Old Viper Tester Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 The B-1A program was cancelled under President Carter in 1979. The decision was based on the high cost, the success of the Air Launched Cruise Missile indicating that a penetrating bomber may no longer be required, and the promised of the Stealth Bomber (B-2) program. Faced with delays and rising costs of the Stealth Bomber President Reagan resurrected the B-1 program as the B-1B in 1981. The aircraft had many improvements in avionics capabilities and some trade-offs in high-altitude performance compared to the original B-1A. While waiting for B-1B test airframes, the USAF elected to get a leg up on testing with the original prototypes, with suitable modifications. These images show Ship No. 2, s/n 74-0159 after being painted as the program flag ship in 1983-84. Couldn't adjust the focus fast enough Thanks for looking, Sven 28 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 When everybody was complaining about the F-35, I was remembering what a train wreck the B-1 program was. And the F-18. And the AH-64. Thank God we didn't have the internet back then, huh? Great pics! I especially love #7. Is this a repaint of the camouflaged bird from the orginal program? 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Viper Tester Posted April 20, 2018 Author Share Posted April 20, 2018 1 hour ago, Thud4444 said: Is this a repaint of the camouflaged bird from the orginal program? I don't think '159 was ever camouflaged before this time. '158 was the first to get the dk gray/brown camo coming into use by SAC at the time. '160 acquired the odd tan/brown/green camo in 1979 (I think). It also got that long spine used for the counter-measures systems. '159 went to the paint barn at the end of March 1984 to get the dark SAC camo treatment (images to follow) - it crashed at the end of August 1984 The fourth prototype, 76-0174 was delivered in white, but also eventually got a SAC camo scheme. When Edwards finally got a B-1B, this bird went to the Air Force Museum (1986?), where it was replaced again when the museum got an operationally representative B-1B. Sven 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thud4444 Posted April 20, 2018 Share Posted April 20, 2018 Based on your description, I think 160 is the plane I'm thinking of. I never knew there was that many prototypes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-32 Posted May 11, 2018 Share Posted May 11, 2018 Beautiful work! I had a metal model in this scheme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey-1980 Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 Incredible aircraft and a sight to behold at Airfete, RAF Mildenhall so many years ago. Loud just wasn't the best way to describe the noise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jinxman Posted June 15, 2018 Share Posted June 15, 2018 On 4/20/2018 at 6:18 PM, Thud4444 said: When everybody was complaining about the F-35, I was remembering what a train wreck the B-1 program was. And the F-18. And the AH-64. Thank God we didn't have the internet back then, huh? I remember as a teenager being very confused about the programme being cancelled after being told how capable a delivery system it was. And then it came back, which confused me even more! 🤨 Great pics, and definitely an aeroplane with presence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMChladek Posted September 22, 2020 Share Posted September 22, 2020 Great pictures. I am currently wrapping up a Minicraft (Entex) B-1A build. I am doing this bird in this livery using the decals from the Panda B-1B "Test Program" kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 (edited) They look so much nicer in the white scheme than the grey scheme... Coincidentally my favourite Vulcan variant is the Vulcan B1a, which obviously shares half a name with the B1A Edited September 23, 2020 by Adam Poultney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMChladek Posted September 23, 2020 Share Posted September 23, 2020 6 hours ago, Adam Poultney said: They look so much nicer in the white scheme than the grey scheme... Coincidentally my favourite Vulcan variant is the Vulcan B1a, which obviously shares half a name with the B1A In good ole anti flash white I trust? Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted September 26, 2020 Share Posted September 26, 2020 Beautiful pics, captured the lean aggressive looks of the A model. On 4/20/2018 at 6:18 PM, Thud4444 said: When everybody was complaining about the F-35, I was remembering what a train wreck the B-1 program was. And the F-18. And the AH-64. Thank God we didn't have the internet back then, huh? Boy, you said it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exdraken Posted September 28, 2020 Share Posted September 28, 2020 Wow, great!! Rarely seen scheme... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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