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Development of the B-1, from
the programs inception, has been in consonance with all Federal
environmental laws, executive orders, regulations, and with
criteria and standards published by the Environmental Protection
Agency. Every effort is being made to minimize the effects of
the aircraft on the environment.
The B-1's engines incorporate new technology that makes them
among the cleanest and most efficient ever built. Tests indicate
that the F101 engine has a combustion efficiency of 99.5 percent
and is virtually smokeless. Engine emissions are lower than
other aircraft and much lower than other operational bombers.
While specific fuel consumption is classified, the B-1 will use
about 25 percent less fuel than the B-52 for the same mission.
And by spending more time on alert and less time in the air, the
B-1 force will consume less than one-quarter of the fuel used by
today's force of B-52s. Fuel savings are expected to be close to
a half-billion gallons (1.89 billion liters) a year.
Noise levels of the B-1, when its afterburners are not in use,
are considerably lower than those of other military aircraft;
they compare favorably with the newest commercial aircraft.
Afterburners noise levels are comparable with other aircraft.
The B-1 is capable of flying at supersonic speeds and therefore
can cause sonic boom. Such impacts are expected to be minimal,
however, since only a very small percentage of the B-1's flight
time will be at supersonic speeds. Supersonic flights will be
limited to established corridors which will minimize disturbance
to population centers and national park areas.
The aircraft is not expected to have an impact on the
stratosphere environment because of its low emission levels and
the small amount of time flown at those altitudes. |
