We don't make them any more and there are only a handful left.
It's capabilities make it unique, valuable and deadly.
There have been some gorgeous warplanes, the Spitfire, Mosquito, Mustang, Me-262, F-86, F-16 for examples, but, to me, the B-1B is probably the most beautiful of them all.
I'm glad the crew got out okay, but am sorry for the loss.
More than the A-10?
Highlight of the Van Nuys airshow for me was a tossup between the B1 and the F-15... Brother lived nearby, timed summer vacations to be able to be on hand if not for the airshow, but the day of departure.
We set up at the end of the runway... forget the road, Saticoy maybe... and had all these planes coming right at us.
F-15s would take off... hug the deck at about 20’ and then rotate out just about as the crossed the road.
Same deal with the B1... but with the B1 it was about the loudest thing I have ever experienced... you could feel the heat radiating down on you as the aircraft pitched up after passing. Amazing, amazing, AWE INSPIRING aircraft.
Loud? One of my earliest memories is my parents taking me to see the Thunderbirds back when they flew F-4’s. WHAT? DID YOU SAY SOMETHING?