Quote:
Originally Posted by Robotic Pope
I didn't say the B1-B, I said the original B-1A that had variable air intakes that inabled it to go to Mach 2 at high altitude. I don't know the full story but it was canceled while in the prototype stage. Then years later the B1 programe was relaunched and the result was the B1-B, which sacrificed the ability to go mach 2 for stealth traits like fixed and patialy hidden engine intakes (which slows top speed to just over mach 1) and radar absobing paint.
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So upwards of mach 2 was a bit of a stretch... he says up to mach 1.35 but at low altitudes only for short sprints cause at that speed it would use up all the gas in less than an hour... still, the B-1's low level cruising speeds are much faster than fighters, around mach .95, fighters couldn't sustain that rate of fuel consumption so they cruise 100 knots slower at low altitudes...
Still, my point holds that flying a B1 at 500 ft at those speeds would be the best experience for a bomber pilot..