Post amazingly cool pictures of aircraft (Volume 2)
Discussion
Tango13 said:
The B-52A pictured is 'The High and Mighty One' or 'Balls three' the oldest airframe to survive
Next to the pylon on the fuselage there is a stencilled X-15 for each test flight flown with subtle variations depending on the success or not of each test flight.
The two aircraft were originally designed to act as drop ships for the X-15 programme but they went on to be used as drop ships for the various lifting body test aircraft that were experimented with up until 1975. They continued in various roles until being retired in 2004.
Eric Mc said:
Tango13 said:
The B-52A pictured is 'The High and Mighty One' or 'Balls three' the oldest airframe to survive
Next to the pylon on the fuselage there is a stencilled X-15 for each test flight flown with subtle variations depending on the success or not of each test flight.
52-0003 (tail number 003) was a B-52A converted and re-designated NB-52A and 52-0008 (tail number 008) was a B-52B converted and re-designated NB-52B.
Sources:
https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/X-Press/5...
https://www.nasa.gov/topics/history/features/X-15_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofo...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balls_8
....although the notes on the last one does seem to suggest there is a question over if it should be 52-0008 or 52-008. I'm however siding with NASA on this one.
I can be even pickier. The B-52B started life as an RB-52B 
What is interesting is that both of these B-52s were very early off the production line and were used for such a long time. When they were eventually retired they still had very little in the way of airframe hours on them as they had spent virtually all their flying lives with NASA.
I've always had a soft spot for the early B-52s, with their smokey engines and tall tail fins.
NASA did also acquire a later B-52H but it was handed back to the Air Force when it was realised they had no programmes that would actually make use of it.
The last project for the early B-52s was as a drop ship for the Pegasus launcher.
The Pegasus programme continued with a Lockheed Tristar as a drop aircraft -
What is interesting is that both of these B-52s were very early off the production line and were used for such a long time. When they were eventually retired they still had very little in the way of airframe hours on them as they had spent virtually all their flying lives with NASA.
I've always had a soft spot for the early B-52s, with their smokey engines and tall tail fins.
NASA did also acquire a later B-52H but it was handed back to the Air Force when it was realised they had no programmes that would actually make use of it.
The last project for the early B-52s was as a drop ship for the Pegasus launcher.
The Pegasus programme continued with a Lockheed Tristar as a drop aircraft -
BrettMRC said:
That looks awesome in the white/black scheme - reminds me of the V bombers!
Little known fact. The cockpit of the B52 was changed to an airliner style flight deck rather than a tandem fighter style design after General Le May examined a V bomber, specifically a Valiant.
Dr Jekyll said:
BrettMRC said:
That looks awesome in the white/black scheme - reminds me of the V bombers!
Little known fact. The cockpit of the B52 was changed to an airliner style flight deck rather than a tandem fighter style design after General Le May examined a V bomber, specifically a Valiant.
Baron Greenback said:
Would of loved to be a spy on the wall in the Squadron Leader room after the unprepared barrel roll at the Farnborough Airshow telling off the pilot. Best PR they could of done!
Could HAVE doneNo Squadron Leader's office involved I'm afraid as the pilot who conducted the manoeuver was Roland Falk, who was the chief test pilot at Avro - therefore a civilian and answerable to his employer (and the Air Show Committee perhaps).
For those who have never seen it -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPuTgcrA2Zs
If he had known what was to befall that very same aircraft he may not have been so brave -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbn3FXjRmB8
Steve_D said:
Eric Mc said:
................If he had known what was to befall that very same aircraft he may not have been so brave -
I don't remember that.What was the failure mode?
Fastdruid said:
Steve_D said:
Eric Mc said:
................If he had known what was to befall that very same aircraft he may not have been so brave -
I don't remember that.What was the failure mode?
Did that lead to the change in wing shape?
Actually seems like it was to reduce some high speed buffet and undesirable nose down pitching.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Avro_Vulcan
Actually seems like it was to reduce some high speed buffet and undesirable nose down pitching.
https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Avro_Vulcan
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 14th July 13:45
Fastdruid said:
....although the notes on the last one does seem to suggest there is a question over if it should be 52-0008 or 52-008. I'm however siding with NASA on this one.
I can't speak to the a/c numbering back in the day, but as you can see on the H-model pic Eric mc posted, by the "modern" standards it should be 2-008. All the H-models were bought with the 1960 and 1961 defense budget, so they are all 60 and 61 tail numbers, then three digits. "balls xx" or "ten xx" to the maintainers and crew.Awesome pic of the B-52H in NASA colors. I have never seen that before.
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