# B-52 Augers In **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651 "2004-09-01T21:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/1 "2004-09-01T21:26:59Z")
I can’t find the thread, but someone posted about a big ass radio controlled model of a B-52 a few months back. Sadly, the plane felt seperation anxiety and returned to ground without using it’s landing gear. Video of it can be found here: [http://www.dewsburymac.co.uk/crash.htm](http://www.dewsburymac.co.uk/crash.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2004, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/2 "2004-09-01T23:50:39Z")
I think it was at least ten years ago but there is video footage of a real B-52 augering in. IIRC it may have been after a pass at an airshow when the pilot banked too steeply and exceeded the safe envelope. BUF can’t fly knifedge. The plane dove in at a shallow angle and rather being a kaboom, all at once crash, the plane gradually disintegrated starting with the low side wing as if it were being run over a cheese grater. The news report said the pilot had repeatedly been disciplined for unautharized maneuvers in the past. A shame he wasn’t grounded before he killed the rest of his crew. ---
**Author:** ![Gunslinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gunslinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gunslinger)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/3 "2004-09-02T02:55:29Z")
I thought of that when I read the thread title, **Padeye**. I believe it was at an airshow. He was flying really low, banked too sharply, and just fell straight down. Looks like the model did the same thing (banked too much and lost its lift). ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/4 "2004-09-02T03:03:35Z")
Ah, the ever popular death spiral. Plane goes into a turn and loses altitude. Unfortunately at steep bank ankles pulling back on the stick doesn’t bring the nose up it just makes the turn tighter. Cripes, black smoke. Glow fuel doesn’t burn like that. Did that thing have turbine engines? A lot of money to auger in for a modeler. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/5 "2004-09-02T03:12:19Z")
[Some pictures](http://gallery.colofinder.net/b52-model) back from when this first attracted notice. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/6 "2004-09-02T04:13:18Z")
Yes, I believe it _did_ have turbines - eight of 'em at $3K a pop. That was $25-30K or more of airplane that went in. Did it seem to y’all that the plane looked a bit unstable after take-off? And did you notice that the rear landing gear lifted off first? Real BUFFs don’t do that, do they? ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/7 "2004-09-02T14:28:01Z")
> [@Padeye](#): > > I think it was at least ten years ago but there is video footage of a real B-52 augering in. IIRC it may have been after a pass at an airshow when the pilot banked too steeply and exceeded the safe envelope. BUF can’t fly knifedge. The plane dove in at a shallow angle and rather being a kaboom, all at once crash, the plane gradually disintegrated starting with the low side wing as if it were being run over a cheese grater. The news report said the pilot had repeatedly been disciplined for unautharized maneuvers in the past. A shame he wasn’t grounded before he killed the rest of his crew. I know exactly the crash you are talking about, but I don’t think it was at an airshow. The pilot had been disciplined in the past, but I believe the manuever was at or near base, not a show. If no one would have mentioned the real B-52 crash, after watching the model crash I would have been immediately reminded of it. The real B52 crash was much closer to camera, though. I’m not arguing, but I was just always under the impression that the real B52 crash on camera was not at a show. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/8 "2004-09-02T14:36:37Z")
Check out this page. See the B52 Crash link ( I am not sure if that is the one). ☹ [http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/B-52%20Crash.mpg](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/B-52%20Crash.mpg) For kicks, you\*\* have \*\* to see Extreme Landing :eek: [http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Boeing%20747%20Extreme%20Landing.mpg](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Boeing%20747%20Extreme%20Landing.mpg) ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/9 "2004-09-02T16:10:54Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > For kicks, you\*\* have \*\* to see Extreme Landing :eek: > > [http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Boeing%20747%20Extreme%20Landing.mpg](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Boeing%20747%20Extreme%20Landing.mpg) (From the same [site](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/aviation_videos.htm)) For laughs there’s [How Low?](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/ohmygodSpitfire%20pass.wmv) (Warning, naughty words) For sheer “Wooh!” there’s [Holy Og!](http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Videos/Bigballs-Under_Bridge.mpeg) ---
**Author:** ![paperbackwriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@paperbackwriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paperbackwriter)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/10 "2004-09-02T17:00:53Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I know exactly the crash you are talking about, but I don’t think it was at an airshow. The pilot had been disciplined in the past, but I believe the manuever was at or near base, not a show. > > If no one would have mentioned the real B-52 crash, after watching the model crash I would have been immediately reminded of it. The real B52 crash was much closer to camera, though. > > I’m not arguing, but I was just always under the impression that the real B52 crash on camera was not at a show. It was a flight in preparation for an air show, where even the approved flight plan exceeded safe operating limits, and the pilot then attempted to execute a turn that, as **Padeye** says, it simply can’t do. [There is a very good analysis](http://s92270093.onlinehome.us/crmdevel/resources/paper/darkblue/darkblue.htm) of not only the crash, but the command failures leading up to it on the web. > [@](#): > > On the 24th of June 1994, Czar 52, a B-52H assigned to the 325th Bomb Squadron, 92d Bomb Wing, Fairchild Air Force Base, WA, launched at approximate 1358 hours Pacific Daylight Time (PDT), to practice maneuvers for an upcoming airshow. The aircrew had the planned and briefed a profile, through the Wing Commander level, that grossly exceeded aircraft and regulatory limitations. Upon preparing to land at the end of the practice airshow profile, the crew was required to execute a “go-around” or missed approach because of another aircraft on the runway. At mid-field, Czar 52 began a tight 360 degree left turn around the control tower at only 250 feet altitude above ground level (AGL). Approximately three quarters of the way through the turn, the aircraft banked past 90 degrees, stalled, clipped a power line with the left wing and crashed. Impact occurred at approximately 1416 hours PDT. There were no survivors out of a crew of four field grade officers. There’s a lot more there. Fascinating report. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2004, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-52-augers-in/262651/11 "2004-09-02T17:13:10Z")
No thanks, too sad to read more about it.