Product Description

The development of the B-1B Lancer bomber was difficult to say the least. Originally conceived to fulfill a USAF requirement for an Advanced Manned Strategic Aircraft, the original B-1A concept aircraft was accused of being a white elephant, capable of performing nothing which could not be achieved at less financial and human expense than an intercontinental ballistic missile. Cancelled by the Carter administration and finally commissioned by President Reagan as the modified B-1B, the Lancer began its duties as a nuclear-armed bomber in the mid-1980s. The end of the Cold War intervened and the jet was removed from its nuclear missions as a result of arms control legislation. However, the 1990s saw the metamorphosis of the Lancer into a potent conventional weapons carrier which has seen action in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan. The Lancer has proved its critics wrong in demonstrating its use as a highly flexible and hard-working bomber, able to undertake diverse missions ranging from CAS to the targeting of weapons-of-mass-destruction installations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #454020 in Books
• Published on: 2006-02-28
• Released on: 2006-02-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 96 pages

Review
"If you are a fan of this sleek winged bomber, than this book is for you! ... Definitely recommended from this modeler's point of view." -Mark Smith, AeroScale

From the Publisher
Osprey's Combat series combines the best archival photography available with specially commissioned artworks and first hand accounts, making these books favourites amongst historians, modellers and aviation enthusiasts everywhere.

About the Author
Thomas Withington is an independent defence and aviation historian based in London. His work has appeared in 'The Financial Times', 'The Observer', and 'The Guardian' newspapers, along with specialist publications. He is a consultant historian to the UK Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and a military history editor for Summertime publishing. He has written several video documentaries examining air power and he is a regular contributor to BBC radio and television, CNN and Channel Four news.

Customer Reviews

Must have for the B-1B fan
This book is essential for anyone who has more than a passing interest in the Bone. It covers the basic history of the B-1 as it progressed from the B-1A program that was canceled by the Carter administration only to be revised and revamped as the B-1B under Ronald Reagan. Originally designed with a very specialized cold war low-level super-sonic nuclear delivery mission, the B-1B made the soviets very nervous. The dismantling of it's nuclear mission was a key component of the START treaty with the former USSR. Where this book really excells is in it's coverage of what the B-1 has become since those days. It's evolution into an extremely capable conventional bomber is fascinating. Withington covers it's key roles in Desert Fox and Kosovo in great detail. As time passed the brilliant coupling of the B-1s remarkable weapons load and endurance with precision weapons has turned it into a lethal Close Air Support platform. Again, Withington's work here is excellent. This thorouogh history is complemented by many detailed interviews with past and present aircrew members and some great photos. As with all fine Osprey series books, there is also a section of color plates showing all the B-1 tails with their unit paint scheme and nose art. Even jets that have changed squadrons and nose art have all their iterations included - very very cool. As I said, this book is a must have for anyone interested in this fast sexy beast of an airplane!

A must have book...
This is a great book to have.Im glad i own it.I learned so much about this awesome aircraft that we have.Strange that Carter had put an end to this great war plane but Reagan had put a stop to it and made it reality.Plus you will learn about the different weapon systems this plane can carry.