27-03-2025
‘Da Bomb' Of Aircraft, The B-1 Rarely Takes Media Up. But It Took Us
B-1 bomber with Forbes writer Jim Clash aboard taxis out to participate in a supersonic training sortie, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 25, 2025.
The B-1B Lancer is the only supersonic bomber still in service within the American military fleet. It has been a workhorse for the U.S. Air Force for nearly four decades. Nicknamed 'the bone,' the plane no longer carries nuclear weapons - the 1994 START treaty prevents that - but it is still highly lethal with a range, without refueling, of 7,500 miles. In fact, the B-1 can carry more ordnance than its venerable predecessor, the B-52.
Forbes writer Jim Clash (oxygen mask) hypoxia training for a B-1 flight, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 24, 2024.
With four General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofan engines, each producing more than 30,000 pounds of thrust, the B-1 is also a favorite at air shows. The guttural roar of takeoff, then the subsequent high-speed passes over the crowd, is unmistakable, and unforgettable.
As with the U-2 spy plane, in which I rode to the edge of space last summer (link at end), the B-1 is difficult for civilians, including the media, to score a ride in. Reportedly, only one journalist has done it - from Newsweek - so I'm to be the second. To say I'm excited goes without saying, but, as with any high-performance aircraft, a little nervous, too.
Forbes writer Jim Clash trains in a parachute harness in preparation for his B-1 bomber flight, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 24, 2025.
My first day at Dyess AFB in Abilene, Texas, home to two dozen of the remaining B-1s still active, included a mandatory medical exam followed by SERE immersive parachute and ejection seat training - plus suit, helmet and oxygen-mask fittings.
While we would be flying over friendly territory, and a B-1 bailout is rare, as a precaution all riders (and pilots) must know what to do in case of an emergency. In 2024, a B-1 crashed upon landing at Ellsworth AFB near Rapid City, South Dakota. The quarter-billion-dollar aircraft was destroyed, but all crew onboard, thankfully, survived.
Forbes writer Jim Clash boards a B-1 bomber, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 25, 2025.
During our mission, conducted by Dyess' 9th Bomb Wing ('Death From Above'), I was to be one of four on the plane: pilot Lt Col Ryan 'Duke' Stillwell, Commander of the 9th; copilot Capt Jordan 'Offset' Dobranski; Capt Nicholas 'King' George, offensive weapons systems officer; and a defensive one (me).
The two weapons guys' seats are located in a separate area behind the pilots' cockpit, so it's difficult to see much during takeoff because of the tiny windows back there. For such a large aircraft, like with the B-52, the B-1 is incredibly cramped. Most of the space is used to carry bombs and fuel.
B-1 bomber carrying Forbes writer Jim Clash takes off with full afterburners from Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 25, 2025.
After boarding the plane, code-named Dark 26, via steps underneath the fuselage, then strapping into our seats, the hatch was sealed and we took on more than 100,000 pounds of fuel. An emergency incident involving a potential brake fire in another B-1 delayed our sortie by a little over an hour.
Once we did taxi out to the runway, the ejection seat was set to automatic for takeoff, meaning if one person initiated bailout, all four would go quickly and sequentially, the back crew first, then the front.
USAF Lt Col Ryan 'Duke' Stillwell at the controls of a B-1 bomber high above Texas, March 25, 2025.
Despite my obscured view, the takeoff got my attention. It's not as violent as the fighter jets I've flown in, but still intense. Those four GE engines at full thrust each blast out a 30-foot-long orange/blue flame and push you back into your seat with the force of a couple of Gs.
Once airborne and above 10,000 feet, we put our ejection seats into the manual mode, and Stillwell let me unbuckle and swap places with Dobranski to watch the action from upfront. En route, Stillwell let me take the controls for a few minutes. For such a big plane, it was very responsive to stick and throttle inputs, and handled well.
Forbes writer Jim Clash in a B-1 bomber over Texas, March 25, 2025.
Upon reaching Pecos, New Mexico, we, along with our wingman B-1 Dark 27, unloaded smart bombs over targets, executing three separate rolls in the process. We only pulled 2.6 Gs on each roll, but it felt like a lot more.
If you're wondering, there is usually a small bathroom on board. Crews can be in the air for more than 24 hours straight, so it comes in handy. We were in the air for only an hour and 45 minutes, so our B-1 didn't have that latrine, but we did have little piddle-paks.
Bombing mission complete, it was back to Dyess. On the way, we went supersonic. For that, the variable sweep wings were pulled back for less air resistance, then we accelerated over a restricted area where supersonic flights are permitted. In populated areas, anything above Mach 1 is prohibited due to loud sonic booms.
B-1 bomber's shadow just before landing at Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 25, 2025.
Starting a dive at 17,000 feet, we maxed out at Mach 1.13 down at 14,000 feet, damn impressive for such a heavy beast. With full afterburners, we were burning fuel at a rate of more than 300,000 pounds per hour.
Before landing back on terra firma, we did a quick touch-and-go to help train copilot Dobranski. Once we did land, I was pretty stoked. It was the eighth separate plane in which I had flown supersonic, probably a record for non-pilots. I'm going to submit it to Guinness World Records. Seems a lot more valid than some of the wacky stuff they certify these days.
Forbes writer Jim Clash and the B-1 he just flew supersonic in, Dyess AFB, Abilene, Texas, March 25, 2025.
What's next? Now that I've flown in two of the three iconic American bombers still active - the B-1 and B-52 - I'm eyeing the stealthy, bat-like B-2 Spirit and the inactive B-29. Of course there's the SR-71 Blackbird, no longer in service as far as the public has been told. Even if one of them were still flying, the chances of getting onboard are about the same as visiting verboten Area 51.
Editor's Note: This is Part 1 of a series about Dyess AFB and the B-1. More installments are forthcoming shortly.
