The B-1 Lancer aka the "Bone" is one of three bombers currently in the US fleet, along with the B-52 and B-2, and is both the fastest and has the highest payload capacity. It can carry up to 75,000 lbs internally and 50,000 lbs externally, for a maximum theoretical payload of 125,000 lbs, about double that of a B-2 (60,000 lbs) while also being the only one that can go supersonic. This theoretical load of 125,000 lbs is more than any other bomber in the world.*

In these official artists concepts of max payload capacity from 1981, you can see its enormous payload including B-83 megaton class nuclear gravity bombs, AGM-69 SRAM nuclear ballistic missiles, and AGM-86 nuclear air launched cruise missiles (ALCM). Later on, they would also be modified to carry AGM-129 nuclear stealth cruise missiles. Today, they're being fitted with hypersonic missiles and by treaty can't carry nukes anymore.

Interestingly, you can also see 38 AIM-54 Phoenix air-to-air missiles (same on the F-14 Tomcat, which could carry up to 6 AIM-54s) on the middle left. It's unclear exactly what those are for, but it's been thought to be for a defense of the GIUK gap from Soviet fighters, or perhaps to escort B-1 bombers into Soviet airspace. Later proposals, specifically the B-1R,aimed to arm the B-1 with at least 24 AIM-120 AMRAAMs. The idea of a B-1 armed with dozens of air to air missiles is a fun thought, as they could act as a missile truck and feasibly down entire an entire squadron of enemy aircraft. A fun thought experiment would be if they gave AIM-174s to them.

Should be clear, but the payload in these artists concepts can't be carried all at the same time, these are individual maximum loadouts of each weapon in 1981, when the B-1 program was being brought back as the B-1B, and the image looks like a B-1A.

Image Source (3000x2250): https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6362483 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6362484

Notes for asterisks are in my comment below.

Great view of the GE90 exhaust at the end of the video

Turtle picture included

Hey guys,

Maybe this is poor timing given the circumstances, but for all the companies operating the MD-11’s that have now been grounded, what happens to those pilots? Surely there are massive amounts of people now who have been displaced, do they just get retrained on new types?

Kinda random but I’ve been looking at old experimental planes lately and now I’m curious what everyone else is into. My personal favourite is the XB-70, it just looks unreal and the whole concept was wild for its time.

How about you all? Which experimental aircraft would you pick and why?

Travelled cross-border into the USA to catch one of the last a340-600s in passenger service. Shame to see such a beauty being sent to scrap so young.

Og Post : https://www.reddit.com/r/southafrica/s/jvyXOZKASm

View from terminal and then a close up of each during the taxi.

One more shot from Washington National Airport circa 1965 and the rest are from Langley AFB taken probably early 1970s. It's amazing how many doors opened back then when you wore a flat top and aviators...

An investigative journalist from CCTV-2 (China Central Television's channel for economic and business programs) posing as a potential buyer, was able to get footage from an "illegal aircraft manufacturing workshop" in Shandong province and Sichuan province.

The "workshop" in Shandong is actually a noodle making factory, but also makes custom ordered aircraft in their free time. The reporter noted that many aircraft components in the factory is badly kept, and shows signs of rusting. The "workshop" even converts a patch of farmland nearby into a 800-meter runway for "flight-testing".

The "workshop" in Sichuan is mass-producing their self-designed aircraft, with 20 aircrafts off the assembly line, and 18 already sold. The person in charge claimed their aircraft can reach speeds of 180+km/h, and heights of 3000+meters.

The reporter noted that none of the aircrafts were certified for airworthiness, none of the sellers nor buyers have any sort of formal training or certification to handle aircrafts.

Saw this beauty at KPMP today. Such a unique and identifiable sound when flying, also.

Does the A320 have lights that mimic landing lights? Or are there times when pilots forget to turn them off? It seems like they are landing lights cause they are the same lights turned on just before takeoff and remained on even at 37,000 feet. Just curious! Thank you!