6 Jul 1985

On This Day in History /
1985: The 96 Bomb Wing accepts SAC’s first operational B-1B” Star of Abilene” (SN 83-0065) at Dyess AFB. The bomber is powered by four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines, mounted in two-engine nacelles under the wing roots. These are rated at 17,390 pounds of thrust and produce 30,780 pounds with “augmentation.” The engine has two fan stages, a 9-stage axial-flow compressor and a 3-stage turbine. The F101-GE-102 is 15 feet, 0.7 inches long, 4 feet, 7.2 inches in diameter and weighs 4,460 pounds.
“The Bone” has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2 at Sea Level. The service ceiling is “over 30,000 feet.” The Lancer’s maximum range is “intercontinental, unrefueled.” (USAF Image)