South Dakato Air and Space Museum

— Ellsworth Air Force Base —

The B-1A was initially developed in the 1970s as a replacement for the B-52. Four prototypes of his long -range, high speed strategic bomber were developed and tested but the program was canceled in 1977 before going into production. The B-1B is an improved variant initiated in 1981. The first production B-1B flew in October 1984 and the first B-1B was delivered to Dyess AFB, Texas in June 1985. The B-1B holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range, and time of climb in its class. The B-1B was first used in combat in support of operations against Iraq during Operation Desert Fox in December 1988. In 1999, six B-1s were used in Operation Allied Force, delivering more than 20 percent of the total ordnance while flying less than 2 percent of the combat sorties. Eight B-1s were deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. B-1s dropped nearly 40 percent of the total tonnage during the first six months of OEF.

Specifications—Length: 146';
Height: 34';
Wingspan: 137';
Max Weight: 477,000 lbs; Powerplant: Four GE F-101-GE-102 turbofan engine with afterburner; Max Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled; Max Speed: 900-plus mph; Ceiling: 30,000ft; Crew: Four; Armament: 24 GBU-31GPS aided JDAM or 24 MK-84 general purpose bombs.

On loan from the National Museum of the Air Force

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Show me all markers in:  Box Elder, SD  |  Pennington County  |  57719  |  South Dakota  |  United States of America

The Berlin Wall Memorial, a War Memorial
Celebrating Victory
Confrontation
Construction of the Wall, a War Memorial
To our Visitors
Tank Traps, a War Memorial
The Cruel Border, a War Memorial
The American Commitment, a War Memorial
Berlin Wall Segments, a War Memorial
Historic Madison Ranch

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