The B-1 Lancer's False Start - The B-1 Story | Part 2

The B-1 Lancer was a highly innovative design, capable of high-speed, low-altitude flight and potentially could have been a vital buttress to the United States Nuclear Triad. But as we discuss in this second part of the B-1 story, post the Vietnam War, military spending was very much at the forefront of turbulent economic times. New President Jimmy Carter had to make a crucial decision about the future of the B-1. Buy The Supersonic BONE: A Development and Operational History of the B-1 Bomber by Kenneth P. Katz at The Aviation Show Bookshop. 10% of each sale supports the show. UK: https://uk.bookshop.org/a/16621/97813... US: https://bookshop.org/a/111804/9781399... This is an edited version of our podcast that was released in 2022. Music: Eschalon by Matthew L. Fisher via Audiio.com ----------------------------------------------------- 🛫 Join us on Patreon! Join from just £3 + VAT a month to get ad-free episodes, chat with Matt, and receive a personalised welcome pack. Click here for more info:   / theaviationshow   ----------------------------------------------------- ✈️Get the latest from the Pima Air and Space Museum by following their socials! Website: https://pimaair.org/   / pimaairandspace     / pimaair   https://x.com/pimaair    / pimaairspacemuseum   Check out the Tucson Military Vehicle Museum here: https://www.tucsonmilitaryvehicle.org/ 👕Get your aviation on with 909 Apparel today! Check out their website here: https://www.909apparel.com/ ----------------------------------------------------- The Aviation Show © 2026 by Matt Bone is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International ----------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Introduction to the B-1 Bomber 0:37 Technical Features of the B-1 8:45 Initial Findings and Performance 12:08 Political Context and Controversy 14:55 The Rise of Cruise Missiles 16:04 The B-1's Uncertain Future 17:16 President Carter's Final Decision