Filmed at RAF Fairford on Jun. 18, 2023, the cool video in this post features a very loud B-1B Lancer takeoff.
Filmed by our friend Dafydd Phillips at RAF Fairford on Jun. 18, 2023, the cool video in this post features a very loud B-1B Lancer takeoff.
Phillips explains;
‘A trip to RAF Fairford to catch a pair of US Air Force Rockwell B-1 Lancer supersonic bombers was a real treat. I’ve been fortunate to catch some pretty loud aircraft over the years but these where off the scale! This pair are in RAF Fairford along with another pair to assist in NATO air policing and various Air Shielding Missions in the Baltic Region. As part of this mission they took part in a fly over along with a Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet at Turku Air show in Finland and also another fly past in Estonia. Any YouTube footage of these fly pasts would be great to see if you have a link to place in the comments.
‘Enjoy the take off and recovery… Volume up!!’
The B-1B’s blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry wings and turbofan afterburning engines, combine to provide long range, maneuverability and high speed while enhancing survivability. Forward wing settings are used for takeoff, landings, air refueling and in some high-altitude weapons employment scenarios. Aft wing sweep settings – the main combat configuration — are typically used during high subsonic and supersonic flight, enhancing the B-1B’s maneuverability in the low- and high-altitude regimes. The B-1B’s speed and superior handling characteristics allow it to seamlessly integrate in mixed force packages. These capabilities, when combined with its substantial payload, excellent radar targeting system, long loiter time and survivability, make the B-1B a key element of any joint/composite strike force.
The B-1B Lancers featured in the video belonged to Dyess Air Force Base’s 7th Bomb Wing and arrived at RAF Fairford on May 23 for Bomber Task Force Europe 2023-3 to conduct a long-planned bomber rotation in support of US European Command and NATO deterrence initiatives.
The bombers headed home to Dyess AFB on Jun. 29, 2023.
Photo credit: Dafydd Phillips
