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B-1 Bomber (Lancer)

The B-1 bomber was supposed to be built in the 1970's as a replacement for the aging B-52's but President Carter stopped the program in favor of developing the more advanced and top-secret F117. The residents of Palmdale, California, where the bomber was to be built, saw their hopes of a boosted economy fade away.

In the 1980's, however, President Regan rekindled the project with an order for 100 of the bombers. Soon, the B-1's were rolling out of Rockwell's facility on the south end of Air Force Plant #42 in Palmdale. All through the 1980's, it was common to see the B-1's making test flights at low altitudes in the desert skies north of Palmdale and Victorville. There was nothing like the thrilling experience of driving up U.S. 395 and having one of these big bombers suddenly whoosh right over the top of your car at tree-top/power-line level!

	Static display of a B-1 on the Edward's flight line.
	Edward AFB's own B-1 performs a demo with wings swept forward and landing gear down.
	Rear of the B-1.
	The B-1 in supersonic configuration with its wings swept back.
	B-1 coming in for a landing. Seeing Joshua Trees with the snow capped mountains in the background is a common scene around Edwards AFB.
	B-1 taxiing to the flight line after landing.
	The B-1 comes to a stop.
	Crew placing blocks to create the B-1's "parking brake".
	Static display of the B-1 next to the B-52 for size comparison.