A B-1B Bomber Returns to Active Service in United States.

After being stored in the aircraft boneyard, the B-1B Lancer, affectionately nicknamed "Lancelot," is being revived to rejoin the active bomber fleet, taking the place of a lost aircraft in an incident. The US Air Force has initiated the process of bringing back one of its decommissioned aircraft to replace a lost bomber destroyed by an engine fire during routine maintenance at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in 2022.
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The B-1B Lancelot, bearing the serial number 85-0081, is being revived to rejoin the active bomber fleet of the US Air Force. (Picture source: US DoD)

Recently, the Air Force confirmed the arrival of the B-1B Lancelot, bearing the serial number 85-0081, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Here, it will undergo the regeneration process before joining the Air Force's operational fleet.

Originally built as the 41st production Lancer in the Lot 4 production batch, 85-0081, previously known as Equalizer and Aftershock, faced a nose gear collapse incident at Diego Garcia in December 2004, leading to the grounding of the B-1 fleet for inspection. After years of service, the aircraft was retired to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, for long-term storage in March 2021, as part of the reduction of the Lancer fleet from 62 to 45 aircraft in February 2020.

Of the 17 retired aircraft, 13 went to AMARG, with four, including 85-0081, retained in Type 2000 storage for potential future service needs. The decision to retrieve Lancelot from AMARG stems from the need to maintain the fleet size and operational availability mandated by Congress after recent losses.

The restoration process involved collaboration between various units of the US Air Force, including the B-1 System Program Office (SPO), the 309th AMARG, Dyess' 7th Bomb Wing, and Tinker's 76th and 569th Maintenance Squadrons. Following scheduled maintenance and upgrades at Tinker, including avionics enhancements for improved connectivity, Lancelot will undergo functional check flights before returning to Dyess.

The B-1B is a long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber designed to fulfill various missions. Built by Boeing North America, formerly Rockwell International and North American Aircraft, it is equipped with powerful General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines, each producing over 30,000 pounds of thrust with an afterburner. Its wingspan ranges from 137 feet when extended forward to 79 feet when swept aft. With a length of 146 feet and a height of 34 feet, the B-1B has a mass of approximately 190,000 pounds and can reach a maximum takeoff weight of 477,000 pounds.

The B-1B is equipped with massive fuel tanks capable of holding up to 265,274 pounds of fuel, enabling it to have an intercontinental range. It can achieve speeds exceeding 900 mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level) and fly at altitudes of over 30,000 feet. Its armament includes a wide range of weapons, capable of carrying up to 84 500-pound Mk-82 bombs or 24 2,000-pound Mk-84 bombs, as well as Mk-62 or Mk-65 naval mines.

The B-1B crew consists of four members: the aircraft commander, the copilot, and two combat systems officers. In terms of cost, each aircraft has a value of approximately $317 million. The B-1B reached its initial operating capability in October 1986, and the active inventory includes 62 aircraft, with 2 others used for testing purposes.

With several retired B-1s still at AMARG, the possibility remains for other aircraft to be recommissioned if needed. The ongoing efforts underscore the US Air Force's commitment to maximizing the capabilities and availability of its Lancers until their scheduled retirement in 2037.