B-52 Stratofortresses Completes 44-hour, Nonstop Mission from US to Australia

[F-22Raptor]

Two B-52 Stratofortresses have successfully completed 44-hour, non-stop mission on Thursday flying between the US to Australia.

The strategic bombers were assigned to 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base in the USA, where it demonstrated the US' ability to project its flexible, long-range global strike capability and provided opportunities to synchronize strategic activities and capabilities with a key ally in the US Pacific Command (USPACOM) area of operations.

Adm. Cecil D. Haney, US Strategic Command commander said in a statement "In addition to strengthening aircrew skills and enhancing their familiarity with operating worldwide, combined training and theater security cooperation engagements with our regional allies serve to improve our interoperability and capability to respond to any potential threat together."

The B-52s conducted an inert conventional weapons drop on the Delamere Air Weapons Range, and performed a low-approach at RAAF Base Tindal.

In June, three B-52s deployed to Royal Air Force (RAF) in United Kingdom, where they conducted training flights with ground and naval forces and participated in multinational Exercises BALTOPS 15 and SABER STRIKE 15 over international waters in the Baltic Sea and the territory of the Baltic states and Poland. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber.

B-52 Stratofortresses Completes 44-hour, Nonstop Mission from US to Australia

 

[salarsikander]

Hi,
So the crew was shifted, right?

 

[VCheng]

Two B-52 Stratofortresses have successfully completed 44-hour, non-stop mission on Thursday flying between the US to Australia.

Holy Bladder Busters Batman!

 

[Jango]

Holy Bladder Busters Batman!

They've got their bladder relievers, plenty of them!

Pretty neat achievement still...

But a B-52 has "comparatively" loads of space to move around...I remember watching a Canadian AF video in which the F-15 pilots were going from a Canadian base to LAX, and they were pretty knackered....the cockpits of combat jets are pretty cramped....

 

[VCheng]

They've got their bladder relievers, plenty of them!

Pretty neat achievement still...

But a B-52 has "comparatively" loads of space to move around...I remember watching a Canadian AF video in which the F-15 pilots were going from a Canadian base to LAX, and they were pretty knackered....the cockpits of combat jets are pretty cramped....

It actually has room for a complete relief crew on board.

 

[Jango]

It actually has room for a complete relief crew on board.

Yup. But even then, the Pilots who are active on duty would have to have some space to move in while they are on shift.

I remember talking to a 737 pilot and they just got irritated by the cramped space in there. In comparison, an Airbus is heaven!

Don't know about USAF SOP's if they allow it or not, but they can move around in a B-52 if they wanted to for a while, stretch those legs (and those buttock muscles!).

 

[shah1398]

Are there direct commercial flights from USA to Australia?If yes then how much time do they take as 44 hours seems quite a long duration. Though am sure they would have flown with augmented crew. But for an 8 engine bomber this duration should have been lil less. Its another issue if it flew only in international skies and had to take diversions to avoid entering air space of even NATO and other friendly countries.

 

[VCheng]

Yup. But even then, the Pilots who are active on duty would have to have some space to move in while they are on shift.

I remember talking to a 737 pilot and they just got irritated by the cramped space in there. In comparison, an Airbus is heaven!

Don't know about USAF SOP's if they allow it or not, but they can move around in a B-52 if they wanted to for a while, stretch those legs (and those buttock muscles!).

It is very cramped in there for sure, but there is room. Seats, two bunks, a galley and a head. Relative luxury nonetheless.

 

[black-hawk_101]

US should deploy A-10s in Afghanistan and Pakistan to be used against terrorist of all kinds along with AC-130s when AC-130Js would come in service.

 

[jhungary]

Holy Bladder Busters Batman!

-52 G have toilet for solid waste, you don't need to hold them
Also Bed behind the pilot cockpit....

Are there direct commercial flights from USA to Australia?If yes then how much time do they take as 44 hours seems quite a long duration. Though am sure they would have flown with augmented crew. But for an 8 engine bomber this duration should have been lil less. Its another issue if it flew only in international skies and had to take diversions to avoid entering air space of even NATO and other friendly countries.

There are direct flight from Australia to either LAX or Dallas Fortworth, run by United and Qantas.

Qantass flew thru Continental Europe and Flight time is about 16 hours direct one way while United Used to flew thru the pacific ocean and flight time is somewhere less than 13 hours from Sydney to LAX

Edit, the Pacific route are now run by Virgin Australia and delta Airline