B-1A Flies for the First Time

Dec. 23, 1974
Company pilot Charles Bock Jr., U.S. Air Force Col. Emil Sturmthal, and flight test engineer Richard Abrams make the first flight of the Rockwell B-1A variable-geometry bomber from Palmdale, Calif.

Related

AFA, Space Force Leaders Honor Gen. Schriever with Statue and a Toast

May 1, 2026
Top Air Force and Space Force leaders past and present celebrated the legacy of Gen. Bernard A. Schriever—the “father of the U.S. military space and missile program”—and the growth of the new space service by unveiling of his bronze statue during the Air & Space Forces Association’s inaugural “Salute to…

Pentagon’s Big Bet on Reconciliation Sparks Lawmaker Concerns

May 1, 2026
The Pentagon is counting on Congress to navigate a legislative tightrope and pass a party-line bill to fund nearly a quarter of its $1.5 trillion budget request for fiscal 2027, including billions of dollars for top priorities like Golden Dome, the F-35, munitions, and unmanned systems. Experts and lawmakers from…

Trump Picks Schiess as Next Space Force Chief

May 1, 2026
Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess has been nominated by President Donald Trump to become the next Chief of Space Operations, the top uniformed leader in the U.S. Space Force.

Hegseth: US Will Require ‘a Lot More’ Than 100 B-21 Bombers

April 30, 2026
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told lawmakers April 30 that the Pentagon should consider buying “a lot more” B-21 Raider next-generation stealth bombers, signaling top-level interest in expanding the official program of record for the aircraft.