Tag Archives: b-1

B-1B Ruptured Duck saved from the Boneyard, but it’ll never fly again!

Video April 3, 2021 Hutchins AAron

On 23FEB2021, a ‘divested’ B-1B bomber landed at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) in California, being saved from the ‘boneyard’ in Arizona, but never to fly again.

U.S. Air Force photo by May Straight.

The B-1B tail number 86-0099 arrived with Ruptured Duck artwork on the side.

USAF photo by May Straight.

Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) is required to divest 17 B-1B Lancers (aka Bones) in order to justify buying the new B-21 Raider (a new version of the B-2).

USAF photo by Giancarlo Casem, 23FEB2021..

Ruptured Duck is now the new Edwards Aircraft Ground Integration Lab (EAGIL) static test aircraft. It’s hoped the EAGIL program will save taxpayers money by reducing the costs of developing electronic upgrades for aircraft, compared to using flying test-beds.

USAF photo by Wesley Farnsworth, 17APR2017.

B-1B #86-0099 was named Ruptured Duck in 2017, on the 75th Anniversary of the Doolittle vengeance raid on Japan. One of the B-25 Mitchell bombers in that raid was named Ruptured Duck:

Official video explainer:

Natural sound video, by Giancarlo Casem, of Ruptured Duck’s arrival on Edwards AFB:

‘Divestiture’: ANOTHER B-1B ‘BONE’ SENT TO THE BONEYARD! IS THE END NEAR?

U.S.

Another B-1B ‘Bone’ sent to the BoneYard! Is the end near?

Image March 17, 2021 Hutchins AAron

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman First Class Quentin Marx, 16FEB2021.

The military calls it ‘divestiture’, when they retire a major piece of military equipment. Under the National Defense Authorization Act, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) is required to divest 17 B-1B Lancers (aka Bones) in order to justify buying the new B-21 Raider (a new version of the B-2).

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 17FEB2021.

On 17FEB2021, the first of several Ellisworth Air Force Base (AFB) 28th Bomb Wing ‘Bones’ was sent off on its last flight to the ‘BoneYard’ at Davis-Monthan AFB, in Arizona.

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 16FEB2021.

On 16FEB2021, maintainers with 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron conducted final inspections and adjustments to #85-066.

USAF photo by Airman Jonah Fronk, 16FEB2021.

USAF photo, 17FEB2021.

#85-066 upon arrival at Davis-Monthan AFB, 17FEB2021.

USAF photo by Airman First Class Austin McIntosh.

The above is B-1B #85-081, photographed on 12MAR2021, also on its way to the BoneYard.

Divestiture:

LAST FLIGHT, AND SALVATION, OF 1503

HOW TO MUMMIFY YOUR KC-10, OR, LAST FLIGHT OF 86-0036

NO MORE OPEN SKIES?

LAST RIDE FOR 1ST, 2ND & 4TH TANK

International, Technology, U.S.

World War Three, 2016: B-1, B-2 & B-52, the new ‘Integrated Bomber Force’, B-B-B-B-BAAD to the Bone!

Video August 17, 2016 Hutchins AAron

17 August 2016 (17:05 UTC-07 Tango 01) 27 Mordad 1395/13 Dhu I-Qa’da 1437/15 Bing-Shen 4714

Bomber Assurance And Deterrence = BAAD

As a show of force against ‘enemies’ in the oil rich South China Sea area (anybody remember the U.S. occupation of Vietnam?) The U.S. Air Force is conducting strategic bomber ops using all three of its strategic bombers for the first time.

“The unique thing about our opportunities here as part of the continuous bomber presence is we really have the chance to train across all of the mission sets that the B-1 is capable of. We will routinely, on a day-in and day-out basis, get to train with the land, air and naval forces of both the US and our allies and partners in the region. It’s really an unmatched training opportunity for our squadron.”-Lieutenant Colonel Seth Spanier, commnader 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron

B-1B Lancer (aka Bone) from South Dakota takes part in bomber operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

“It also gives us the chance to work with other bomber aircraft we have inside Air Force Global Strike Command as well as some of our regional allies and partners for national security and deterrence in this part of the world.”-Lieutenant Colonel Keith Butler, 13th Bomb Squadron director of operations for the B-2

B-2 Spirit from Missouri taking part in bomber operations at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

“We’ve been out here the past six months flying Pacific Power Projection sorties, so all over the Pacific area of responsibility doing assurance deterrence missions.”-Captain Kaitlin Tardieu, B-52 driver

B-52 Stratofortress from North Dakota takes part in bomber ops at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam

The B-1, B-2 and B-52 have been to the U.S. Territory of Guam before, but not as a combined bomber team. The U.S. Pacific Command’s area of operation covers 52% of the world!

Video of B-1, B-2 & B-52 take-offs from Guam: