B-1A Bomber

The B-1 was designed to replace the aging B-52 to serve as a supersonic heavy bomber capable of delivering a nuclear payload. But after a lengthy development program, the B-1A was never deployed and cancelled in 1977 due to rising costs and increased vulnerability to improving Soviet defensive systems. The B-1A continued to serve long after the program was cancelled as a test bed for the B-1B. The B-1B while physically similar it was not capable of supersonic flight but included significant improvements in payload and avionics over the B-1A.  

 The new Minicraft B-1A represents the B-1 during continued flight tests in 1981 in markings similar to that of the B-52 operating at that time.

 Marking included in this kit:

 USAF B-1A – 76-0174, B-1B test program, U.K., 1982