B-52 and Vulcan formation
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B-52 and Vulcan formation
Does anyone know anything more about this?
A prototype B-52H with a Vulcan B2 in anti-flash white. Is that Edwards below? Any idea when the photo was taken?
A prototype B-52H with a Vulcan B2 in anti-flash white. Is that Edwards below? Any idea when the photo was taken?
Tony Blackman 'Vulcan Test Pilot' page 162; 'Author piloting Vulcan XH535 as it formates with B52 Stratofortress 20008 over Edwards Air force Base, 7th July 1961'.
Last edited by By George; 19th Jan 2019 at 19:58. Reason: spelling
It can't be "20008" as there weren't any FY62 B-52Hs and 52-008 was a much earlier RB-52B/NB-52B used as a carrier aircraft for the X-15 programme.
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Serial on fin looks like it might be 60-0008 in pic on this site, but very pixelated so hard to be certain. Pic on the other site says it's 61-023 which famously lost its fin! Pretty certain it isn't.
Serial on fin looks like it might be 60-0008 in pic on this site, but very pixelated so hard to be certain. Pic on the other site says it's 61-023 which famously lost its fin! Pretty certain it isn't.
Sorry if that's what you meant.
Images below found with a reverse image search - I have no knowledge of the subject.
Here is a very clear B&W image of a very similar aircraft.
https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/60-0006/
Pprune breaks certain links so use the short URL below. For fun we can make it display a childish message.
b l o g s p o t
http://thetartanterror.********.com/...-blackman.html
https://tinyurl.com/y9zy3xr7
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/5b/ac/57/5...3c66f49a88.jpg
Last edited by jimjim1; 20th Jan 2019 at 02:49.
Boeing B-52H-135-BW 60-0008 (MSN 464373) Named “Flamingo Flier” with 2nd Bomb Wing in March 1967. Named "Lucky Lady IV" with 2nd BW in 2008. 20th BS Active mar12 dec18 '8 AF' dec18-mar12
jim has nailed the aircraft I think, but the above gives no history prior to '67. Good eyes there too Treaders.
jim has nailed the aircraft I think, but the above gives no history prior to '67. Good eyes there too Treaders.
Google books has some preview pages of Tony Blackman's book available.
I am having trouble with the links. You may need to "search inside" for 20008.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Qp4jMl2tDo8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA123-IA2#v=onepage&dq=20008&f=true
Page counter says "Page 123"
Scroll down and click on blue "Page 123>>" link.
Unfortunately the captions seem inconsistent with the B-52 images. Both "Top" and "Bottom" captions refer to 20008. The aircraft have different nose and fin art and the "bottom" one on the ground had a weapons pylon that appears to be absent from the image with the Vulcan in formation.
I am having trouble with the links. You may need to "search inside" for 20008.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Qp4jMl2tDo8C&lpg=PP1&pg=PA123-IA2#v=onepage&dq=20008&f=true
Page counter says "Page 123"
Scroll down and click on blue "Page 123>>" link.
Unfortunately the captions seem inconsistent with the B-52 images. Both "Top" and "Bottom" captions refer to 20008. The aircraft have different nose and fin art and the "bottom" one on the ground had a weapons pylon that appears to be absent from the image with the Vulcan in formation.
Last edited by jimjim1; 20th Jan 2019 at 05:13. Reason: Link trouble.
Regardless of which B-52 is in the picture, it is interesting that the picture includes the retirement location of 008 - the Edwards North Gate:
I went to see it three years ago. The gate is about a mile off Highway 58 and 008 is just outside the gate:
More information about the history of 008. The oldest but lowest time B-52 when it was retired:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstro...-005-DFRC.html
If you go to the West Gate, you can see Century Circle, with all of the Century Series fighters. It's a 12 mile drive, but you passChino Mojave Airport on the way, so it took me a long time to get there!
I went to see it three years ago. The gate is about a mile off Highway 58 and 008 is just outside the gate:
More information about the history of 008. The oldest but lowest time B-52 when it was retired:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstro...-005-DFRC.html
If you go to the West Gate, you can see Century Circle, with all of the Century Series fighters. It's a 12 mile drive, but you pass
Last edited by India Four Two; 20th Jan 2019 at 15:02.
