This wasn’t the first time a B-1B has flown similar maneuvers at airshows (we reported about an “BONE” doing a double aileron roll in the past), but Balkenbush’s qualifications and mission as a test pilot means he is tasked with maintaining the full flight envelope of the aircraft. Imagine an aircraft the size of an airliner rolling completely inverted.
But the A321 packs up to 220 passengers for trips of 3,600 miles. For comparison, an Airbus A321 airliner is the same length as a B-1B bomber at 146-feet long. The B-1B Lancer is an enormous aircraft to be able to fly nimble aerobatics like a complete roll. Within minutes, photos and video of the spectacular maneuver were getting traffic across social media. Photographers in the media pit fired off rapid fire shots while video cameras panned along with the huge bomber.
The highlight of Balkenbush’s demo flight at Edwards AFB two weeks before on October 15 and 16 was when the enormous B-1B bomber (also known as the “BONE” from B-One, within the pilots community) executed a spectacular, complete aileron roll at the end of its pass. The B-1B Lancer crew taxiing back to the ramp after a thrilling flight demonstration at Edwards AFB.
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