woljags
Staff Sergeant
i've a frog test shot kit of the B47,i might sort it out for a start to finish build to go with this interesting post
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The B-47 was the most historically significant since it led to the B-52 and KC-135/Boeing 707. Its design and performance was revolutionary and it was certainly a problem for the USSR. Their heroics buzzing Russian Mig bases and scooting off before the Migs could catch them is quite a story. Some came back with 20mm holes in them.
I've always liked the Vulcan myself.
4 Minutes is beyond belief for me , unless they were sitting in cockpit with all the ground crew around , I believe 5 minutes was the goal for fighters and they are far less complexI was just too young to remember it but my older brothers reckoned QRA practice flights (4 Vulcans started up racing off to get airborne away in under 4 minutes as if a sneak attack was being made on the UK) were simply awesome.
I had control of the Q button for 4 years and 4 minutes is too quick, drop your pool cue or cards put helmet on run the 25yds to aircraft climb up ladder and we haven't even turned the keypbfoot
I believe it is totally accurate.
The crew on QRA had quarters which were very close to the aircraft.
I've even read of times even less than that, 4 cold Vulcans in well under 4 minutes (1 minute 40 seconds is quoted on the net)......don't forget everything was ready geared for those 4 planes to be up away incredibly quickly.
I know there was a push button for the ground crew to start the 4 engines simulataneously, everything would have been hooked up to enable a fast start designed to release quickly once they were started.
MiG-15. And more than a few were shot down as RB-47s during the cold war. You want a fan-effing-tastic read about RB-47s, RB-29s, RB-50s, RC-130s, US subs doing covert ops tapping Russian comm cables, etc., buy Blind Man's Bluff. You will not be disappointed. And you will be shocked by the number of US air assets shot down that you never have heard about. It was a war. And many of our best lost their lives fighting it.
I had control of the Q button for 4 years and 4 minutes is too quick, drop your pool cue or cards put helmet on run the 25yds to aircraft climb up ladder and we haven't even turned the key
one ex-crew poster says -
Four minutes? Pure myth.
Crews were at 15 minutes.
In tension they would have been brought to 5 minutes which was cockpit readiness, power on, engines off and could be held for around 5 hours before crew fatigue would become an issue.
The next stages was either start engines or 2 minutes. Start engines was just that.
Two minutes was start engines and taxy to the take-off point.
Blue Steel aircraft did not taxy. Aircraft could stand, engines running, for about 30 minutes but much longer could start to eat into fuel reserves.
On US SAC bases they went one further and we envied them.
Throughout the base there were yellow beacon lamps on the lamp posts. The lights flashd and anyone not connected with the alert had to clear the road.
a second -
The QRA states were as follows:
RS15 - The "normal" state; crews able to be airborne within 15 minutes. This implied the crews either being close to the aircraft of having dedicated transport available. This RS could be held for days.
RS05 - Airborne within 5 minutes; crew in aircraft all systems and AAPP running but engines not started. This RS could be held for hours.
RS02 - Airborne within 2 minutes; engines running and in position on the ORP or at the holding point for the runway. If the aircraft was not on the ORP then they would taxi when the RS was raised from 05 to 02. This RS would not be expected to be held for longer than minutes.
There was also an exercise only state of "Start Engines", this was exactly what it said, you started and then shut down the engines. This was introduced because of restrictions on taxying the Blue Steel armed aircraft when they had an armed and fuelled missile. As stated above, we never got airborne with live weapons.
The procedures were practiced on a regular basis, the monthly Group exercise always had the first wave launched from the ORP and subsequent waves from their dispersals; all using the alert procedures. The Kinsman or Candella exercises to keep the dispersal airfields used also involved a launch of the flown in aircraft on the subsequent day. The generation exercises such as Mick or Mickey Finn always ended in an alert call out and launch where appropriate. As you may surmise, with that amount of practise we were actually quite good at it!
no fear , I've seen far more of my share of scrambles, and probably seen more Vulcans and VictorsHaving had another look around I found this, I have to agree that your 5 minutes may well be right the most fair description of what went on.
This site has ex-crew talking one specifically saying 4 minutess is a myth but 5 minutes was not.
So, I hope I didn't come across as too argumentative I'm happy to agree with you pbfoot.
Happy new year.
The Tu-16 was exported and is still flown and developed in China.