A B-1b Sst?

[Mike Lewis]

I believe it was Brian who once said he wanted to fly B-1s.

I was reading the latest Aviation Week when some guy wrote in and said he is trying to secure a patent that would take a B-1B from the boneyard, lengthen the fuselage 40 feet from behind the cockpit, and that would allow for 100 passengers in 20 rows of 2-3 seating.

He said that the aircraft would be capable of transsonic/supersonic flight with a max speed of M1.25 over land and M2.0 over water. He said that the unique design of the variable swept wing of the B-1 would allow it to fly M1.25 over land in such a way that the sonic booms would be tolerable for human ears on the ground.

Don't get me wrong; I'd like to see it. It just sounds a little far-fetched to me.

[Hacker15e]

Agreed that it sounds very far fetched.

Good luck in getting commercial transport service in an aircraft without and FAA type certificate.

Can't imagine what the cert process would be for this ex-military aircraft with a major airframe change (stretch) and what that process would COST.

How about adding some windows into that thing? Hell, the two Navs in the back can barely see outside.

What about ability to plane and de-plane? Where will the door go?

How about sound-attenuation? How much weight will that cost??

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

I believe it was Brian who once said he wanted to fly B-1s.

I was reading the latest Aviation Week when some guy wrote in and said he is trying to secure a patent that would take a B-1B from the boneyard, lengthen the fuselage 40 feet from behind the cockpit, and that would allow for 100 passengers in 20 rows of 2-3 seating.

He said that the aircraft would be capable of transsonic/supersonic flight with a max speed of M1.25 over land and M2.0 over water. He said that the unique design of the variable swept wing of the B-1 would allow it to fly M1.25 over land in such a way that the sonic booms would be tolerable for human ears on the ground.

Don't get me wrong; I'd like to see it. It just sounds a little far-fetched to me.

I'm majoring in Accounting and Finance, not straight Mathematics, but.... I'm pretty sure 20 by 2 or 3 does not add up to 100.

Can someone double check my math?

Thanks.

[WindyCityPilot]

2-3 seating = 5 seats per row * 20 rows = 100 passengers.

[bdhill1979]

Doesn't the B1 require a few midair refuelings to cross an ocean?
Especially at supersonic speeds.

[frog_flyer]

Originally Posted by WindyCityPilot

2-3 seating = 5 seats per row * 20 rows = 100 passengers.

Alas!

Gracias

[NJA_Capt]

Originally Posted by Mike Lewis

...transsonic/supersonic flight with a max speed of M1.25 over land and M2.0 over water.

It just sounds a little far-fetched to me.

Ditto the far fetched. Considering the B1B's wing sweep is limited to 60 degrees (and other mods) making M2 unattainable. The B1A was designed for 2.2 and there are only 2 left (in museums).


http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/sy...b-1a-specs.htm
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/sy...b-1b-specs.htm

[Hacker15e]

Originally Posted by NJA_Capt

Ditto the far fetched. Considering the B1B's wing sweep is limited to 60 degrees (and other mods) making M2 unattainable. The B1A was designed for 2.2 and there are only 2 left (in museums).

What does the wing sweep have to do with max speed? There is a significant difference in engines between the B-1A and B-1B.

[NJA_Capt]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

What does the wing sweep have to do with max speed? There is a significant difference in engines between the B-1A and B-1B.

"Differences between the B-1B and its predecessor, the B-1A of the 1970s, are subtle, yet significant.....The wing sweep is restricted to 60 which limits the maximum speed to just above supersonic."
http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-1b.htm

I wish it would work though....It would look good with a QS painted on the tail

[Tworotor7]

I was a crew chief on the b-1b...If he can do that Id love to see it lol

Nick

[Minuteman]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

What does the wing sweep have to do with max speed? There is a significant difference in engines between the B-1A and B-1B.

Just a guess, but the angle of the shockwave coming off the nose depends on the mach number ... higher speeds mean a more-oblique angle. At M=2.2 angle is about 27°. At M=1.25, the angle is a wider 76° cone. The last thing you want is bits and pieces sticking out ahead of the most-forward shockwave (usually coming off the nose), making their own draggy little shockwaves.

It must have been that the B-1A's wings folded farther back at the expense of more structural weight.