Flight by B-1 Sets Records to Clear the Air of Criticism

The B-1 bomber set 18 world speed records Saturday afternoon, including two marks that had been held by a Soviet bomber since 1959, on a flight made to rebut criticism that the B-1 is slow and unable to carry a large payload.

Under the command of Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Chamberlain, the B-1 was clocked at an average speed of 669.52 m.p.h. carrying a payload of 66,900 pounds in a flight over the Pacific Ocean. The record-breaking 1,242-mile flight, which began and ended at Palmdale, took 1 hour, 51 minutes and 43 seconds. The B-1 is built at Palmdale by Rockwell International.

The flight was sponsored by Rockwell and also served as an acceptance flight for the aircraft, the 58th B-1 bomber delivered to the Air Force so far. The records were observed by representatives of the Federation Aeronautique Internationale, an aviation organization based in France.

“This should communicate to the public that they got their money’s worth in the B-1,” said Sam Iacobellis, president of Rockwell’s North American Aircraft operation. “A deterrent (to nuclear war) is a deterrent if the other guy knows what it can do.”

The B-1 has been stung in recent months by critics who say the aircraft has limited range, can not carry large payloads for long distances and is limited in a number of its capabilities. Rockwell has adamantly defended the aircraft.