Big birds..........really big

[375 Ruger Fan]

In the neighborhood where I live, there is a 3-4 acre pond across the street from my house. Year round we have geese and this year the mallard duck numbers have been more numerous. I also see occasional hawks and eagles. At night and early morning, the hoot of owls can be frequently heard.

Yesterday, I was out in the yard doing some work and spotted two, very large high flying birds and pulled out my phone and snapped a few photos. Two B-52s flying in formation. Barksdale Air Force Base is not too far from where I live and seeing military aircraft is a common thing, however B-52s flying in formation is somewhat rare. An amazing aircraft! It must be a cool job being a B-52 pilot, even cooler when you have a wingman!

 

[PARA45]

B-52s! My first assignment was at Castle AFB, and they did the pilot training for B-52s & KC-135s. I worked in flight scheduling and I was able to take a ride in one

 

[Bullthrower338]

Dave,
I think those are Sandhill Cranes(with a payload)

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

B-52s! My first assignment was at Castle AFB, and they did the pilot training for B-52s & KC-135s. I worked in flight scheduling and I was able to take a ride in one

When I was a little kid, my dad was flying KC-97s at Plattsburgh AFB in upstate NY. We drove cross country to Merced, CA and spent a few months there when my dad was transitioning to the KC-135 at Castle AFB. The absolute coolest thing was to go watch MITOs (minimum interval take-offs), when bombers or tankers would take off with 15 second intervals.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Thank God for the USA - presidents come and presidents go but B52's go on forever..

 

[PARA45]

@375 Ruger Fan, as a young Airman I was given the additional duty of taking care of the Wing Commander’s vehicle, and watched almost every MITO while I was there. Amazing and impressive to see the B-52s taking off one after another. One of my best assignment, flew in a 135 many times, the guys gave me my own flight suit to wear during flights. LOL!!!!

 

[Red Leg]

The original "BUF" Big Ugly Fu$ker

Those two birds are likely the same age as the grandfathers of most of the crew. Incredible machine.

Another thing to consider about those SAC crews - had they ever launched on an actual nuclear war mission, they would have done so with the certain knowledge there would be no base to which to return.