B-52's at Holbeach

[Razor61]

There were two B-52s making 4 runs at Holbeach each at 8,000ft this morning.
Came in from Edwards AFB and went back out again after the drops.
Makes a change from the usual fast jet
A nice sight to anyone up in that area for sure.

Razor

[ZH875]

Other news regarding the B52, it is reported that the X-43 Scramjet was dropped from a B52 at an altitude of 111000 feet.

I knew the B52 could fly high, but can it really get to that sort of height. Information points to around 50,000 feet.

[MadsDad]

From the BBC:-

'The X-43A was positioned on the nose of a Pegasus booster rocket and attached to the underside of a B-52B aircraft's wing.

The paired X-43A and booster were then lifted to an altitude of 12km (40,000ft) and released; the booster taking the scramjet higher and faster.

Separation and onward flight of the scramjet occurred at an altitude of about 33.5km (111,000ft).'

[ZH875]

Thanks, I thought there was something missing in the article I read (Teletext).

[Razor61]

A B-52B?

They retired the old B-52B 'Buff' to the museum a few years ago. Edwards now uses a B-52H taken from surplus stocks.

:rolleyes:

[rivetjoint]

Although NASA have had a B-52H assigned to them its not operational yet. They were still using their B-52B back in September for the last X-43 launch and I have a feeling they were using it yesterday. It's certainly not been sat idle for two years.

[Razor61]

Ahh, you are right, my apologies.
I thought the 'H' replaced the 'B' a few years ago and it was retired into the Dryden Museum.

[VP8]

Did they hit Holbeach or get Donna instead?? :}

VEEPS:E

[Razor61]

Unlike the B-1Bs (which were apparently suppose to 'do' Holbeach but swapped it over to Wainfleet... the Buffs managed to release all their 'stores' on target 8, Holbeach.

Razor

[Pontius Navigator]

From 15,000 feet even each dropping a stick of 3. Largest bomb was less than 300 feet.

In case anyone doubts the height, the tbf was a shade longer than 30 seconds.

[Biggles Flies Undone]

Glad they got the right spot - unlike Farnborough the day I was there this year :hmm:

[MarkD]

I think X-43A launch was last B-52B flight.

[elderforest]

Good job they didn't get the two 52 flights muddled up and launch the scramjet at Holbeach . . .

. . . could you imagine the mess ?

:ooh:

[Man-on-the-fence]

They were to/from Minot not Edwards.

[maxburner]

Any Chinese embassies near Holbeach?

[BEagle]

"Looky here - Long Sut Ton - hey guys, that sounds pretty goddam Chinese to me - let's go bomb 'em"

[Pontius Navigator]

Give the guys a break. Even the mighty Norfolk land shark has difficulty getting dumb bombs as close as the Buff and that from LOW LEVEL.