B1 Lost in Qutar

[Arkaign]

Hope the crew all made it out safely

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/200..._nm/usa_qatar_crash_dc

Will update OP as details clear up.

EDIT : Update 1

Good news, the crew made it out safely according to CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/...omber.crash/index.html

A U.S. Air Force B-1 bomber caught fire Friday after landing at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, according to military officials.

The crew of four was able to evacuate safely, officials said.

The officials said initial reports said the plane crashed at the headquarters of the U.S. military's air operations for the Middle East.

EDIT : Update 2

The initial reports of this B1 being lost in a crash, or exploding on the runway, appear to be exaggerated. All reports indicate the crew made it out safely, which is the important part anyway. This is probably the end of the story, unless they tell us whether the aircraft will be rebuilt or destroyed.

 

[theeedude]

by B1, you mean $1B?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: senseamp
by B1, you mean $1B?

That's the B2

 

[chucky2]

I half-wonder if something's up...two high profile planes in, what, a month?

Very weird....

Chuck

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: senseamp
by B1, you mean $1B?

That's the B2

I thought B2 was $2B and B1 was $1B

 

[jpeyton]

qAtar

 

[Zorba]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: senseamp
by B1, you mean $1B?

That's the B2

B-2 is $2B/each if you include R&D. Not sure about the B-1, though.

EDIT:

B-1B is $200M/each not sure if that is with or without R&D Link

 

[TerryMathews]

B1B's been out of production for like a decade and a half at this point, so that number certainly isn't what it would cost to get a new one made. Unit cost was actually $283.1M in 1988, so adjust for inflation and it's a third of a billion or so.

Luckily, there are quite a few in the boneyard (Davis-Montham) waiting to be called back to active duty. So the actual cost to 'replace' this bomber would probably be a few million dollars to return an inactive unit.

Actually, the wikipedia article is quite informative, the B1R proposal made me giggle; it reminds me of the EB-1 from the Dale Brown series of novels (Hint: a B1 with air-to-air missiles).

EDIT: More LOL... Evidently the Air Force is testing synthetic petroleum (presumably a relative of biodiesel) in a B1B. It's from the same wikipedia article.

 

[marvdmartian]

Yeah, they tested the fuel in a B-52 a while back, though they played it safe by running one of the eight engines on the synthetic jet fuel, and the remainder on regular dino-fuel. All the services have been mandated to adopt alternative fuels, the air force just wants to see if running a jet engine on it is feasible and dependable. Really no reason why it shouldn't work, as there's not much difference between jet fuel and diesel fuel, ya know??

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

I can't wait till we can hear the story behind this.

 

[Throckmorton]

What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

 

[MadRat]

It apparently hit something (debris?) on the runway. The plane doesn't sound like it was lost, just that it caught fire and the crew evacuated.

The last report I saw did not say they ejected, it only says they evacuated. The report also said the fire was contained.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
Really no reason why it shouldn't work, as there's not much difference between jet fuel and diesel fuel, ya know??

I should've clarified my comment, it was just so late. I LOLed at the synthetic fuel because in my head I was thinking ahead to a hybrid B1B. That or one that ran on french fry grease.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

Looks like an insect.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: TerryMathews

Originally posted by: marvdmartian
Really no reason why it shouldn't work, as there's not much difference between jet fuel and diesel fuel, ya know??

I should've clarified my comment, it was just so late. I LOLed at the synthetic fuel because in my head I was thinking ahead to a hybrid B1B. That or one that ran on french fry grease.

Cook up some Freedom Fries in the leftovers after the missions? :laugh:

 

[novasatori]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

Totally agree, it is also unforgettable roaring overhead with full afterburner.

Its also a shame that it is plagued with terrible operational readiness.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: novasatori

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

Totally agree, it is also unforgettable roaring overhead with full afterburner.

Its also a shame that it is plagued with terrible operational readiness.

Have you seen the XB-70 Valkyrie? It's got to be the most kickass bomber ever made (well, maybe aside from the B-17, B-29, and B-36) .. I've seen the only intact example at the Dayton USAF museum. Truly awesome.

 

[DukeN]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

Not sure how something designed to kill could be beautiful. It is a 'bomber' after all.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: novasatori

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
What a shame. The B1 is the most beautiful plane ever made.

http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/bombers_b1_0005.jpg
http://www.boeing.com/defense-...30910z-3cr_375X300.jpg
http://www.tinker-af.org/pics/US_B1-c.jpg

It's even beautiful with the wings open
http://www.darkgovernment.com/b1bomber.jpeg

Totally agree, it is also unforgettable roaring overhead with full afterburner.

Its also a shame that it is plagued with terrible operational readiness.

Have you seen the XB-70 Valkyrie? It's got to be the most kickass bomber ever made (well, maybe aside from the B-17, B-29, and B-36) .. I've seen the only intact example at the Dayton USAF museum. Truly awesome.

Yeah that thing scared the cap out of the Russians and made them develop the Mig-25 to counter it.