Guide Note

The B-1 Bomber is a long-range plane, capable of flying intercontinental missions without refueling. It was originally designed as a supersonic bomber with the range and payload to replace the B-52 bomber.¹ During the Cold War, the B-1 was an integral part of the United States' nuclear deterrence system.²

Fast Facts

AKA: B-1 Lancer¹

Original model: B1A, was canceled before going into production¹

Program resumed in 1981 with the B1B¹

Manufacturer: North American Rockwell, Boeing¹

Type: Strategic bomber¹

146 feet long, 34 feet tall, with a forward of wingspan: 137 feet¹

Maiden flight: October, 1974¹

Unit cost: $283.1 million¹

Number built: 67¹

April 2008 Incident

On Friday, April 4, 2008, a B-1 Bomber caught fire while taxiing after landing at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The crew evacuated safely.³

B-1 Bomber

The Mahalo Top 7

Boeing: B-1 Lancer Bomber
Wikipedia: B-1 Lancer
Federation of American Scientists: B-1B Lancer
U.S. Airforce: Factsheets : B-1B Lancer
CNN: B-1 Bomber Burns After Landing in Qatar (April 4, 2008)
Popular Mechanics: B-1B Bomber (October 2001)
YouTube Video: B-1 Bomber Taking Off From Long Beach, Ca (Time: 2:35)

B-1 Bomber News

Topix.net: B-1 Bomber
Google News: B-1 Bomber
Reuters: UPDATE 2-US B-1 bomber catches fire in Qatar, crew unhurt (April 4, 2008)
Air Force Times: B-1B Catches Fire at al-Udeid, Crew Safe (April 4, 2008)

B-1 Bomber Blogs and Commentaries

Stars and Stripes: B-1 bomber catches fire in Qatar; crew safe (April 4, 2008)
On Deadline (USA Today): Reports: B-1 bomber crashes in Qatar; crew safe
Danger Room (Wired): B-1 Crashes: Bad Year for Bombers (April 4, 2008)
Gizmodo: Giant LEGO B-1B Bomber Escorted by Fighters, Hawkeye Aircraft (Feb. 14, 2008)