to send images of the battlefield directly to ground units while helping the bomber's crew distinguish enemy forces from friendly troops, the news release said.

The pods also will upgrade the B-1's reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities.

Boeing is handling the work through a nearly $3 million contract awarded by the U.S. government to Lockheed Martin.

To install the new technology, workers will have to uncover attachment points that were sealed after the United States signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with what was then the Soviet Union.

The attachment points were capable of holding long-range air-launched nuclear cruise missiles.

The points will be modified to hold the targeting pods, though they won't be able to carry nuclear weapons, thereby still complying with the terms of the treaty, Scott Hines, D-M's treaty-compliance officer, said in the release.

The upgrades will take about two years to complete and will be conducted at the base's Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, commonly known as the "boneyard," said Tech. Sgt. James Fisher, another D-M spokesman.

The maintenance center already is home to nearly 20 B-1s that were taken out of service in 2002 as a cost-cutting measure.

The B-1s that are still flying provide air support in the anti-terrorism Operation Enduring Freedom, flying missions almost daily, according to Air Force activity summaries.

Five facts about the B-1

1. The B-1 Lancer originally was developed in the 1970s to transport and launch long-range nuclear cruise missiles.

2. The four-engine, swept-wing aircraft is capable of reaching speeds of around 900 mph and can carry up to 75,000 pounds of weapons.

3. The Lancer is 146 feet long with a varying wingspan of between 137 feet and 79 feet, depending on whether the wings are swept forward or back.

4. The bomber has a crew of four: a pilot, co-pilot and two weapon systems officers.

5. Each bomber costs $283.1 million.

Source: U.S. Air Force

D-M impact panel meets tonight / b2

● Contact reporter Aaron Mackey at 573-4138 or at amackey@azstarnet.com.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; US: Arizona
KEYWORDS: b1; bombers; davismonthanafb; tucson; usaf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last
To: saganite

“Thye B-1 isn’t supersonic. Next.”

Both the long cancelled B-1A and the current B-1B are supersonic.

B-1A Max Speed: 750 mph @ 500 ft.
Mach 2.0 @ 50,000 feet (1,320 mph)

B-1B Max Speed: 600+ mph (Mach .92) @ 500 feet
825 mph (Mach 1.25) @ 50,000 feet.


21 posted on 01/16/2008 5:46:16 PM PST by 2CAVTrooper (The next thing from the ron paullution supporters: Krystalnacht)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: saganite

“Thye B-1 isn’t supersonic. Next.”

They will be when they leave the factory.


22 posted on 01/16/2008 5:48:51 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Just saying what 'they' won't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: FreeAtlanta
Are those bride's maids bouquets he's dropping ???

23 posted on 01/16/2008 5:49:40 PM PST by svanni
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: SandRat
Photobucket
24 posted on 01/16/2008 5:51:33 PM PST by 2CAVTrooper (The next thing from the ron paullution supporters: Krystalnacht)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red6

Your ignorance is only exceeded by your ability to find incorrect information on the internet. However, since you exhibit all the maturity of a 5 year old I will coceed to you that yes indeed, there is a Santa Claus.


25 posted on 01/16/2008 5:52:40 PM PST by saganite (Lust type what you what in the “tagline” space)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: saganite
I thought that was what the upgrade was when I saw the headline. I just recently found that out on one of those military shows. Until then, I'd always thought the B1s were supersonic.
26 posted on 01/16/2008 5:53:26 PM PST by Lx ((Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Lx

The original B-1 design and the test models were supersonic but to save money on the production models modifications were made which restricted their speed.


27 posted on 01/16/2008 5:55:43 PM PST by saganite (Lust type what you what in the “tagline” space)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: 2CAVTrooper

Actually, there was a big hoopla about two weeks back about President Bush trying to get the defense bill passed and the DEMS were arguing about the upgrade to the B-1’s (having attachment points modifications).

That is one of the major reasons these B-1’s are being convoyed through D-M AFB Maintenance.

Pretty plane, though.

Beautiful execution of a 1930’s design.


28 posted on 01/16/2008 5:58:16 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Just saying what 'they' won't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: biff

“Yeah, but I wonder if it’s fuel tanks leak?”

Not like the Habu.


29 posted on 01/16/2008 5:59:24 PM PST by UCANSEE2 (Just saying what 'they' won't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: SandRat
Photobucket
30 posted on 01/16/2008 6:02:07 PM PST by 2CAVTrooper (The next thing from the ron paullution supporters: Krystalnacht)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: saganite
I’m sorry the official .mil USAF website isn’t accurate enough for you.

But just in case you missed it: http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=81

Sorry the official USAF museum isn’t accurate enough for you either, or that Boeing isn’t accurate enough: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/b1-lancer/index.html

At least go down with dignity!

However, you always have the option of playing with polemics to cover your blunder. LOL

31 posted on 01/16/2008 6:05:48 PM PST by Red6 (Come and take it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: saganite
“The original B-1 design and the test models were supersonic but to save money on the production models modifications were made which restricted their speed.”

Actually it was the RCS reduction efforts, combined with major structural and other improvements to carry more payload that reduced the speed. But carry on, you sound good. Maybe you can get a job as a military “expert” for CNN or the NYTs?

32 posted on 01/16/2008 6:09:10 PM PST by Red6 (Come and take it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2

I know it is a never ending battle in Abilene with the B1-B’s and their leaking tanks. Just wondered if it was a problem with the originals?


33 posted on 01/16/2008 6:10:44 PM PST by biff
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: UCANSEE2
“Actually, there was a big hoopla about two weeks back about President Bush trying to get the defense bill passed and the DEMS were arguing about the upgrade to the B-1’s (having attachment points modifications).”

Interesting. That was actually a restriction because of START I believe. The arms treaties with the Soviets. This would significantly improve the capabilities of the B1 in many likely scenarios such as would have been the case in all of Afghanistan and much of Iraq.

34 posted on 01/16/2008 6:15:10 PM PST by Red6 (Come and take it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: Red6

I wish I knew M1.2 wasn’t supersonic. That would have gotten me out of trouble when I was in an F-111 that went...uh...TRANSONIC...in the wrong area!


35 posted on 01/16/2008 6:15:14 PM PST by Mr Rogers (Without limited government, there is no religious freedom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Mr Rogers
Give him the benefit of the doubt!

Maybe he just didn’t know what the word “is” means. As in Mach 1.2 “is” supersonic.

36 posted on 01/16/2008 6:18:29 PM PST by Red6 (Come and take it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: SandRat

Thanks for posting. In graduate school I took a state space controls class from a professor who worked on the B1 bomber. There were a few engineering problems derived from the development of that great American airplane. It was a great class.


37 posted on 01/16/2008 6:24:33 PM PST by FreedomProtector
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red6

Ping, to come back to an interesting thread.


38 posted on 01/16/2008 6:25:49 PM PST by Balding_Eagle (If America falls, darkness will cover the face of the earth for a thousand years.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: FreedomProtector
Had a Prof for Graduate Ergonomics that had worked on the 1st Mercury Capsule through the last Apollo Capsule and that was a class too.
39 posted on 01/16/2008 6:27:38 PM PST by SandRat (Duty, Honor, Country. What else needs to be said?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: saganite
Thye B-1 isn’t supersonic. Next.

Originally developed as a replacement for the B-52, the B-1 is a swept-wing, four-engine jet capable of reaching 900 mph and carrying nuclear weapons.

The speed of sound at sea level is approximately 760 mph. Next.

40 posted on 01/16/2008 6:28:28 PM PST by okie01 (THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA: Ignorance on Parade)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-55 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson