I wanted to be a B-52 tail-gunner when I went in the USAF, but I ended up in computers. I guess that's good since they don't have tail-gunners anymore.
These things are called the Stratofortress, but since they started in 1955 and will likely be still flying in 2055 a new nickname was coined - the Stratosaurus.
I love these planes. There are a bunch stationed near me in Barksdale AFB, LA (I live in East Texas). The other big staging area is at Minot AFB. Occasionally I'll see a couple doing training flights, and I've seen them either taking off or landing when I've driven past Barksdale. I'm hoping to see them up close sometime next month when I make a trip to Barksdale to shop at their commissary (instead of driving to Ft Hood in Central Texas).
Those planes are among the most feared of all time, primarily thanks to their carpet-bombing techniques. They have taken out a square mile of land before, and are known for such operations as Rolling Thunder and Linebacker I & II.
That said, my all-time favorite was the SR-71. I used to go watch them at RAF Mildenhall (UK) when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury. I regularly had to go to RAF Lakenheath to pickup offsite backup tapes for my mainframe whenever the thing crashed, and it took a while for the guys at Lakenheath to get what I needed so I had time. The bases were only a couple minutes apart.
I remember when Trump decided not to scrap the B-52. Some people were saying that said Trump was an idiot for salvaging such an old plane. I told them their ignorance was showing. They're sure quiet now.
Exactly - these things (in my case anyway) take off from Barksdale, fly to the middle east, drop their bombs, turn around and fly right back home - without landing. They get in-air refueling of course, but the mission is just a ~36-40 hour round trip. As long as these things are viable there is absolutely no reason to ground them. They can go anywhere around the world.
Technically no. They have a couple different things though. They have a crude urinal, a relief tube (drains to the same place the urinal - a bowl with a tube - does, and what they call a honey bucket. That's kind of like the thing some preppers buy, and is basically a bucket, a bag, and a seat that goes on the bucket and holds the bag.
They have been beautifully re-purposed. Latest version basically got completely refurbished airframe to "reset" fatigue cycle material limit which typically limits the life of the airframe (# of flight cycles before overhaul/maint/repair required due to flight loads).
If you can fly high enough, then the ordinance has the ability to fly a certain trajectory to its target using the airflow over its control surfaces (unpowered, no rocket engine).
Back in the early 80s, I was walking outside from a computer store to my car when an SR-71 swept overhead, turning and low just after taking off at the nearby air station, with a kind of chattering shriek, and it was visibly LEAKING fuel (I later learned some parts of the plane aren't fully tight until they heat up in supersonic flight, which sounds impossible, but . . .). I can see how these things stick so strongly in the minds of those who work with them. Even today, they seem like impossible SciFi.
I later learned some parts of the plane aren't fully tight until they heat up in supersonic flight, which sounds impossible
Yes!
The SR-71 Blackbird expanded by approximately 2 to 4 inches in length due to intense heat during Mach 3+ flight. The titanium skin reached temperatures of 600–900°F, causing the aircraft's structure to grow and seal gaps that existed on the ground, where it was designed to leak fuel. 👀
It's mind blowing when you think about how the SR-71 was built back in the late 50s - no computers, only slide rules. It was built using titanium bought from USSR by a CIA front company.
One of the coolest things about it - the jet intake cones move in and out, to focus the super sonic shockwave into the intake of the engines. The shockwave is compressed air, and that makes it go that much faster. Kelly Johnson and his engineers at Lockheed's "Skunk Works" were total geniuses back in the day.
When I was about 18 I knew a guy who flew on KC-135's as a navigator. He was on the first refueling mission of the SR-71. Said it was scarey. The KC-135 had to fire wall its engines to get up enough speed to fly as fast as it could. Then the SR-71 had to pull back on its engines and was about to fall out of the sky. Two different types of planes trying to accomplish a common goal. My friend said it was a very sketchy moment because he though his plane might fall apart from all of the stresses on the frame.
The Blackbird is not fueled till the last minute before take off. I can’t remember now but when a wrench told me the leakage rate on the ground, I was shocked at the amount. These days if one took off at a Civi airport, they would have news on scene with hazmat and a weeklong breaking new news on the hazmat cleanup….
They also needed refueled after takeoff to replace the lost fuel. Here's a Google AI blurb on that:
The SR-71 typically required one aerial refueling immediately after takeoff (roughly 7–15 minutes into the flight) to fill its tanks for a mission, which was necessary to support the immense fuel consumption required to accelerate to Mach 3+ and reach altitudes over 80,000 feet. This initial, crucial refuel topped off the fuel lost from ground leakage and the high burn rate during ascent.
