The first operational B-1B was delivered to the Air Force at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, in June 1985, with initial operational capability on Oct. 1, 1986. The final B-1B was delivered in May 1988.

The B-1B holds 61 world records for speed, payload and distance. The National Aeronautic Association recognized the B-1B for completing one of the 10 most memorable record flights for 1994.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Long-range, multi-role, heavy bomber

Builder: Rockwell International, North American Aircraft (now The Boeing Company)

Operations Air Frame and Integration: Offensive avionics, Boeing; defensive avionics, AIL Division, Eaton Corporation

Power Plant: Four General Electric F-101-GE-102 turbofan engines with afterburner

Thrust: 30,000-plus pounds with afterburner, per engine

Length: 146 feet (44.5 meters)

Wingspan: 137 feet (41.8 meters) extended forward, 79 feet (24.1 meters) swept aft

Height: 34 feet (10.4 meters)

Weight: Empty, approximately 190,000 pounds (86,183 kilograms)

Maximum Takeoff Weight: 477,000 pounds ((216,634 kilograms)

Speed: 900-plus mph (Mach 1.2 at sea level)

Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled

Ceiling: More than 30,000 feet (9,144 meters)

Crew: Four (aircraft commander, pilot, offensive systems officer and defensive systems officer)

Armament: Up to 84 Mark 82 conventional 500-pound bombs, or 30 CBU-87/89/97, or 24 JDAMS. Also can be reconfigured to carry a wide range of nuclear weapons.

Date Deployed: June 1985

Unit Cost: $200-plus million per aircraft

Inventory: Active force, 51 primary mission aircraft inventory, 71 (actual), 2 (test); ANG, 18 PAA (20 actual); Reserve, 0