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3.15
votes
72
views
1957
uploader
Mrkim
comments
7
date added
2011-01-25
category
Sport
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Viet Nam Era Pics
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Viet Nam Era Pics

"a jet flying over the clouds"

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Comments for: Viet Nam Era Pics
quasi Report This Comment
Date: January 25, 2011 06:14PM

The B-52 bomber, first entered service in 1956 and still on duty. I grew up in the flght path near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and watched many of these as they flew low and slow overhead wth their landing gear down on approach. With eight jet engines they're extremely loud, and flying that low you couldn't hear anything else when they went over.
BlahX3 Report This Comment
Date: February 03, 2011 07:42PM

It was interesting to watch a B-52 takeoff or land when I was at Subic Bay, PI in the Navy. The wings sagged so much when not airborne they had small landing gear under them to support their weight on the taxiway and runway. As soon as they got enough airspeed the wings straightened out. They also frequently had tire blowouts on landings.
quasi Report This Comment
Date: February 04, 2011 04:05PM

I haven't flown much but once had a window seat just behind the wing of a large airliner. I was amazed at how the wing sagged and bounced as the plane taxied, and how far it rose and bowed up when it took off. Lot's of flex; seems like metal fatigue would be a big problem.
BlahX3 Report This Comment
Date: February 04, 2011 07:55PM

You're right, metal fatigue is definitely an issue in airframe maintenance. The wings are designed to flex like that. If they weren't they'd snap right off. I don't know what they do now but when I was in the Navy they periodically took aircraft in for what was an x-ray of the entire airframe to look for cracking and other signs of metal fatigue. There is also a LOT of weight in the wings most folks aren't aware of as all the available inner space is used for fuel storage. In the B-52 it was surprisingly vivid just how much those suckers flexed just because the wings are so damn long.

The tire blow-outs on landing were the really scary part. Even from 1/4 mile or more away it sounded like a bomb exploded. I guess that was pretty routine. I sure saw a lot of em do it.
ORLANDO399 Report This Comment
Date: February 04, 2011 08:33PM

I flew this bad boy in the late 60's and bombed the shit outta Cambodia with this baby a few times.
quasi Report This Comment
Date: February 04, 2011 11:22PM

You weren't even born in the 60's, 'lando. Only thing ever got bombed by you was you.
BlahX3 Report This Comment
Date: February 05, 2011 09:21PM

smileys with beer