Insane Speed and Power: The B-1 Lancer Story

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I was a 20 year old mechanic assistant when one of these did an emergency landing at the old AF Reserve base in Pittsburgh. I stood fire watch during a full-power engine runup test. I was about 50 feet away and the noise was just incredible. I was used to working on C123s with their tiny auxiliary jet engines. The B1 engine was so loud it made me nauseous and gave me the runs—it rumbled my insides so hard I could barely breathe. I was wearing ear plugs AND ear muffs, and my ears were ringing for days. Here’s the kicker—the test was for a SINGLE engine. It was glorious.

A B1B flew over the LA county fair in 2003 and our high school was very close to the fairgrounds. No one knew what the sound was but sure enough the pilots did a loud and low pass and the sound was deafening throughout the whole valley…it was incredible. The Lancer is my favorite bomber I love the look of this beautiful monster.

As one of the seven "OG" B-1B crew chiefs, I really appreciate this video. Very well done! I had the honor of being assigned to the first operational B-1B. It's a truly amazing aircraft, and I'm so happy that it is still in service. Miss those days, and miss the outstanding men I served alongside.

I yhink the B-1 is still one of the best looking planes of all time. It just looks the business, especially with full afterburners going out of those 4 monster engines. Menacing, intimidating yet so elegant.

Hired on at Rockwell Oct 1983 at Palmdale Air Force plant 42. Did field rep at Ellsworth, Dyess, and Grand Forks AFB all SAC bases at time. Worked on all 100 B models. Most notably the thermonuclear flash shields. Several aluminum panels that cover the windshield, each fitted with an automatic darkening glass similar to high end welder’s hood. Worked post production bird strike, over wing fairing fire detection/suppression and chafe and flare retrofits. Transferred to Space Division worked on Space Shuttle Endeavour. Installed main engine gimbals, and crew compartment fire detection/suppression systems. Laid-off in 1994. My six and last lay-off. 1995, transitioned to California Department of Corrections as a correctional officer until retirement 2009. Thank you President Reagan, because of you, I met my wife of 32 years. What an adventure. How time flies.

The B1 is the most beautiful and graceful bomber ever created by any nation anywhere. I am proud to say I have met and know not one, but two retired B One pilots from the Air Force base in South Dakota.

I was a TACP/JTAC in Afghanistan in ‘09. Easily quarter of my strikes were B1, half were OH58 the last quarter mix of other platforms.

I was stationed at DMAFB, LAFB, and KAFB in my career and I have heard this monster take off multiple times. Setting off car alarms as it goes. Loudest jet I have ever witnessed.

I've been fortunate enough to witness two B-1Bs take off in full afterburner, not 200m away from where I was. It was a once-in-a-lifetime and lasting experience...not to mention the other 100+ military aircraft that took off from the same runway in the span of an hour. Wow...just WOW.

We live in the Black Hills and these are overhead often due to our proximity to Ellsworth. They are LOUD. Still one of the most aesthetically pleasing aviation designs of all time.

About 30 years ago I was driving on Rt93 in Nevada and was passed by a low and really slow B1. There were other planes flanking but I just was in awe and didn’t bother to ID them. I was driving 70mph southbound and the planes took a turn under the mountain tops and disappeared. That was the highlight of that trip.

It would be amazing to see a brand new redesign for this bomber, just like how the air force went from B2 to B21.

Great vid! The B1 is one of my favourite aeroplanes, such a beautiful aircraft.

Saw one of these at an air show. I've not heard anything louder in my life. It's another level. It shakes your body to it's core. The ground rumbles like multiple trains are going by.

I drove longhaul in the 80s & 90s and I was at a truck stop at a place called Box Elder South Dakota which is right on the immediate flight path for Ellsworth AFB, I was taking a nap in the bunk and one of these was taking off extreemly low level right over my truck. You can't imagine how loud it was and how much pressure was produced getting that heavyweight into the sky. It literally rocked my 80,000 lb tractor trailer. Beautiful plane truly one of a kind.

My grandpa was inspector for the B1-B project and it was the first plane I ever got to see get the supersonic skirt at an air show at Edwards Air Force Base. The Bone still remains my favorite plane to date, and it's so amazing to watch fly

An Absolutely ROCKING aircraft! In 2002 at the IRL 200 in Kansas City, they had a BONE low flyover before the start of the race. The organizers goofed and the report only bright flash fireworks did not go off when they wanted them to, so the BONE flew around for a second pass and you talk about a low flyover! The fireworks went off that time and WOW I couldn't care less about the race after that!! LOVE the B1 Lancer!

I’ve seen two B1-B’s perform a dual take off from Miami International Airport - taking off eastbound over the city and slowly turning north. I was on 836 eastbound about to jump on I-95 N (that highway is way up there…. Above rooftop level of most buildings around) so I had one helluva view. Truly amazing. Something I will never forget. The Bone is most favorite bomber so it was a treat for sure.

I got to sit in Symphony of Destruction, the aircraft in the thumbnail and some of the animations, back in 2008. I was stationed at Ellsworth and working for the Bones was the best assignment of my career!