B-52H Bomber Task Force BTF 24-3 RAF Fairford BUFF Stratofortress Airailimages

B-52H Stratofortress missions on May 28-29, 2024 are captured inside and outside the cockpit of these eight-engine giants. The B-52s are part of the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron deployed to Royal Air Force Base Fairford, England for Bomber Task Force 24-3. The Air Force says: "U.S. European Command’s joint forces are engaged, postured, and ready with credible force to assure, deter, and defend in an increasingly complex security environment."
B-52H details from USAF:
Mission
The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
Features
In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can perform strategic attack, close-air support, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations.
During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. It is highly effective when used for ocean surveillance and can assist the U.S. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. In two hours, two B-52s can monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of ocean surface.
All B-52s can be equipped with two electro-optical viewing sensors, a forward-looking infrared and advanced targeting pods to augment targeting, battle assessment and flight safety, further improving its combat ability.
Pilots wear night vision goggles, or NVGs, to enhance their vision during night operations. Night vision goggles provide greater safety during night operations by increasing the pilot's ability to visually clear terrain, increasing the peacetime and combat situational awareness of the aircrew and improving their ability to visually acquire other aircraft.
B-52s are equipped with advanced targeting pods. Targeting pods provide improved long-range target detection, identification and continuous stabilized surveillance for all missions, including close air support of ground forces. The advanced targeting and image processing technology significantly increases the combat effectiveness of the B-52 during day, night and less than ideal weather conditions when attacking ground targets with a variety of standoff weapons (e.g., laser-guided bombs, conventional bombs and GPS-guided weapons).
The use of aerial refueling gives the B-52 a range limited only by aircrew endurance. It has an unrefueled combat range in excess of 8,800 miles (14,080 kilometers).
Only the H model is still in the Air Force inventory and is assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot AFB, North Dakota, and the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, which fall under Air Force Global Strike Command. The aircraft is also assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command's 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Heavy bomber
Contractor: Boeing Military Airplane Co.
Power plant: Eight Pratt & Whitney engines TF33-P-3/103 turbofan
Thrust: Each engine up to 17,000 pounds
Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters)
Height: 40 feet, 8 inches (12.4 meters)
Weight: Approximately 185,000 pounds (83,250 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 488,000 pounds (219,600 kilograms)
Fuel Capacity: 312,197 pounds (141,610 kilograms)
Payload: 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms)
Speed: 650 miles per hour (Mach 0.84)
Range: 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles)
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,151.5 meters)
Armament: Approximately 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms) mixed ordnance-bombs, mines and missiles. (Modified to carry air-launched cruise missiles)
Crew: Five (aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator and electronic warfare officer)
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

[@waltersims493]

From Deb…My family was stationed at Fairford in 1963. Why they want to call the B-52 ugly-BUFF-no idea. Always thought she was sinisterly gorgeous. My favorite memory is of the BUFF skimming right above our car to land, looking up into the wheel wells and the chute deployed. I was one lucky girl to be the daughter of Major Hal Williamson!

[@airailimages]

Thank you for commenting -- I agree with you, BUFF is not deserved, but it has stuck, and is recognized. Always good to hear form the families of veterans like your Dad.

[@ChiefAUS]

The B-52 is an amazing aircraft. It is almost as old as I am and has no limit as to how much longer it will go on. It will probably last long after I am gone. (I am 77 years old.)

[@airailimages]

Hard for me to realize that this December it will be a half-century since I had a 10-hour flight on a B-52G out of Fairchild AFB.

[@anthonygiglio9860]

Great Video😊

[@airailimages]

Glad you liked it.

[@bryanguilbeau5636]

Don't mess with the USAF! :) (Y)