USAF B-52 Damages Runway Lights at RIAT

[HUSSAR 272]

Starting at 4:24; Looks like the USAF will be paying for new lights.

Air Force Investigates After B-52 ‘Crabbing’ at Airshow Appears to Knock Out Runway Lights

 

Edited July 21, 2023 by HUSSAR
Added news article

[Piotr007 167]

Haha I've also have seen this clip, funny how the small wingtip wheel knocks them over at the edge. Must have been a sight from close.

 

Imagine having rear mirrors near the cockpit window. "Captain, we need to move slightly to the right, just a tiny bit please".🤣

[G550flyer 1,014]

🤣 Even the KC-10 has had it's fair share of taxiway lights and runway barrier system damage. Leaning against the side windows, you can barely see the wingtip light's glow. With the nose gear being about 20 feet behind you, it was very easy to under turn and run over lights. You had to really know the cockpit taxi references and go out over the grass until it was uncomfortable on those 90 degree turns. If you didn't taxi a little down the runway on takeoff before pouring on the coal, you will definitely twist, tangle and tear the runway barrier system. Good times!

[james42 258]

I was at RIAT this year. It was such an awesome sight to see the B52 up close. They were saying in commentary how the B52 often damages the runway lights and it happened right there! 🤣

[G550flyer 1,014]

31 minutes ago, Piotr007 said:

Imagine having rear mirrors near the cockpit window. "Captain, we need to move slightly to the right, just a tiny bit please".

We have those on the Gulfstreams. They lay flat on the window pane and you can pop them up during the ground spoilers test. But, in the 550 or better, you have cameras that you can pull up the map DU. You can see down the leading edges, FWD and AFT at the main gear to see their track. You also have a camera on the T tail looking down on the body and engines. They come in handy! I have used them to record a gear retraction and a thrust reverser problem with my phone. You show it to the mechanics and there are no questions asked lol.

[stans 703]

If the crab taxi was to prevent the outrigger wheels from damaging items along the edge of the runway, it didn't work.  I'm guessing that is the reason for the crab taxi method.

[dmwalker 607]

It almost looked deliberate, as if there is a competition amongst B52 pilots to see how many lights they can knock out in one go.  There seemed to be more than enough width in the taxiway for them to be at least 10 feet away from the lights. Notice the copilot cheerfully waving to the spectators all the way.

[MartinRex007 390]

Do all models of the B52 have landing gear that pivots or just certain models?

 

[JRBarrett 3,080]

8 minutes ago, MartinRex007 said:

Do all models of the B52 have landing gear that pivots or just certain models?

 

All models had the feature. The only model of the B52 still in service is the B52H. In the 1960s-1970s there were also substantial numbers of the B52D and B52G. The “H” model is the only one with turbofan engines, though the bypass ratio is very low compared to modern engines.