B1 At Fairford
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 660
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From: Europe
You'd have thought that with only 3 engines, i.e. only 1 engine operative on the starboard side, there was an unacceptable risk of unsymmetrical thrust if the remaining starboard engine should have a problem on take-off (and the chances of a problem with any given engine are not improbable).
Does this tell us then that a B1 can easily cope with only two engines on take off at a certain TOW, and furthermore it doesn't even matter if they are both at the same side?
I suppose you could argue that the Air France Concorde ended up with pretty much only two engines at full power on the same side, and may have survived if the TOW had been less (i.e. not fully loaded fuel & Pax) & they'd got the gear up (may have some of these facts slighty wrong from memory, but you get the line of thought).
Does this tell us then that a B1 can easily cope with only two engines on take off at a certain TOW, and furthermore it doesn't even matter if they are both at the same side?
I suppose you could argue that the Air France Concorde ended up with pretty much only two engines at full power on the same side, and may have survived if the TOW had been less (i.e. not fully loaded fuel & Pax) & they'd got the gear up (may have some of these facts slighty wrong from memory, but you get the line of thought).
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: Middle England
Is it still at Fairford? I live 2miles NW of the base and was awoken at exactly 0400 UTC on 5 Oct by an almighty noise as something large with lots (or perhaps 75% of lots) of thrust got airborne. It was a beautifully clear and still night. I saw the lights disappearing due west but could hear the noise for at least 5 minutes! My wife complained - but there again...
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Devon, England
It wasn't the B-1B because it only arrived Saturday around noon (6th).
It was probably a VC-10!
It seems B-1Bs have a habit of fires in sandy places... heres a pic of one in the Gulf War
http://www.b1b.wpafb.af.mil/images/gallery/b1_fire.jpg
It was probably a VC-10!
It seems B-1Bs have a habit of fires in sandy places... heres a pic of one in the Gulf War
http://www.b1b.wpafb.af.mil/images/gallery/b1_fire.jpg
Last edited by Razor61; 7th October 2007 at 22:13.
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 203
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From: Ruislip Middlesex,England
Just a thought on this....Isn't Fairford one of the USAF,s designated airfields for "all things" strategic with regard to the operation of B1,B2,B52s etc.
Therefore, would it not be probable that the B1 will stay here for the appropriate repairs?.....I seem to remember a similar situation with a B52,during the second Gulf war, where an engine pylon suffered "ground damage" and the a/c was repaired on site.
Therefore, would it not be probable that the B1 will stay here for the appropriate repairs?.....I seem to remember a similar situation with a B52,during the second Gulf war, where an engine pylon suffered "ground damage" and the a/c was repaired on site.
Joined: May 2005
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From: In the Doghouse...
I live 2miles NW of the base and was awoken at exactly 0400 UTC on 5 Oct by an almighty noise as something large with lots (or perhaps 75% of lots) of thrust got airborne.
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Lincs
I remember seeing one catch fire on start up at Thumrait during the Afg push. Never seen so many people run away from an aircraft so fast!! mind, it was fully loaded with JDAMS and other goodies for OBL!!
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: No one's home...
More likely there are some charts that show how much runway you need for a 2 engine takeoff and for a 3 engine. As for loss of control, you don't come in with the third engine until you have sufficient rudder and you feed it in as speed increases. We had 2 engine ferries on the 727 and although we didn't do it in the airplane when I was a sim instructor, we had some very good drivers who did their last sim checks all SINGLE ENGINE in the 737-300. Takeoff and all approaches and misses with one engine.
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Lincs
http://www.afmc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123073557
Bomber rescue: AFMC helps return damaged B-1B to friendly environment
Bomber rescue: AFMC helps return damaged B-1B to friendly environment
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 660
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From: Europe
Interesting. Looks like they looked at the consequences in some depth, inc advice from Edwards. Risks must have increased by some degree - I wonder by how much? They obviously made a judgement that the risks were tolerable.
Can you see Boscombe ever having allowed something similar?
Can you see Boscombe ever having allowed something similar?
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 101
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From: Odiham
Might be from the Stan actually
Just before i came back in Sept 07 from Kandahar a B1 had to make a diversion with a serious engine fire.
The word was they would not be able to repair it for a LONG time. So maybe they decided to fly it with authorisation to the nearest place where such repairs could be carried out????
The word was they would not be able to repair it for a LONG time. So maybe they decided to fly it with authorisation to the nearest place where such repairs could be carried out????
