I have stood alongside runways as B-1s blasted off for training missions and one phrase can describe it: Loud as f@#k. Four in full blower pushing a big gas and bomb container along the runway is but that same thing at night is downright otherworldly.

During , you will see more people parked along Nellis Air Force Base's perimeter after hours when the B-1s are in town for the exercise than when they are not. The big swing-wing jet's quartet of fire breathing engines is the draw. I have heard multiple people metaphorically refer to the experience as watching a real-life Millennium Falcon blast out into space and I have to say they are not embellishing much. If you are in a group, usually the response you hear right after the "B-1 earthquake" has dissipated is laughter, along with car alarms going off for miles.

I shot this in the desert a few miles north east of Nellis AFB during RED FLAG exercises, which the

There is a huge difference in how a loaded down B-1 performs while producing maximum thrust (about 124k lbs) and a fighter jet doing the same. The fighter will pull back power once they have achieved a positive rate of climb to conserve gas and to not cause air traffic control issues. In contrast, the B-1 doesn't seem to pick up much speed as it proceeds through its departure and those afterburners stay lit for as long as the eye can see.

The whole ordeal is a brilliant meld technology and burnt fuel:

It truly is an awesome experience that only one other aircraft in the world can provide, that being Russia's similar, but even larger and more powerful :

Now, as to how much fuel a B-1B burns on a departure, let me get back to you with an answer on that because I think it will be totally outrageous.