B-1 Bomber
This is a cracking shot of a B-1 bomber on the runway at Hills Air Force Base in Utah. The B-1 long range strategic bomber was first built in 1984 and has seen combat in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. It is a big beast of an aircraft with a crew of four and that cool “Swing-Wing” thing. This allows it to take advantage of the aerodynamics of swept back wings at high speeds (top speed of Mach 1.2) while avoiding the drawbacks of such a configuration at lower speeds. It can carry a frightening 34,000kg in ordnance in three internal bays.
The B-1R is a proposed replacement for the aging B-1 fleet and would have air-to-air missile capabilities and the engines of an F-22, allowing it a much improved top speed of Mach 2.2.
Thanks Jack Guritza
Another unusual aspect of this very clear photo is that there is a B-1 in it at all… Hill AFB is where F-16s, A-10s and C-130s get fixed up en masse. They also support maintenance of the Minuteman IIIs. I suppose they could have support services for B-1s, but there aren’t huge stacks of them there for maintenance like the other planes. I suppose its also possible the B-1 could be there on a visit to the Utah Test Range (which is one of the sub-commands of the base) (though, its not like South Dakota is too far for an Armed B-1 to come to Utah for practice….)
Anyway, very cool photo.
-Karnack
Anybody know what this camouflage plane is? Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
I’m sure someone with more knowledge will correct me, but it looks like an F-111. There are some great shots of aircraft all over this base, F-16s and A-10s.
The aussies bought a whole bunch of F-111, definately looks like one with the wings swung back.
Here’s what appears to be a U-2 spy plane at Beale AFB:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
here’s an SR-71 blackbird and another u2 at Beale
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
AHH gotta love the good old american planes
speaking of old, here’s an F4, also at Hill
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
-james
The B-1B you’re seeing on this photo is probably the 83-0070. This aircraft arrived at Hill AFB on 3 February 2003. Nicknamed “7 Wishes,” the plane (S/N 83-0070) was gained into USAF inventory from Rockwell International on 16 April 1986 and assigned to the 96th Bombardment (Heavy) Wing of the Strategic Air Command at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas, on 6 May 1986. The aircraft arrived on base the following day. It spent its service life training aircrews, accumulating almost 4,000 flight hours. The aircraft’s last assignment was to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 7th Bombardment Wing, 8th Air Force (Air Combat Command) at Dyess. It arrived at the museum in May 2005.
Every one of us that looked at this picture will probaly get a knock on the door and meet two viry nicly clothed men in black. Don’y worry they will only ask you aq few question. LOL
just another shot of a u2 at hill, but this one is taking off
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
The Camo plane is an F-111 Aardvark
Jaguars, SU-30’s and a Canberra at Lohegaon Air Base of the Indian Air Force near the city of Pune.
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
yup, that is definitly a f-111 that babganoosh was looking at. also, it aint the runway that that the b-1 is on, its sitting on the tarmac. it wants to look like it is off the ground and landing but that is just an optical illusion.
The plane looks like a Russian Tupolov, Blackjack Bomber
Al Uedeid AB Quatar
Looks like the B1 in the original post has flown the nest…