B-1B Bombs at Air Show in Paris--It Won’t Start

The U.S. supersonic nuclear B-1B bomber, the most sophisticated ever built for the Strategic Air Command, broke down at the Le Bourget Air Show today, a spokesman for Rockwell International said.

The plane was due to leave for Dyess Air Force Base in Texas in the afternoon but the air crew was unable to start it due to a problem with an on-board power plant, the spokesman said.

The bomber, which can carry up to 57 tons of nuclear and conventional weapons and has cost $20.5 billion to develop, will remain on the ground until a large enough generator can be found to start the engines, he said.

Attempts were being made to locate one at the U.S. Air Force’s European headquarters at Rhein-Main air base, near Frankfurt, West Germany, and it was possible that the plane could leave later tonight.

But Rockwell officials said a generator might have to be flown in from the United States, and the plane was more likely to leave Tuesday.

So far, 52 B-1B bombers have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force by Rockwell, and a total of 100 are due to be in service with the Strategic Air Command by next May.