The impressive video in this post shows B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers fighting heavy crosswinds to takeoff from RAF Fairford.
Taken on Apr. 5, 2019, the impressive video in this post shows B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers fighting heavy crosswinds to take off from RAF Fairford.
Noteworthy the B-52 has a crosswind landing gear system that aided the crew during windy conditions. According to a BUFF driver, “you can’t slip the airplane very much because you’ll start to drag the wing, which is disastrous. So, they installed a cross-wind landing gear system that allowed the plane to be cranked up to 20 degrees off-center.”
The footage features 3 BUFFs leaving RAF Fairford for Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana. Six in total have been in the UK along with 400 USAF personnel, conducting many training missions with NATO and allowing aircrews to conduct theater familiarisation and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to allies and partners.
They were met along the way with fueling support from KC-135 Stratotanker based out of RAF Mildenhall, England.