B52 in 'emergency alert' over Gloucestershire

[BirdmanBerry]

Originally Posted by dead_pan

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.

Gloucestershire Live will pick up any non story these days, usually with clickbait titles like "You'll never believe why these American bombers were circling for hours" or some other tripe.

[safetypee]

'Any reports for someone finding a B52 crew entry hatch in their back garden?'

DH on GCHQ; at the start of the North bound leg of the orbits !

[dead_pan]

Originally Posted by sandiego89

That’s saying something if they would rather be at Minot rather than Fairford!

I guess even the bright lights of that throbbing metropolis that is Fairford must eventually lose its appeal over time.

[dead_pan]

Any reports for someone finding a B52 crew entry hatch in their back garden?

Currently on eBay, bid running at 50 quid (only joking!)

I'd buy it if is was. Nice little memento.

[Stu666]

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?

[roger4]

[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.

[Stu666]

[QUOTE=roger4;10893527]

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.

Thanks roger4, makes sense.

[swh]

Originally Posted by airsound

. 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?

its just practice run for doing the same sort of display over Beijing, just a slightly longer transit to the hold.

[plans123]

Originally Posted by BirdmanBerry

Gloucestershire Live will pick up any non story these days, usually with clickbait titles like "You'll never believe why these American bombers were circling for hours" or some other tripe.

You said it... two of their Journo’s (a term used VERY loosely) cream their pants any time anything flies into Fairford, Kemble or an A400M flies overhead and they write numerous news articles (another term used VERY loosely) about it.

This is the paper that wrote a ‘news article’ because a plane carrying the Pope flew over the county......