dmetalmiki
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That's funny Warthog, I'm turning 60 as well and no one did an article on me.
+ too many to think 'bout!-
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B-52 Turns 60
- Thread starter Warthog
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+ too many to think 'bout!
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landing gear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GPsOuXImL0
Do you all know about the special landing gear?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GPsOuXImL0
Do you all know about the special landing gear?
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CMPPhil
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Hi Frank
Do you mean the crab walk gear? Strange to see them come in to Pease Air Force Base NH plane crabbing into the wind and all the gear lineup at an angle to the runway.
Cheers Phil
Do you mean the crab walk gear? Strange to see them come in to Pease Air Force Base NH plane crabbing into the wind and all the gear lineup at an angle to the runway.
Cheers Phil
CMPPhil
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Hi Frank
Do you mean the crab walk gear? Strange to see them come in to Pease Air Force Base NH plane crabbing into the wind and all the gear lineup at an angle to the runway.
That's quite the anti aircraft weapon in the video if you can get the plane to sit still.
Cheers Phil
PS sorry for the double post it duplicated instead of editing.
Do you mean the crab walk gear? Strange to see them come in to Pease Air Force Base NH plane crabbing into the wind and all the gear lineup at an angle to the runway.
That's quite the anti aircraft weapon in the video if you can get the plane to sit still.
Cheers Phil
PS sorry for the double post it duplicated instead of editing.
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Another Ahab
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I saw something like that here (in D.C.), about 4-5 years ago, and never saw any explanation anywhere.
It was nothing as dramatic as squadron after squadron of B-52's, but it was Bell OH-58 "Kiowa" helicopters:
- There must have been 30-40 of them in a loose formation flying along the Potomac River
Wonder what that was about?
You just GOT to find a pic of that day CMPPhil, that must have been awesome.
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I’m a 100% disabled wreck. I’ve built a Gun Truck, maintain 2 M35’s, an M1009, M37, and others. I’m currently refurbing a G506. The thing is, it all starts with one bolt and one wrench. 7+ years on the War Wagon and I’m still tweaking it. It takes me between 2 and 3 days to change a tire. I’m a helicopterman to the core, I get cut, I bleed hydraulic fluid, I eat grease foods, it adds a little extra taste to the chow hall food. When I dream there’s always rotors turning and engines burning...
okay, that’s a bit over the top, but I really like helicopters.
okay, that’s a bit over the top, but I really like helicopters.
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End of an Era: NASA's Famous B-52B Retires
12.15.04
With a penchant for chasing tomorrow, NASA's B-52B "008" always carried the future of flight under its wing.
Image right: Always chasing tomorrow, NASA 008 began an early morning lifting body mission in 1972. NASA photo.
First taking to the air in June of 1955, the venerable aircraft began its illustrious, nearly 50-year U.S. Air Force and NASA career as a bomb navigation system test airplane for the Air Force's B-52 fleet. Ironically, the bomb/nav system test bomber spent its career dropping flight research vehicles rather than bombs.
In 1959 it became one of two mothership launch aircraft for the X-15 program, which paved the way for America's early manned spaceflight efforts. Double-0-eight cut its teeth launching a majority of the 199 X-15 flights.
The B-52B's first and last missions launched hypersonic research vehicles, the first being launch of the number one X-15 in 1960. Beginning with the X-15 program, which matured reaction control systems and thermal protection systems for spacecraft, and ending with the X-43A project, NASA 008 served hypersonics research well.
"I was here in Jan. 1960 for the aircraft's first X-15 flight and in Nov. 2004 for the last X-43A flight, and for all of the flights in-between," said Roy Bryant, NASA Dryden's B-52B project manager of nearly 30 years. "Pride, dedication and innovation have been the key elements of the people who maintained this vintage aircraft to support the many projects that have kept the United States at the forefront of aerospace development for the past 45 years," Bryant said.
Since the end of the X-15 program in 1969, NASA 008 has supported virtually all of NASA's aeronautical research programs requiring air launch, and some research missions that didn't.
The Space Shuttle owes several design characteristics and later refinements to NASA 008.
Starting in the mid-1960s, NASA 008 carried aloft several types of lifting body aircraft over a 10-year period. These wingless wonders demonstrated controlled flight without wings and precision landing without power that proved the viability of gliding Space Shuttle landings. With the arrival of the Shuttle era, NASA 008 dropped Shuttle solid rocket booster test vehicles in order to test the booster recovery parachute system. During the early 1990s, the aircraft kicked up plumes of dust on Rogers Dry Lake wringing out the Shuttle's new drag chute system.
