The B-1B is the Lancer 86-0115 “Rage” regenerated from the Boneyard to be returned to lively service, throughout a post-depot useful examine flight.
On Feb. 26, 2026, aviation photographer Ryan Rodriguez (@ryan_big_country_aviation) shot some actually distinctive pictures: a “bare” B-1B Lancer, venting gasoline at excessive altitude over Abilene, Texas.
Right here’s how he recalled the sighting in a message despatched to us:
“February twenty sixth was simply one other regular day recognizing at Dyess, complete lot of sitting, not a lot happening,” Rodriguez instructed us. “Ready and listening to the bottom chatter on the scanner, attainable native Bone departure, I used to be simply watching the radar as all of the cool plane averted our space just like the plague. I seen a hex taking off from Tinker, actually considering it was one of many Buffs in depot, so I figured I’d preserve my eyes on it for the slightest likelihood of them capturing an strategy right here (wishful considering 😅). Lastly just a few T-38s descended into the DYS sample, so my focus turned to them. They depart, I get again on the radar to see the hex in west Oklahoma heading south in the direction of Lancer MOA [Military Operations Area], which is regular. Slightly bit later I noticed they had been rather a lot decrease than regular at 14k and climbing, however had been south of the MOA and had been beelining it my method. By the point they had been about 10 miles away they had been leveling off at 19k, considering it’s a Buff I used to be considering to myself {that a} Buff.”
“At 19K can be really easy to see however I can’t see something 👀 then I seen one thing appears to be like prefer it’s contrailing however not at 19k, so I knew one thing was totally different. Then I seen it’s shiny 🤔 nothing at this level is clicking in my thoughts that I’ve my lens targeted on a unicorn 😳 lastly realization kicked in as they had been straight overhead with wings again and gasoline venting that I’ve lastly seen “Rage” as they made a shallow left financial institution north again to Tinker, undoubtedly not the bare Bone I needed but it surely’s the bare Bone I acquired and I couldn’t be any extra happier.”
The plane Rodriguez noticed is certainly B-1B Lancer 86-0115 “Rage”, a Lancer bomber conducting a FCF (Practical Test Flight) following Programmed Depot Upkeep (PDM) at Tinker Air Drive Base, Oklahoma. PDM is the heavy upkeep cycle throughout which plane (together with the B-1Bs) obtain structural inspections, obtain substitute parts in addition to upgrades.
Throughout PDMs, B-1s are nearly fully disassembled and every half is inspected and all defects are fastened earlier than they’re rebuilt and despatched again to their dwelling stations as they had been (nearly) model new.
After the PDM inspections are accomplished, the plane performs a sequence of take a look at flights earlier than it’s “accepted” once more and despatched again to its squadron.
“Rage” was venting gasoline most likely as a part of the FCF gasoline system checks: throughout these sorties, crews confirm the correct operation of pumps, switch valves and venting techniques by transferring gasoline between tanks and stressing the system beneath totally different flight situations. Extra gasoline can even accumulate within the surge tanks situated within the outer wings and be expelled by way of vent retailers close to the trailing edge, producing the seen gasoline stream you could see within the pictures taken by Rodriguez.
One of the crucial fascinating factor about “Rage” is that the bomber was regenerated from the Boneyard the place it had spent greater than 2 years on the 309th AMARG (Aerospace Upkeep and Regeneration Group) at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona. In line with our pal Rob Stephens at Redhome Aviation, this BONE (from B-One, essentially the most used nickname used for the sort) was flown to the Oklahoma Metropolis Air Logistics Complicated at Tinker AFB on July 2, 2024 after Air Drive International Strike Command decided it could be extra financial to revive the plane from the boneyard as in comparison with repairing 86-0126 “Hungry Satan.”
“Hungry Satan” was broken whereas present process heavy buildings restore improvement at Boeing-Palmdale. It was set to check the feasibility of depot-level restore and substitute of the Ahead Intermediate Fuselage, when it was broken past what was economically possible to revive to flight. Officers haven’t specified precisely what was broken or the full extent of the harm, however rumors had been that the plane’s thick, milled pores and skin and ribs had been broken within the course of.
Because of this, after spending 1,042 days parked within the Arizona desert, the bomber went by way of the multi-phase course of required to return to lively service. The final part of this course of is PDM. Throughout PDM, “Rage” was stripped off its paint. It is going to get a contemporary set of paint after all of the useful examine flights and assessments are profitable (truly, it may be within the technique of being repainted on the time of writing). Then, it is going to be returned to fleet with the seventh Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas the place it should be a part of the opposite regenerated B-1B, 85-0081 “Lancelot.”
As reported by Redhome Aviation, “Lancelot,” additionally accomplished regeneration and returned to the fleet at Dyess AFB, Texas, on Jan. 21, 2026. The plane departed Tinker to Dyess AFB, Texas, utilizing he callsign of the 345th Bomb Squadron, “Crook1.” Lancelot was introduced again to switch B-1B 85-0089, which suffered an engine detonation and fireplace at Dyess AFB.
“No substitute is presently deliberate for B-1B 85-0085 “Ruptured Duck,” which crashed at Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, in 2024. The B-1B fleet presently stands at 44 plane, highlighting how every remaining airframe has turn into more and more precious because the bomber continues to play a serious position within the U.S. Air Drive’s long-range standard strike functionality,” says Rob Stephens.