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Good call jimjim!
The B-52 Tony is standing in front of is definitely "Balls 8" 52-0008, as mentioned by DaveReidUK and I42, used to drop the X-15 et al. It has the taller fin of the earlier B-52 variants.
Mojave?
The B-52 Tony is standing in front of is definitely "Balls 8" 52-0008, as mentioned by DaveReidUK and I42, used to drop the X-15 et al. It has the taller fin of the earlier B-52 variants.
but you pass Chino Airport on the way
Thanks Treaders. Obviously a senior moment. I will correct my post!
Chino came later in my trip.
Road trip part 2 - Santa Monica to Calgary
Chino came later in my trip.
Road trip part 2 - Santa Monica to Calgary
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I did both on the same trip; unfortunately I didn't know about the various aircraft on display at Edwards - though 20 years ago perhaps they weren't. Did see the B-29 "Doc" at Inyokern, it had recently been towed out of China Lake. Also stumbled on the Blackbird Air Park! First I'd heard of Tagboard!
We were obviously travelling the same roads - I went to the Blackbird Airpark as well. It was closed although I got a good view through the fence. An SR-71, an A-12 and a D-21 (Tagboard) all on display.
Road trip - Calgary to Santa Monica
Road trip - Calgary to Santa Monica
Unfortunately the captions seem inconsistent with the B-52 images
Author piloting Vulcan XH535 as it formates with B52 Stratofortress 20008 over Edwards Air force Base, 7th July 1961
"Balls 8" is a RB-52B-10-BO, serial 52-008 (MSN 16498) converted to NB-52B carrier aircraft for X-15 and Lifting Body research programs. To NASA as 008. Scheduled to be retired from active service with NASA Dec 17, 2004. To be retired to permanent display at west gate of Edwards AFB. In Dec 2012 was still seen at North Edwards, which means that it may not be going to the West gate. As can be seen in the photos above it still carries the tall fin which is proof positive it's not the aircraft in formation, nor has it the TF33 engines.
jim has identified the aircraft in his B & W photo, IMHO.
I've just had a look in the book itself, XH535 was flown to Edwards for ground radio tests for the Skybolt system. Tony Blackman and Dickie Martin flew the Vulcan out there via Goose Bay, cruise climbing from 47,000 feet up after departing Goose. When positioning the aircraft on the lakebed for the trials, the local pilot, who was along to provide directions, got them into a cul-de-sac and to get out of it they went across some stones, ruining a complete set of tires in the process. It did not delay the trials, but a set of tires had to be flown out and it took a few weeks before the aircraft was ready to head home. Tony Blackman then took Fitz Fulton up, letting him fly the Vulcan. During that flight, they managed to take the formation photos shown above. In return, Fitz Fulton let Tony fly with him in B-52 20008, and he organised a flight in a B-47 for him with Jack Allevie. Both flights are illustrated by the photos showing Tony in front of the respective Boeing types (see post #10).
I agree that the caption for the first image that triggered this thread is wrong. Just comparing the two images on the page, it is clear that they are not of the same B-52.
Returning to the UK, they arrived around dawn but were unable to get into Woodford due to the weather and lack of an ILS, and diverted to Manchester.
XH535 was the Skybolt radio programme development aircraft. It later crashed near Amesbury.
I agree that the caption for the first image that triggered this thread is wrong. Just comparing the two images on the page, it is clear that they are not of the same B-52.
Returning to the UK, they arrived around dawn but were unable to get into Woodford due to the weather and lack of an ILS, and diverted to Manchester.
XH535 was the Skybolt radio programme development aircraft. It later crashed near Amesbury.
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Tony has occasionally posted on here, if he sees this perhaps he can enlarge on his account of the trials.
Great thread!
Great thread!
I have sat in that one (I recognised the list of experimental drops stencilled on the side) visiting a NASA Dryden pilot I knew from his Boscombe Down exchange tour. He said that it was effectively flown as a 2 crew (Pilot plus flight engineer) but to keep everyone happy any NASA pilot who was breathing was dragged out of the crewroom to sit in the right-hand seat and arm and push the 'drop' button on cue. Occasionally this resulted in slightly premature drops.....