One of the more memorable missions for Bryant was a day in 1978 that one of the Shuttle solid rocket booster test vehicles didn't drop on command. B-52 launch panel operator Ray Young reported that his lights indicated the hooks holding the vehicle had opened, even though the vehicle remained attached to the pylon. Pilot Fitz Fulton tried maneuvering the aircraft to free the stuck vehicle, but to no avail. "There was a lot of concern that we'd damage the B-52 if it came loose on landing," Bryant remembers. Fulton greased the B-52 in for a really smooth landing, and the test vehicle held on.
Over the years the aircraft launched various experimental fixtures, such as the FB-111 crew capsule, and advanced remotely-piloted vehicles like the F-15 Spin Research Vehicle, both for the Air Force.
Maintenance crews over the years grew fond of the aircraft, treating it more like a classic car than an old bomber. Double-0-eight's crews kept it in ship-shape, seldom failing to have the aircraft ready for a mission. Not that the old bird didn't balk at the prospect occasionally.
Image left: B-52 carrying the X-15. U.S. Air Force photo
Always reliable, NASA 008's long career ended as historically as it began, launching the last hypersonic X-43A scramjet powered research vehicle on Nov. 16, 2004, to nearly Mach 10, a record speed for airbreathing aircraft.
A hieroglyphic-like silhouette representing the last research mission, recently painted on by crew member Monty Hodges, joined many on the aircraft's starboard fuselage, a virtual museum wall documenting every mission of the aircraft's flight through history.
As NASA 008 flies into the sunset, its legacy continues to soar into the future. Thanks for the ride, 008.
Additional B-52 photos are at http://is2.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/B-52/index.html
Gray Creech
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
12.15.04
Image right: Always chasing tomorrow, NASA 008 began an early morning lifting body mission in 1972. NASA photo.
First taking to the air in June of 1955, the venerable aircraft began its illustrious, nearly 50-year U.S. Air Force and NASA career as a bomb navigation system test airplane for the Air Force's B-52 fleet. Ironically, the bomb/nav system test bomber spent its career dropping flight research vehicles rather than bombs.
In 1959 it became one of two mothership launch aircraft for the X-15 program, which paved the way for America's early manned spaceflight efforts. Double-0-eight cut its teeth launching a majority of the 199 X-15 flights.
The B-52B's first and last missions launched hypersonic research vehicles, the first being launch of the number one X-15 in 1960. Beginning with the X-15 program, which matured reaction control systems and thermal protection systems for spacecraft, and ending with the X-43A project, NASA 008 served hypersonics research well.
"I was here in Jan. 1960 for the aircraft's first X-15 flight and in Nov. 2004 for the last X-43A flight, and for all of the flights in-between," said Roy Bryant, NASA Dryden's B-52B project manager of nearly 30 years. "Pride, dedication and innovation have been the key elements of the people who maintained this vintage aircraft to support the many projects that have kept the United States at the forefront of aerospace development for the past 45 years," Bryant said.
Since the end of the X-15 program in 1969, NASA 008 has supported virtually all of NASA's aeronautical research programs requiring air launch, and some research missions that didn't.
The Space Shuttle owes several design characteristics and later refinements to NASA 008.
Starting in the mid-1960s, NASA 008 carried aloft several types of lifting body aircraft over a 10-year period. These wingless wonders demonstrated controlled flight without wings and precision landing without power that proved the viability of gliding Space Shuttle landings. With the arrival of the Shuttle era, NASA 008 dropped Shuttle solid rocket booster test vehicles in order to test the booster recovery parachute system. During the early 1990s, the aircraft kicked up plumes of dust on Rogers Dry Lake wringing out the Shuttle's new drag chute system.
One of the more memorable missions for Bryant was a day in 1978 that one of the Shuttle solid rocket booster test vehicles didn't drop on command. B-52 launch panel operator Ray Young reported that his lights indicated the hooks holding the vehicle had opened, even though the vehicle remained attached to the pylon. Pilot Fitz Fulton tried maneuvering the aircraft to free the stuck vehicle, but to no avail. "There was a lot of concern that we'd damage the B-52 if it came loose on landing," Bryant remembers. Fulton greased the B-52 in for a really smooth landing, and the test vehicle held on.
