A B-52 has returned to the United Kingdom, cutting short its mission, after suffering an ‘urgent issue’.
A source told me:
“I can’t go into anything on the record but there was an issue and the aircraft is returning to the United Kingdom as a safety precaution.”
Two B-52 bombers departed RAF Fairford last night, callsigns CHIEF11 and CHIEF12, 11 is currently over the Middle East and 12 has now landed safely.
B-52 bombers take off from Britain for night mission over Europe
Aircraft tracking expert Col McGowan was amongst the first to notice the urgent issue being declared, I recommend you follow him by clicking here.
B52 #CHIEF12 returning to Fairford declares PAN-PAN. Had flown at low altitude after refuel over the 'Med.
PAN-PAN is the international standard urgency signal that someone aboard a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle uses to declare that they have a situation that is urgent https://t.co/26Rmo5xnqP
— Col McGowan (@mm0ndx) February 14, 2022
What is PAN-PAN?
PAN-PAN is the international standard urgency signal that someone aboard a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle uses to declare that they have a situation that is urgent,[1][2][3] but for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone’s life or to the vessel itself.
According to atccommunication.com, a Pan-Pan call should be used for urgent situations that are not immediately life-threatening, but require assistance from someone on the ground. These include, but are not limited to:
- Becoming lost;
- A serious aircraft system failure, that requires an immediate route or altitude change;
- Other emergencies that require immediate attention and assistance from the ground.
It is amazing that these planes are still flying.
The 76 left were built between 1961 and 1963. They are due to be retired from the late 2040s, with some still flying into the 2050s. The last few to retire would have served for almost 90 years. As you say, Amazing!
They’re virtually fossilised!
What is really amazing is if you take the 90 year span and look at aviation that would be the wright flyer to typhoon. So it’s a testament to the design and utility of the airframe that it will have been in service fo so long.
Good point but the U.K. will never have any requirement for a specific long-range bomber. Nevertheless, there was once an idea of using Nimrods for this purpose and I suppose the P-8s could be considered if there was a future urgent need.
Do we have anything resembling a spectre gunship?
We did during the Falklands War. Thank goodness they were only talking about mothballing the Vulcan at the time.
Sure is. Hopefully they’ll outlast Putin and Russia.
Yep … and that worked for them.
A pity, from a pure nostalgic viewpoint, that our 1950s strategic bombers aren’t still around to give that service.
Hope all are safe and well.
The symbolic act of these massive planes being here and the number that could be in the UK overnight if need be won’t be lost on Vlad.
Given how far they are flying, Middle East, it could be an onboard toilet malfunction!
The ancient B52 has no galley or head/toilet. There are some original issue electrically heated coffee mugs . And some 120V/400Hz electrical receptacles to plug some portable kitchen appliances . The toilet/head is a primitive open air chair with a catch can underneath and a plastic bag. Of all the billions of dollars in upgrades planned . A proper galley and head would be low cost improvement in crew productivity . The newer B1-B is actually cruder than the B-52.
Interesting: I’d understood the head issue had been dealt with as it was felt to be a sanitation issue that had operation impacts.
Seems I was wrong!
Good one, bro!! 😂. I hope they s**t out through the bomber doors and land it straight on the faces of Hamas
Or Putin.
“Had flown at low altitude after refuel over the ‘Med.”
Probably issue with bleed air /pressure in cabin if followng low altitude back.
So other nations kit goes wrong too, not just our T45s!
There’s a thing.
The T45’s aren’t followed by tugs, nor do they have a list to starboard, so definitely better than other nations kit.
Lol, sorry Sean you didn’t get my meaning, I was being sarcastic. All the crap we read and here about our “useless” T45 from so many because of engines, lack of this and that.
And the mighty US B52 has issues and there is hardly a peep!
I know full well how good our assets are.
No I did get the sarcasm, I was just trying to put a cherry on the top of it 😉
Good. 😎
When CHIEF12 overflew Barry at 10000ft this morning, unusually the undercarriage was deployed.
Preparation for conflict….?…
Did Russia/China lift a finger when the US and UK invaded Iraq? What would you have thought if they had? Or do the US have a sacred right to attack other nations without reprisal? Ukraine is not a part of NATO. That does not mean NATO should turn a blind eye to the situation and deploying more assets east to NATO countries is correct. RPGs won’t hurt the Russians, but helping Ukraine with thousands of NLAW and other AT missiles, SAM, intelligence, and possibly cyber will. This situation requires calm and tact, while strengthening NATOs eastern flank, not rushing into… Read more »
As I remember both Russia and China voted in favour of the UN military intervention in the 1st Gulf war both strongly condemning the invasion of Kuwait, China broke the post war arms sanctions by rushing to be the first country to sell weapons to them after the war ended.
In the 2nd Gulf War Russia provided military intelligence to Iraq and China said they would provide troops for the invasion if a second UN resolution was achieved. Both countries were happy to work with the new US backed Iraqi administration to win oil contracts.
Damn that Mcdonald chipfat fuel alternative
There are, or until very recently, still WWII Dakotas flying as commercial cargo craft
Reengined by Rolls Royce