I’m right here, defeated however not but horizontal, the sufferer of a relentless summer season chilly that feels just like the universe’s revenge for one thing I can’t even keep in mind. If I don’t make it, please avenge me by naming a B-52 after me.
I’m fascinated with B-52s after watching this one land on the airshow at RAF Fairford, demonstrating why the B-52’s touchdown gear is one in every of Boeing’s most ingenious options.
A extremely uncommon and distinctive alternative to see this Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, nicknamed the BUFF (Large Ugly Fats Fella), crabbing sideways on the runway after touchdown at RAF Fairford. This distinctive function of B52 was introduced on Sunday 16 July 2023 on the Royal Worldwide Air Tatto – RIAT.The enduring bomber was designed with the flexibility to swivel its touchdown gear to stability the consequences of crosswinds. This functionality permits the B-52 with its slim wheelbase and enormous tail to land and crab down the runway in a heavy crosswind situations.Enjoyable reality – this crab stroll did some injury to the airfield infrastructure, almost 20 runway lights had been destroyed, this will occur when you could have an plane with giant wingspan.
The opposite day, a accelerated model was posted to Reddit with the title of Didn’t comprehend it might do this.. The feedback are stuffed with nice info!
Misophonic4000 explains what is going on right here:
The flexibility to counter-crab the touchdown gear (as much as 20° in both course) is the one means the B-52 can land in any form of crosswind (with no huge wing/pod strike)
Edit: tidbit of information – the system works by the crew inputting the heading of the runway, after which monitoring that heading (inside these 20°of steering authority in both course) in comparison with the compass heading of the aircraft
…and later in the identical thread:
Wait till you notice it’s staggered so it could possibly retract in that slim physique and in addition go away room for the bomb bay!
Right here’s a cool video displaying a lot of the gear retraction sequence
critical_patch provides a proof as to why:
The BUFF has such poor rudder authority that it has to compensate for crosswind in different methods. Just like the remark above you says, there can be nice danger of a wingtip hitting the bottom if it tried to make up for having no rudder with ailerons or physique roll, and so on. plus not having the touchdown gear pointing beneath you anymore. Essentially the most sensible resolution was to make the gear swivel so pilots might land the fucker sideways whereas utilizing engine thrust to counteract the drive of the crosswind.
However Pubics_Cube reassures us that this doesn’t imply the B-52 is difficult to land.
The B-52 doesn’t have ailerons, solely spoilers; however to reply your query, it’s fairly responsive within the touchdown configuration. You may scrape a pod fairly simply in case you’re not stage, however there are outrigger gear on the wingtips that present a bit of little bit of safety. The wing flex really works in your favor on touchdown, as a result of the wing suggestions are up off the bottom so long as they’re producing carry. As soon as the aircraft settles in on the runway, they’ll come again down.
The weirdest half about touchdown with a ton of crab in is looking the facet home windows in your aimpoint.
Have you ever ever seen that older photographs of the B-52 by no means present the touchdown gear? Macromonster explains why:
The crabbing function was thought of so High Secret that images of the primary public rollout both coated up the touchdown gear or used angles that didn’t present the fascinating bits.
Though m00ph factors out that Hollywood spilled the beans.
It’s been used as a joke in a number of motion pictures the place you see a passenger jet take off, after which an underside shot of the very distinctive B-52 gear retracting.
Additional alongside, critical_patch chimes in once more with one other impact of the small rudder.
One other enjoyable reality, that itsy bitsy rudder can also be why the improve to B-52J has to maintain the 8 engines within the doubled up pods. The aircraft has to remain steerable by means of engine failure eventualities—but when the aircraft had 4 trendy engines (just like the configuration on a 747 or A380) the rudder is simply too small to compensate for an influence loss on one of many outboard engines. The differential thrust can be too nice for the rudder to cease the aircraft from yawing to that facet!
If you wish to know much more in regards to the B-52, HumpyPocock has you coated.
AOPA article under is nice, and explains lots of the finer factors, additionally included a few movies of takeoff and touchdown within the crab, plus a photograph from proper beneath displaying the touchdown gear bays are oriented reverse instructions fore-to-aft, into which the port and starboard gear retract, as you famous elsewhere.
Article by way of AOPA incl quite fantastic trivia (or PDF)
NB right here’s an additional photograph of the CRAB CONTROL
BUFF Nethers (Port Gear ⟶ Fore / Stbd Gear ⟶ Aft)
Pictures by way of @HEADDANCER7
Port Three Quarter and Starboard Fore
Head On BUFF and a Tiny BUFF Butt (Wheel)
Enjoyable Truth ⟶ they’re known as Quadricycle Touchdown Gear
Takeoff within the Crab and Touchdown within the Crab incl. Rollout
PS oh and a neat dimension comparability…
Boeing B-52 vs Boeing 747-100SR by way of Spencer Wilmot
There. That ought to hold you busy for some time.
I’m going again to mattress. If I don’t make it, inform the B-52 group I went out with honour and Sudafed.
