According to Air Combat Command, a leak in the hydraulic fluid system and sparks from a faulty brake caused the fire that damaged a B-1B landing at Andersen AFB, Guam, on Sept. 15, 2005. An accident investigation report estimates the cost of the damage at more than $32 million, plus another $184,000 to repair the runway. The report notes that movement of one and failure of a second bushing allowed the brake to press into the wheel and gouge the rim. That action precipitated a critical pin to break, producing the hydraulic leak.
Facing competition from fast-growing startups, Lockheed Martin is speeding up production of an “affordable, scalable” hypersonic glide body, dubbed the Next Generation Glide Body, the firm said in a June 24 release.