Over the years the aircraft launched various experimental fixtures, such as the FB-111 crew capsule, and advanced remotely-piloted vehicles like the F-15 Spin Research Vehicle, both for the Air Force.
Maintenance crews over the years grew fond of the aircraft, treating it more like a classic car than an old bomber. Double-0-eight's crews kept it in ship-shape, seldom failing to have the aircraft ready for a mission. Not that the old bird didn't balk at the prospect occasionally.
Always reliable, NASA 008's long career ended as historically as it began, launching the last hypersonic X-43A scramjet powered research vehicle on Nov. 16, 2004, to nearly Mach 10, a record speed for airbreathing aircraft.
A hieroglyphic-like silhouette representing the last research mission, recently painted on by crew member Monty Hodges, joined many on the aircraft's starboard fuselage, a virtual museum wall documenting every mission of the aircraft's flight through history.
As NASA 008 flies into the sunset, its legacy continues to soar into the future. Thanks for the ride, 008.
Additional B-52 photos are at http://is2.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/B-52/index.html
Gray Creech
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
Another Ahab
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Just thought of something. Wonder if THAT was the reason my old man built the bomb shelter off the side of our house (I was just born at the time):
- He worked downtown and his office was only 3-4 blocks from the White House
- He MUST have seen that (how could you miss it?!!!)
- "Those that live by the Sword shall die by the Sword" is an ancient wisdom
- Might have struck him that those squadrons could just as well have been all USSR Backfire Bombers...
Yikes.
"Hmmm, maybe I should look into that shelter thing".
Nobody to ask now, everybody dead. But I wonder?
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8madjack
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I couldn't get it either, thought my service was slow at first
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Sorry. I have not been paying attention. Been picking cherries for the last week, 7-8 hours a day, for my schnapps production.
If you google NASA retires B52, you should find the whole article I printed, and the linked pictures should be there. I saw this bird as a kid. North American Rockwell had some projects that my Father worked on, that allowed him to take us kids to watch. So I saw 008 and also one of the X15 landings, as well as the maiden flight of the XB70. Heady stuff for a 10 year boy.
If you google NASA retires B52, you should find the whole article I printed, and the linked pictures should be there. I saw this bird as a kid. North American Rockwell had some projects that my Father worked on, that allowed him to take us kids to watch. So I saw 008 and also one of the X15 landings, as well as the maiden flight of the XB70. Heady stuff for a 10 year boy.
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Here in OKC, Tinker AFB is a Maintenance Depot for the B-52.
You see them often.
Awesome aircraft.
Saw one a few days ago at about 2000 AGL setting up for landing at Tinker.
They are big.
You see them often.
Awesome aircraft.
Saw one a few days ago at about 2000 AGL setting up for landing at Tinker.
They are big.
Another Ahab
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Those things landed on skids if I remember right.
Very cool that you are a witness, Guyfang!
Berto
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The B52 was the first aircraft I worked maintenance on as a young LT. Still my favorite, even though I've moved on to fighters, the old BUFF will always be my first love.
dmetalmiki
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Thanks...You just reminded me that,......I am **years past my sell by date!Gosh you're old!!
Another Ahab
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What's the story behind the nickname?
Another Ahab
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Keep on the sunny side, dmetalmiki, as long as you don't turn sour you are ALL good!
Berto
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It is an acronym, civilized airmen, say it stands for Big Ugly Fat Fellow...the uncivilized replace Fellow with a four letter F word...I'm new here so I will act civilized.
Another Ahab
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Civilized behavior is commendable, and appreciated.
The world does not need any more ugly, we got enough.
I am working hard to eliminate all foul language and swearing from my vocabulary, but it's a %@*&^%!! difficult habit to break, I'm telling you!
The world does not need any more ugly, we got enough.
I am working hard to eliminate all foul language and swearing from my vocabulary, but it's a %@*&^%!! difficult habit to break, I'm telling you!
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As a foul mouthed Marine, I am constantly catching myself dropping every known filthy word in the English language. It’s helped me out a couple times and got a bit of trouble in others. I worked on a crashed Canadian Helicopter in front of a very large airshow audience. There were moments of frustration and the occasional hammer on thumbnail moments which were handled with copious amounts of bad language. I found out after I returned to my hotel room that I’d been on TV the whole time. Never trusted news people after that.