I wanted to be a B-52 tail-gunner when I went in the USAF, but I ended up in computers. I guess that's good since they don't have tail-gunners anymore.
These things are called the Stratofortress, but since they started in 1955 and will likely be still flying in 2055 a new nickname was coined - the Stratosaurus.
I love these planes. There are a bunch stationed near me in Barksdale AFB, LA (I live in East Texas). The other big staging area is at Minot AFB. Occasionally I'll see a couple doing training flights, and I've seen them either taking off or landing when I've driven past Barksdale. I'm hoping to see them up close sometime next month when I make a trip to Barksdale to shop at their commissary (instead of driving to Ft Hood in Central Texas).
Those planes are among the most feared of all time, primarily thanks to their carpet-bombing techniques. They have taken out a square mile of land before, and are known for such operations as Rolling Thunder and Linebacker I & II.
That said, my all-time favorite was the SR-71. I used to go watch them at RAF Mildenhall (UK) when I was stationed at RAF Alconbury. I regularly had to go to RAF Lakenheath to pickup offsite backup tapes for my mainframe whenever the thing crashed, and it took a while for the guys at Lakenheath to get what I needed so I had time. The bases were only a couple minutes apart.
I remember when Trump decided not to scrap the B-52. Some people were saying that said Trump was an idiot for salvaging such an old plane. I told them their ignorance was showing. They're sure quiet now.
Exactly - these things (in my case anyway) take off from Barksdale, fly to the middle east, drop their bombs, turn around and fly right back home - without landing. They get in-air refueling of course, but the mission is just a ~36-40 hour round trip. As long as these things are viable there is absolutely no reason to ground them. They can go anywhere around the world.
Definitely an oldie but goodie.
that was what I was about to ask, about that big plane flying all that way.
Do they really have a toilet onboard or is that a wives tale?
Technically no. They have a couple different things though. They have a crude urinal, a relief tube (drains to the same place the urinal - a bowl with a tube - does, and what they call a honey bucket. That's kind of like the thing some preppers buy, and is basically a bucket, a bag, and a seat that goes on the bucket and holds the bag.
The B-2 does have a chemical toilet.
They have been beautifully re-purposed. Latest version basically got completely refurbished airframe to "reset" fatigue cycle material limit which typically limits the life of the airframe (# of flight cycles before overhaul/maint/repair required due to flight loads).
If you can fly high enough, then the ordinance has the ability to fly a certain trajectory to its target using the airflow over its control surfaces (unpowered, no rocket engine).
I had no idea, that is really neat! My son will love to Lear about that.
Back in the early 80s, I was walking outside from a computer store to my car when an SR-71 swept overhead, turning and low just after taking off at the nearby air station, with a kind of chattering shriek, and it was visibly LEAKING fuel (I later learned some parts of the plane aren't fully tight until they heat up in supersonic flight, which sounds impossible, but . . .). I can see how these things stick so strongly in the minds of those who work with them. Even today, they seem like impossible SciFi.
Yes!
Holy moley! Never heard such a thing before!
That is an interesting design. Thanks for the context there.
It's mind blowing when you think about how the SR-71 was built back in the late 50s - no computers, only slide rules. It was built using titanium bought from USSR by a CIA front company.
One of the coolest things about it - the jet intake cones move in and out, to focus the super sonic shockwave into the intake of the engines. The shockwave is compressed air, and that makes it go that much faster. Kelly Johnson and his engineers at Lockheed's "Skunk Works" were total geniuses back in the day.
When I was about 18 I knew a guy who flew on KC-135's as a navigator. He was on the first refueling mission of the SR-71. Said it was scarey. The KC-135 had to fire wall its engines to get up enough speed to fly as fast as it could. Then the SR-71 had to pull back on its engines and was about to fall out of the sky. Two different types of planes trying to accomplish a common goal. My friend said it was a very sketchy moment because he though his plane might fall apart from all of the stresses on the frame.
Wow.
I've seen one on the ground before take-off. Gas was pooling everywhere on the ground.
The Blackbird is not fueled till the last minute before take off. I can’t remember now but when a wrench told me the leakage rate on the ground, I was shocked at the amount. These days if one took off at a Civi airport, they would have news on scene with hazmat and a weeklong breaking new news on the hazmat cleanup….
They also needed refueled after takeoff to replace the lost fuel. Here's a Google AI blurb on that:
I heard the SR-71 was designed to leak hydraulic fluid while on the tarmac. This is the first time I've heard about it leaking fuel.
The word "stratos" is Greek for "army".
My dad was a B52 mechanic when I was born. I wish he was still around so I could ask him some questions about it.
SR-71 is my all time favorite too. Absofucknlutley amazing.