Behind the Wings ®
The Podcast – S6, Episode 58
Retired Pilot Maj. Gen. Garrett “Sack” Harencak and Weapons Systems Officer Lt. Col. Tony “Voodoo” Eret share what it was like to fly together in the Rockwell B-1 Lancer.
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In this episode, they take us inside the “Bone”, a supersonic, variable-sweep wing bomber originally designed for low-level nuclear strikes and later transformed into a precision conventional strike aircraft. They discuss nuclear alert procedures, low-level mountain missions using terrain-following radar, and a first-hand account of ejecting from the four-person flight deck. This one is going to be cool!
Key Takeaways:
- Originally canceled in 1977, the B-1 was resurrected in the 1980s as the B-1B and became a long-range strike jet, transitioning from nuclear deterrence to conventional precision bombing.
- With its terrain-following radar, variable sweep wings, and structural control systems, the B-1 could fly just 500 feet off the deck at nearly the speed of sound.
- The unique four-person crew, consisting of two pilots and two weapons systems officers, worked as a tight-knit team, maintaining constant communication and trust during high-stakes missions.
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