Manufactured by Rockwell, the B-1 Lancer bomber, affectionately known as the ‘Bone’ is a four engine supersonic aircraft with variable swept wings. The B-1 was originally thought to be a replacement for the B-52 Stratofortress. It entered service in 1986 as a nuclear bomber but has been widely used in a conventional role.

Watch as a B-1 takes off in full afterburner at twilight

There have been 100 B-1B bombers built at an estimated cost of $280 million each. Rockwell sold their defense and aerospace business to Boeing 1996.

Who can tell us why the B-1 is called the ‘bone’? Comment below.

B-1B_Lancer_takes_off_from_Al_Udeid_Air_Base,_Qatar

A B-1B Lancer takes off from Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to conduct combat operations April 8, 2015. Al Udeid is a strategic coalition air base in Qatar that supports over 90 combat and support aircraft and houses more than 5,000 military personnel. Photo by Senior Airman James Richardson, US Air Force.

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