Regenerated B-1B "Lancelot" to Return to Service with U.S.A.F. Bomber Fleet

A decommissioned B-1B Lancer aircraft, named "Lancelot," retrieved from 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona, is at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma where it will undergo regeneration before rejoining the Air Force's Strategic Bomber Fleet.

The decision to bring back "Lancelot" was made by the Strategic Plans and Programs office at Headquarters Air Force to support the Air Force Materiel Command's mission of delivering war-winning capabilities.

The need for "Lancelot's" return emerged following a catastrophic engine failure on another B-1B aircraft during routine maintenance at Dyess AFB, Texas, in 2022. With repair costs deemed prohibitive, Air Force officials opted to regenerate "Lancelot" instead.

The B-1 System Program Office at Tinker developed a plan to prepare "Lancelot" for service after its almost three-year retirement at the 309th AMARG. This plan included necessary upgrades to ensure the aircraft's capabilities match those of other operational aircraft in the fleet.

A collaborative effort involving the 309th AMARG, Dyess' 7th Bomb Wing, Tinker's 76th Expeditionary Depot Maintenance Flight, 569th Egress Flight, and the B-1 System Program Office at Tinker successfully restored "Lancelot" to flying condition. This effort allowed the aircraft to be ferried to Tinker AFB, where it will undergo programmed depot maintenance at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex before rejoining the Strategic Bomber Fleet.

After maintenance is completed by Tinker's artisans, "Lancelot" will undergo a functional check flight by the 10th Flight Test Squadron (FLTS) before being delivered back to Dyess AFB for operational sorties.

The B-1B Lancer's mission is carrying the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory. The multi-mission B-1B is a major component of America's long-range bomber force. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision as well as unguided munitions.