$400 million sustained Before takeoff, a massive B-1 Lancer is in full afterburner
Maintaining $400 Million Gigantic B-1 Lancer Before Takeoff at Full Afterburner I flew from the USS Bonhomme Richard LHD6 in early 2002 and then on the 54th and 46th in 2003. Both deployments as a Marine. 53 is probably my favourite. When they folded, we named him the gremlin. A lot of power with these 3 engines. A lot. In 1981 I witnessed an AB take-off and then an overpass at Bergstrom AFB, and 82′ was the most impressive thing I’ve ever seen in my life until I witnessed the SR-71 in Okinawa. It didn’t matter where you were at the Kadena AFB you knew when the Blackbird was taking off I worked to build the first 27 B1-Bs (for the next 35 years until I started working for an airline). It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget and will be proud to be a part of. It is a flying fuel tank full of electronics and bombs. Lots of stories, most of which I probably can’t tell. I remember many nights (at night the shift was open to avoid the heat of the California des...