B-1A makes first flight, Dec. 23, 1974

Edwards Air Force Base The Center Of The Aerospace Testing Universe

On December 23, 1974 the Rockwell International B-1A Lancer made its first flight, from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale and landed at Edwards. The aircraft commander was Rockwell test pilot and retired USAF Colonel Charles Bock, Jr. with USAF pilot and B-1 JTF director Col Emil “Ted” Sturmthal, and flight test engineer Richard Abrams. The 70-minute, 250-mile flight path was within reach of the Rogers Dry Lake runways during which basic flight evaluation was conducted.

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B-1A makes first flight, Dec. 23, 1974

(Edwards History Office photo)

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Tags: Edwards air force base, B-1A, Air Force Test Center

Photo by: (Edwards History Office photo) | VIRIN: 171219-F-ZZ999-412.JPG

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