Product Details

When the B-1B Test Program began in 1981, the four original B-1A prototypes were used as testbeds. B-1A #2, serial #74-0159, was outfitted with the B-1B flight control system and began flying in March, 1983. On August 29th, 1984, the aircraft, piloted by chief test pilot Doug Benefield, was flying the last of three low-speed control test flights that involved disengaging the automatic fuel tranfer system that managed the aircraft's center of gravity. Later, when the wings were swept forward, the aircraft pitched abruptly upwards due to an aft CG. It then stalled and entered a spin at around 4000 feet. The crew were forced to launch the B-1A's ecape capsule, but the capsule's parachute failed to fully deploy as designed. The escape capsule impacted the desert floor at high speed, killing Benefield and severely injuring two other crew members. The Air Force determined that the crash was caused by the pilot's failure to re-enable the fuel transfer system prior to swinging the wings forward.

Please note: This model features wings permanently positioned in the forward-swept position for low-speed flight and take-off/landing.