Did I see a B52?

[blueg33]

I meant to post this back in September but as I took the pic on the way to pick up my first Ferrari, I forgot.

A bad pic, but I think this was a B52 flying over Moreton in Marsh on 4 September at 7.36am.

Pretty sure that there aren’t that many flying, I haven’t seen one in years.

Is there a way to check what was in the air on that day and time?

[towser44]

There were a few of them up and about around then I think. Check the Cool Things Seen on Flightradar thread on here.

[towser44]

Page 203 of that thread, but was later in September, unless there were some before that. Certainly likely around the area you've said though, they'd be going to Fairford

[Evoluzione]

Heading off to the love shack no doubt.
Tin roof; rusty.

[blueg33]

towser44 said:

Page 203 of that thread, but was later in September, unless there were some before that. Certainly likely around the area you've said though, they'd be going to Fairford

It was flying away from Fairford, probably flying North West

[blueg33]

towser44 said:

There were a few of them up and about around then I think. Check the Cool Things Seen on Flightradar thread on here.

It didn't show on my version of Flight Radar - but I'm not sure how to get it to show military flights

[Eric Mc]

There were a number of B-52s based at Fairford for a few weeks at that time.

The USAF has around 80 still in service (they once had 800).

[blueg33]

Thanks to the post above, I found it on the Cool Things Seen on Flight Radar thread. Apparently there were 3, but the last one was lagging behind, that must be the one I saw.

Glad that is can still identify some aircraft

[towser44]

blueg33 said:

towser44 said:

There were a few of them up and about around then I think. Check the Cool Things Seen on Flightradar thread on here.

It didn't show on my version of Flight Radar - but I'm not sure how to get it to show military flights

Most on that thread use Global ADSB Exchange, rather than FR. It's just FR in the title.

Not all military show up on ADSB Exchange, but some do.

Edited by towser44 on Wednesday 18th November 16:19

[Marlin45]

Install 360 Radar - far better and registers MLAT/ADSB......

[Nickyboy]

Likely was, they flew from Fairford to Ukraine on the 4th. They're noisy and smokey

[Trevatanus]

RAF Fairford has in the past been used extensively for B52, B1 and B2 training.
There is or are U2(s) based there.

[blueg33]

Trevatanus said:

RAF Fairford has in the past been used extensively for B52, B1 and B2 training.
There is or are U2(s) based there.

A U2 used to show up on Google Earth at Fairford, that area is now blanked out

[Eric Mc]

A few months ago, Big Jets TV did a live stream from Fairford as a U2 got ready for a mission. It was really interesting. Here's all four hours

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzJyj3Zhe8&t=...

[StephenP]

blueg33 said:

A U2 used to show up on Google Earth at Fairford, that area is now blanked out

I couldn't see the blanked area but the 'Historical Imagery' does show a U2 in 2003, prior to the B2 hangars being built, and three B2s in 2019....







The historical view feature of Google Earth is fascinating, seeing how places have changed over the years!

Edited by StephenP on Thursday 19th November 11:05

[Ash_]

StephenP said:

The historical view feature of Google Earth is fascinating, seeing how places have changed over the years!

Edited by StephenP on Thursday 19th November 11:05

How do you find the historic stuff in Chrome for Google Earth images in the normal google map mode? I can find historic pictures in streetview, but kind see it in chrome, unless it only works on the actual Google Earth app.

[StephenP]

Ash_ said:

How do you find the historic stuff in Chrome for Google Earth images in the normal google map mode? I can find historic pictures in streetview, but kind see it in chrome, unless it only works on the actual Google Earth app.

I'm not 100% certain but I think historical imagery only appears in Google Earth Pro which you download and install.

https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/earth/versions/

[blueg33]

StephenP said:

I couldn't see the blanked area but the 'Historical Imagery' does show a U2 in 2003, prior to the B2 hangars being built, and three B2s in 2019....







The historical view feature of Google Earth is fascinating, seeing how places have changed over the years!

Edited by StephenP on Thursday 19th November 11:05

I use it all the time for work

[Horsham558]

A couple of my photos from my visit to Fairford the 3rd and 4th Sept (when the O P photo was taken). Amazing to see a noisy, smoky, minimum interval take-off by 3 of them on the 4th who, indeed, went into the Ukraine.
Re the U-2s, there are usually 2 on detachment - one for missions with all the varied pods and panniers and another, less lumpy one that is seen fairly frequently for local circuit training. The evening shot is the mission U-2 returning after trip to the Black Sea on the 3rd Sept and the other is circuit training (with the attendant chase car) on the 4th whilst I was waiting for the B-52s to return, which they did in style with a line abreast run in and break!. Hope you like.
IMG_4441 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_4477 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_4375 by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
IMG_4703a by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr
B52s return to Fairford in some style. by Andrew St Edmunds, on Flickr

Edited by Horsham558 on Thursday 19th November 13:39

Edited by Horsham558 on Thursday 19th November 14:15

Edited by Horsham558 on Thursday 19th November 14:30

[TR4man]

Great photos - particularly like the three smoking in their return.