50 years ago…

A B-52 crashed on Elephant Mountain up in Maine… 

Seven crewmen died, and only two survived.  This crash was followed 6 days later by another incident which I’ve blogged about previously (HERE).  

These two incidents forced a redesign of the B-52 tail attachment points and strengthening of the tail itself.  This particular mission was on a Terrain Following Radar (TFR) mission, which at the time was a brand new capability…

Edit- Correction thanks to Rivrdog-

We C&D BUFF crews flew with Terrain Avoidance Radar, not Terrain Following Radar. The difference is in how the equipment calculated and diplayed the height above terrain. TAR was an earlier form of TFR basically. In TAR, the system could not fly the pitch axis of the autopilot, so the system’s “ride” ould not be set, and those crashes were the result of the pilot interpreting the Plan Mode incorrectly, or worse, the Terrain Mode incorrectly.

To use either TAR mode properly, the pilot dialed in the desired height of terrain separation (for VFR, never under 400 feet) and matched an electronic lubber’s line with the top of the terrain displayed on the scope. The equipment id that calculation but the pilot did the interpretation.

In TFR, the equipment calculated both functions, hence, a “ride” setting.


Fast, low, in turbulence… NOT a good place to be with TAR or TFR set ‘hard’.  You can read the story HERE, in the Washington Times.  Since it’s an AP story, I’m not quoting a damn thing from it…

Now, 50 years later, B-52’s or BUFFs as they are affectionately known are still flying as front line assets, and STILL have the most  bomb carrying capacity of any modern (or not so modern) bomber…

And grandkids are now flying the same BUFFs their grand-dad flew!!!

Comments

50 years ago… — 10 Comments

  1. We C&D BUFF crews flew with Terrain Avoidance Radar, not Terrain Following Radar. The difference is in how the equipment calculated and diplayed the height above terrain. TAR was an earlier form of TFR basically. In TAR, the system could not fly the pitch axis of the autopilot, so the system’s “ride” ould not be set, and those crashes were the result of the pilot interpreting the Plan Mode incorrectly, or worse, the Terrain Mode incorrectly.

    To use either TAR mode properly, the pilot dialed in the desired height of terrain separation (for VFR, never under 400 feet) and matched an electronic lubber’s line with the top of the terrain displayed on the scope. The equipment id that calculation but the pilot did the interpretation.

    In TFR, the equipment calculated both functions, hence, a “ride” setting.

  2. Nothing like getting your “noogie” out of a produce . . . . but me might be pushin’ our luck with the B-52 just a tad. Used to love watching them lift off.

  3. Russell- Yep, up through the 70’s we DID train like we would actually fly…

    Rivdog- Thanks, I inserted your correction into the post. My bad, sorry.

    eia- They didn’t lift off, the earth just rejected them… 😀

  4. “And grandkids are now flying the same BUFFs their grand-dad flew!!!”
    Has that been true of naval vessels?
    I saw the B-52 land at Willow Run Airport (Yankee Air Force Museum) and was amazed at the gracefulness and slow airspeed as helicopters buzzed around.

  5. Ed- Only on the Big E… Although I do know kids of guys I flew with in P-3s that are flying them now.

    Rev- Nope, my cousin tells stories… ALL scary!

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  7. My cousin Robert was an EWO on 52s over North Viet-Nam. Values his 50 mission patch over all other positions.
    On a training mission out of Langley AFB they had to make an emergency landing in the Caribbean … during a hurricane! Cross winds too high? Just land on the taxiway facing the wind.

    Unrelated to my cousin a 52 declared an emergency coming into Elmendorf AFB, Alaska.
    “I have 3 engines out!” radioed the pilot.
    “What ya’ll worried about? You got 5 left.” replied the tower.
    Pilot, tower control and base commander had a “heart-to-heart” soon after.

  8. I have a lot of hours riding down stairs in the IN seat at low level. You do not want to have a big lunch before hand.