B-52 Stratofortresses Depart RAF Fairford

Three B-52 Stratofortresses deployed from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., take off from RAF Fairford, England, Nov. 8, 2019.

Video by Staff Sgt. Philip Bryant 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

AIRBOYD -

#AIRBOYD #AvGeek #B52

[PolyFPV]

I can't believe these things are still in service, what an aircraft!

[AllanSitte]

I was stationed at RAF Fairford '89-'90.
Best damned assignment I ever had.
Cried like a baby when I flew out of the UK. Such awesome UK friends and memories I made.

[benth]

I used to be a crew chief on a KC-135 Refueler and periodically I rode with the plane. Laying down in the back next to the "Bommer" (boom operator) I could watch the B-52 being refueled. On the ground the B-52 looks ungainly, but in the air it looked like an Albatross, absolutely gorgeous. What many do not know is that the wing tips have over an 11 foot flexibility, such that they would have to jack up the wing tip while on the ground just to remove some inspection stress panels. Those panels had to fit even when the wings were in the UP position during flight.

[rtlamb]

Watch the wings on takeoff roll. They start out drooping, then all of a sudden they catch lift and will bend dramatically upward at the wingtips. If the plane is fully loaded with weapons the tail will catch lift first, then the nose will lift off. These were not fully loaded. After years in a B-52G squadron, I still love to watch these giants take to the air!

[danberube]

Started loading bombs on them with my MJ1 bomb loader in 1967. By the time I got out I estimate I had loaded at least 50, 000 bombs on B52's both in Guam and then mostly Thailand. I will never tire of listening them take off. Twice while I was in, they had a campaign of every bomber in the air for a massive mission. They typically carried 108 500 pound bombs per plane. 54, 000lb bomb load. That was a site to see and a ton of work to load every aircraft on station. 90 planes if memory serves me right.

[IrishvintageTVRadio]

Absolutely class! Great that these machines are still in service.

[johnlynnalan]

Back in the 60's I used to watch SAC Bombers practice touch and goes from the air base in Bangor Maine.

It was comforting to know that brave airmen and women were protecting us 24 hours a day.

[ZenZaBill]

That little crab move at 1:11 was pretty nifty. Never saw a B-52 do that. I am guessing it is a wheel steering check?

[mikeyoung]

Brings back memories. I served at RAF Upper Heyford back in the '70's. Once in a while we got one of these.

[vipahman]

When there's 3 B-52s in ghat frame, it's an awesome display of Ametican might! Eight engines guzzling 10+ gallons a minute at full thrust. RAF Fairford just warmed by 1-degree.

[shepherd]

this is one of the most awesome machines ever built by human beings

[nancysatkinson]

Cannot get enough looking at these B-52's 😊😊😊😊

[eckhal]

Barksdale birds, wish when I was their TDY in Jan-March 1968 I could have taken photos as I was on the flight line for an emergency airlift during TET to NAM of Cobra gun ships. Saw many Takeoffs and landings including a couple of "Elephant Walks" of the entire squadron. Now that's something to see, feel and smellup close 🗽🇺🇸👍

[Marimilitarybrat]

These are beautiful flying machines. My Dad was in SAC communications & this was one of the bombers he worked with in his USAF career. I loved the aluminum overcast version with the SAC insignia.

[clnelson]

We used to launch 10 or more in a MITO (minimum internal takeoff) and I can tell you, it was the loudest event I have ever heard. I crewed G models that had the water burning J57 turbojets...LOUD! They were easily heard 20 miles away and the sky was full of dark exhaust. 10 or 12 hour missions were common. I still dream of them.

[TralfazConstruction]

I admire how the massive wings genially permit the fuselage and tail to go along for the flight.

[BH-BH]

It’s been probably 25 years since I’ve seen a buff in the flesh. Great video - thank you for it!

[krisfrederick]

Such a massive aircraft and like the previous comment, ancient and still so relevant. Sometimes you reach a pinnacle

[GC-rfst]

Seeing the big boys fly around Brize is good, but to see these proper Big Boys on their way to and from Fairford was a real treat!

[israelhurd]

Buffs like some badass giant dinosaurs. In the eighties I still watch them do touch and goes out of Bo Air Force Base in California. They're so awesome