|
|
Post by Ryan_M on Jan 14, 2016 16:41:14 GMT -5
I'm not going to post his name but today I was fortunate enough to spend an hour with a retired B-52 pilot. He told me tales of cold war era "Minimal Interval Take-off" exercises which they would deploy between 9 an 15 B-52's and tankers on virtually no notice. This included starting the engines of the planes with explosive charges as it was quicker than doing it with the typical compressor. These guys maintained a constant state of readiness with the birds literally backed up to the hangars in formation so they could boot and scoot in an instant. Fascinating stuff that will resonate with me for awhile here.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 17:25:39 GMT -5
A great experience for you today Ryan! I've always been in awe of the B52 and the men who flew and crewed them. A tough old workhorse still going strong. My Grampa was a Chief Master Sgt and crew chief on the '52s in Minot in the early '60s. Your post brought back memories of him..
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 17:45:32 GMT -5
That's pretty cool! You are totally living the dream in the Maine outback. Didn't the Air Force just fly a B52 over South Korea for the benefit of the Northern boys?
What exactly did he mean by starting the engines with explosive charges?? With atom bombs on board? No thank you!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryan_M on Jan 14, 2016 17:56:00 GMT -5
That's pretty cool! You are totally living the dream in the Maine outback. Didn't the Air Force just fly a B52 over South Korea for the benefit of the Northern boys? What exactly did he mean by starting the engines with explosive charges?? With atom bombs on board? No thank you!! Gunpowder filled starter charges - one per engine. You need one of those for your WC  And yes, with the nukes on board. Take-off intervals of 15 seconds between planes. Yikes!! I think that would pretty much mean up to 4 B-52's on the runway at Dow AFB at once. Holy cow. This particular gentleman flew all throughout the 1960's. I believe he told me 175 missions but if that sounds crazy it's my misunderstanding, not his fibbing. I could have listened to him all day. Great stuff. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2016 22:01:33 GMT -5
Cool stuff, thanks for posting as well....... Wes from the M Jeeps site was career Air Force B52 crew chief and did two tours in Tailand during the Vietnam War, he has very interesting stories to tell... ....  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 4:45:46 GMT -5
ARC LIGHT and Avon Park, FL. Two memories I have of the Stratofortress.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ryan_M on Jan 15, 2016 7:43:16 GMT -5
ARC LIGHT and Avon Park, FL. Two memories I have of the Stratofortress. Yes, much talk of Arc Light yesterday. Thailand, Guam, etc. I am so green to any of it it was tough to absorb everything. My head hurt, in a good way, after listening to it all. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 7:52:59 GMT -5
We would receive only a few minutes notice of an Arc Light mission so we would not be caught in that area.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 7:53:19 GMT -5
I have B1B's over my head here constantly. Once in a while a few B 52's. The B1B can carry more payload than a B52!!!!!!!!! They are awesome and comforting to know they are ours!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 12:16:40 GMT -5
A number of years ago I was traveling west on I-20 in western Texas and was buzzed by a B1 traveling North to South. Awesome!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 8:24:41 GMT -5
I went to a airshow at Ellsworth Airforce Base in Rapid City. I got to climb into the pilots seat of a B1. If you want the ultimate rush of a very fast hotrod, that's it. They also had another off to the side with it's ordinance neatly arranged under it, so you could see what it carrys. I got too close as I walked over to it and was descended upon by air force guards. Sir----Sir--------SIR!!!!!!! DO NOT APPROACH THE PLANE! Woah. I tip toed back. Those planes are like Walking Tall. Walk slowly and carry a big stick. The ridiculous thing was if you carry a pocket knife in your pants, you may not enter. If they find one on you, they are to confiscate it and not give it back. Guy at the gate warned us and said leave them in your car. Talk about cool , A P51 Mustang sitting un- roped off with the pilots straps lying down the side of the open cockpit was there. You could walk right up to it. It's name was "Gunfighter". All you wanted to do was climb up and strap in. Most mouth watering plane I've ever looked at. Oilly
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 12:57:32 GMT -5
Wet your whistle boys!
The BMFFRL
The SSMFFRL
The Best Fighter ever made
More
The piece´ de´la resistance…
|
|
