B52 in 'emergency alert' over Gloucestershire
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Cheltenham, UK
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There wasn't that much drama TBH. When it became apparent they'd have to return to Fairford the original plan was burn fuel by orbiting over the North Sea, then the Brize area, then finally over Gloucester. The frame which had the hatch problem was I believe the same one which had a pressurization issue earlier in the day. The crew did discuss with bomber ops about whether to declare an emergency but presumably decided between them to wait until they were within weight limits before doing so.
I believe the local press got wind of the fact two Buffs were orbiting for nigh on two hours over Gloucs, found out about the hatch issue and put 2 and 2 together to get 11. The Daily Fail then got hold of the story...
What was more interesting was the comms between the two crews as they mused whether they should land, refuel and change cabs in order to get back stateside, as was their original plan. They clearly weren't that enamoured about having to return to Fairford.
I believe the local press got wind of the fact two Buffs were orbiting for nigh on two hours over Gloucs, found out about the hatch issue and put 2 and 2 together to get 11. The Daily Fail then got hold of the story...
What was more interesting was the comms between the two crews as they mused whether they should land, refuel and change cabs in order to get back stateside, as was their original plan. They clearly weren't that enamoured about having to return to Fairford.
Any reports for someone finding a B52 crew entry hatch in their back garden?
I'd buy it if is was. Nice little memento.
[QUOTE]Wonder why the Minot-bound aircraft didn't just knock Poland on the head and head straight to Minot? Would they have needed tanking across the pond?[/QUOTE
Because the lack of tanker problem occurred after the planned Fairford - Poland and back part of the mission. And hence yes, they needed refueling before return to Minot as a result of the fuel burn during the Poland mission.
Because the lack of tanker problem occurred after the planned Fairford - Poland and back part of the mission. And hence yes, they needed refueling before return to Minot as a result of the fuel burn during the Poland mission.
[QUOTE=roger4;10893527]
Thanks roger4, makes sense.
Wonder why the Minot-bound aircraft didn't just knock Poland on the head and head straight to Minot? Would they have needed tanking across the pond?[/QUOTE
Because the lack of tanker problem occurred after the planned Fairford - Poland and back part of the mission. And hence yes, they needed refueling before return to Minot as a result of the fuel burn during the Poland mission.
Because the lack of tanker problem occurred after the planned Fairford - Poland and back part of the mission. And hence yes, they needed refueling before return to Minot as a result of the fuel burn during the Poland mission.
. How often do you find one, and sometimes two, B52s in a roughly 13nm orbit, at 10,000ft-ish over rural Gloucestershire - for about 1 hour and 20 minutes? Don't you think it would be interesting to hear what they were doing - particularly perhaps for the people they were overflying?
This is the paper that wrote a ‘news article’ because a plane carrying the Pope flew over the county......