2003 B-1B records become official

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Dillier
  • 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AFPN) --  Records set by a B-1B Lancer here during the 2003 Open House and Air Show were officially certified April 30 by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale in Switzerland.

In two flights Oct. 25 and 26, the B-1B set 45 world records and broke five previously set records in the National Aeronautic Association C-1Q and C-1R, Group III weight class.

The 330,000-pound bomber falls into subclass C-1 for landplanes and Group III for its turbojet engines, said Maj. Wim Libby, 419th Flight Test Squadron assistant director of operations.

It was a long process to get the records certified, Major Libby said.

After the flights, the NAA observers had to complete a detailed report for each record, he said. Once observers completed the report, the records needed to be approved as “national records” by NAA officials. Then all the paperwork had to be sent to the FAI.

"Because we had so many records, it took (FAI officials) a few months to go through all the paperwork again and verify we satisfied all the requirements before they declared the results official world records," he said.

With the start and finish of most record-breaking flights flown above air show activity, the bomber followed three closed-circuit courses and two speed dashes.

"It was an unbelievable honor to be a part of an event of this magnitude and certainly was the opportunity of a lifetime for most, if not all of us,” said Maj. Troy Asher, 419th FLTS director of operations. “For the past 11 years, I have been part of a large group of aviators who have been trying to get the world to stand up and take note of the awesome capabilities of the B-1B.

“Ironically, this record-setting event comes at a time when the B-1B is also proving itself … in operations around the world. This event will possibly serve as icing on the cake for the great things the B-1B is doing in support of the war on terrorism and help solidify it as the weapon system of choice for the future," he said.