The B-1 Bomber Has a New Mission

a reply to: JIMC5499

I got to sit staring down a Harpoon on a B-52 wing that was pointed right at our truck once. They had been over at Barking Sands on a SINKEX, and when they hit the button nothing happened. They declared an emergency and came in to have it safed and downloaded.

a reply to: verschickter

In peacetime, yes. But like Zaph said, any servicemember will ensure that any other servicemember is looked after. Navy pilots always make fun of Air Force pilots, because:
a. Air Force guys land on large, non-moving runways
b. Air Force guys usually show up to the fight only after their nice runway has been built AND the forward-deployed golf course is fully operational
c. Air Force guys have the sweetest new toys, but don't push them to the edge, like cool Navy guys/gals.
d. Air Force guys squat to pee, I mean, they flare to land.

Zing!

a reply to: verschickter

Back in the late 40's and early 50's the Air Force and the Navy were battling each other over a limited budget. The Air Force believed that since the invention of the atomic bomb the Navy was no longer needed and that they could use the savings from eliminating the Navy. The Soviets detonating their atomic bomb and the Korean war changed that.

I got a few rides in an A-6. Once we landed at Patrick AFB to re-fuel told an Air Force Major one time "Sir when you can land on a moving runway I'll consider you in the same class as the pilot I'm riding with. He thought I was a Lieutenant or something.

This may or not make Zaph laugh. In July of 1984 I was on the USS Independence doing work-ups. We had a B-52 group out of Barksdale, freshly armed with Harpoons, try to find and sink us. They were flying around looking for us for so long that they had to send tankers out after them. Then they couldn't find their tankers. Our E-2s guided them to their tankers and they left for home. Our CAG and Admiral were a pair of clowns. They launched a bunch of A-6s loaded with flares. Just after the B-52s landed, our A-6's lit the place up with flares while they made simulated Paveway attacks on the B-52s.

I will admit one thing. I have the highest respect for the Air Force Pararescue guys, though I'll never admit it to them.

I can see the small rivalry to push each other but of course having their backs when SHTF can be beneficial.

On a very very very small basis, it´s like being CMAS diver or PADI. CMAS being the navy in this case. One assembles his equipment down there in 10-15m for fun to start the dive, the others need someone to get their jacket on and get them out of the water / into the boat afterwards. :-P

Both think they are better (while it´s clear who really is :-P) but in an emergency, there is no CMAS or PADI.

Great input from all of you . I need to get back here more often to escape the madness. This subforum stands out from all the others because of the polite, patient and well informed crowd.

a reply to: verschickter

Google "Revolt of the Admirals". Wikipedia has an excellent synopsis of it.

a reply to: JIMC5499

I still like the time a B-52 was doing a flyby of Ranger I think it was. Pilot called inbound, carrier called back not in sight. Pilot said "look down".

a reply to: Zaphod58

I've seen pictures of that. We had a wayward Tomcat once. We had already launched a search when a B-52 passes over with him in tow.

originally posted by: LABTECH767
a reply to: grey580

Making the Chinese fleet redundant even before it hit's the water.
soon though there will be no where that a maritime vessel can hide or feel safe for any navy of the world.

Yes that is true, but the military will develop craft that can live in the sea while also can fly to the stars. Assuming they haven't already

I like the story about the Chesna requesting ground speed. Then an F-18 called in although, ground speed indicator on board. Then the SR-71, then -silence.

If true

a reply to: JIMC5499
thank you for the keywords, going to look into this.

a reply to: verschickter

Brian Shul. He wrote about it in Sled Driver I think it was. He wrote two books about flying the Blackbird that are great reads. The pictures are amazing.

a reply to: JIMC5499

The pic from the other BUFF is fun, but I love the flight deck pic.

Going to look into the "Revolt of the Admirals" when I´m back home, I´m currently in Croatia and VPNing through Swizerland, not really the best connection you can have...

a reply to: Zaphod58

Can you lend me your copy :-P(joke), had to look twice on amazon if my eyes don´t betraye me. Insane.

a reply to: verschickter

My brother got copies when they first came out, then got them signed when Brian Shul visited the base. You can find PDF copies and E-book copies online.

a reply to: Zaphod58
He must be sitting on it like it´s a treasure! Damn it, I´ll try to get it now to hell with the much needed sleep! I hope the hotel doesn´t cut me off in the middle of it while leeching plane-porn.

Good night / evening / day anyone, depending on your timezone.

verschickter, out

(it´s the kruscovac speaking)




YES, the KBs are already creeping in...

As much as I like to bitch about it, the B-1 is one of those planes where when it works, it really works. They used to come out every few years and fly against our F-15s. The Eagle guys dreaded that week or two.

One of our friends used to fly Eagles and was telling us about their week with the B-1s. He said he was at about Mach 1 going one way, the bomber was coming straight at him, going t the other at about Mach 1. Just before the merge, he threw the stick over and pulled around 9Gs. He dropped in right behind them and got a missile shot. That was one of three kills by the Eagles that entire exercise. The Eagles were flying two missions a day, every day.

The B-1s would launch an hour or two before the first Eagle flight, and head off in a random direction. Then they'd drop down as low as they could, push the throttles up, and come back in supersonic. The Eagles would drop down and try to mix it up, but the bombers would run them out of fuel in a hurry, because they had to be at full afterburner to keep up with them. So they'd end up just flat out running the Eagles and getting to their target.

The fighters would head back in and land, and let the next crew head out to be humiliated, while the bombers would hit a tanker and refuel if one was available, and head out to do it again. If they didn't have a tanker they'd land and let another bird head out to play.

a reply to: Zaphod58


My Brother was a Bombardier/Navigator on first a B-52, then a FB-111 and then the B-1.

The Russians (and Soviets before) like the concept. The TU-22M played a significant role in Soviet era anti CBG warfare with it's long range AS-4 Kitchen ASM. As usual, different now, same as before...

TU-22M

Wiki

And lets not forget the TU-160! Big ol' bird!

a reply to: JimNasium

Well, he got one good bird out of three. Heh.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: verschickter

Yes and no. There are rude jokes and insults between all the services, but let an Air Force pilot go into the water and the Navy guys will damn near kill themselves to find him and get him home. Or an Army patrol get ambushed and you'll have aircraft stacked up waiting to bail them out.

Those swabbies may be queer,but when you go down in the drink aint no better sight than seeing a Navy rescue chopper coming over the horizon or a ship pulling up along side ya.

At the end of the day They are All on the same side and will bust heads together if need be.

The services are like siblings. They can pick at each other and fight, but no one else can.