Air & Space Museum

Rockwell B-1A Lancer

Rockwell B-1A Lancer

Rockwell created the B-1A bomber in the early 1970s to meet a US Air Force requirement for a bomber combining the long range of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and the supersonic speed of the Convair B-58 Hustler, in order to replace them both. The result was a sleek, fast, four engine bomber with variable sweep wings that could deliver nuclear weapons at intercontinental distances. It also came with a very large price tag.

Rockwell built four B-1As, which began a test program demonstrating their ability to fly at Mach 2.2 (over 1,400 mph) at high altitude while carrying either conventional or nuclear weapons. As the B-1 fell farther behind schedule and budget overruns more than tripled the cost per airplane, the program came under scrutiny. In 1977, President Carter canceled the program, believing that the B-1’s vulnerability to new Soviet defenses and the capabilities of new American cruise missiles and development of a new secret stealth bomber canceled any benefits the B-1 might offer. President Reagan reinstated the B-1 program in 1981 with a new mission. Rockwell designed the new B-1B model to fly at low level and lower speeds with an emphasis on delivery of conventional weapons and cruise missiles. They built a total of 100 B-1B Lancers.

The B-1A had a number of unique design features that did not make their way into the B-1B, including variable aspect engine intakes which moved to give the best performance at a variety of speeds, and an escape capsule that would eject the entire crew together in case of an emergency.

This B-1A was the third aircraft built. The Air Force assigned it to Lowry AFB in 1989 to serve as a ground trainer for munitions loading procedures. It is on loan from the National Museum of the US Air Force.

Aircraft specifications:
Wingspan: variable from 78 ft 2 in to 136 ft 9 in (23.8-41.7 m)
Length: 150 ft (44.7 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 2.3 at 50,000 feet (1,450 mph; 2,334 km/h)
Maximum weight: 395,000 lb (179,169 kg)
Range: 6,100 mi (9,817 km)

Air & Space Museum Air & Space Museum

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Feb 8
9:30AM TO 12:30PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Breakfast Fly-In

Breakfast Fly-In
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 | 9:30AM to 12:30PM

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight for monthly fly-ins featuring planes, pilots, speakers and breakfast*!

On the second Saturday of every month, enjoy breakfast from a local food truck, watch aircraft fly in and explore interactive exhibits and simulators.

Get Tickets

Pilots – Fly in for free breakfast! For tie-down space, contact Flight@WingsMuseum.org or 303.360.5360 ext 160.

Food Truck: Cruz In & Eat

*Weather permitting. Aircraft on display are subject to change. 

Saturday Feb 8
10:00AM TO 2:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Cockpit Demo Day

Cockpit Demo Day
Saturday, Feb 8, 2025 | 10:00AM to 2:00PM

Get an up close look inside select aircraft at the museum and learn all about the history of the aircraft, instruments and controls!

Featured Aircraft in February*:

  • Steen Skybolt
  • Bell UH-1M Iroquois “Huey” (Wheelchair accessible)
  • Grumman EA-6B Prowler
  • Aeromarine Skyote
  • Vought A-7D Corsair II

Pre-Purchase Tickets

*Featured aircraft are subject to change. 

Saturday Feb 22
9:00AM TO 10:00AM
Air & Space Museum

Veterans Coffee Hour

Veterans Coffee Hour
Saturday, Feb 22, 2025 | 9:00AM to 10:00AM

Veterans and their support networks are invited to join us for a free coffee hour on Saturday, February 22 at 9:00 a.m. at the Air & Space Museum. Enjoy coffee, camaraderie and exclusive access to the museum before it opens to the public. Connect with other veterans and their families and learn about our iconic aircraft collection from our expert volunteers. Please pre-register at the link below – we can’t wait to see you!

Register Here

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