Rapid Launch

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. - A B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., roars down the runway during the rapid launch portion of Prairie Vigilance 09-7 here April 29. Prairie Vigilance is a combined-wing nuclear operational readiness exercise designed to demonstrate safe, secure, reliable nuclear weapons standards and procedures. A sequence of 12 B-52s successfully launched confirming the Air Force’s agile ability to respond when called upon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee A. Osberry Jr.)

Rapid Launch

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. - A B-52H Stratofortress from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., soars through the elements during the rapid launch portion of Prairie Vigilance 09-7 here April 29. Prairie Vigilance is a combined-wing nuclear operational readiness exercise designed to demonstrate safe, secure, reliable nuclear weapons standards and procedures. A sequence of 12 B-52s successfully launched confirming the Air Force’s agile ability to respond when called upon. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Lee A. Osberry Jr.)

B-52H Stratofortress: Mission Planning

Published May 13, 2009
By 2nd Lt. Kidron B. Vestal
Deputy Chief, Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Take-off is only one of the phases in flight; other readiness measures abound.

A navigator and three B-52H co-pilots share their experiences in mission planning for a Stratofortress.

1st Lt. Matthew Johnson, 23rd Bomb Squadron navigator, said that the planning required for generating a sortie is mostly fulfilled on computers.

The devices "quickly calculate time and distances, depending on forecasted winds and the jet's planned true airspeed," said Lieutenant Johnson.

Such tools are advantageous in that they give the navigator more time to execute the numerous other demands of the mission said the lieutenant.

Additional technological aids include time/speed dividers, a stop watch, a MB-4 manual calculator and extra chart coverage of the continental United States.

Sometimes the mission is for local training purposes, while other sorties include involvement at greater Air Force levels.

1st Lt. Richard Marby, 23rd BS co-pilot, described a higher headquarter-directed sortie of early winter.

"It was scheduled as a 20-hour-long duration training sortie. We had planned to link up with tankers in Maine and New Hampshire, and then proceed up toward the North Pole ... it was just another January morning in Minot."

1st Lieutenants Mark Burley and Matthew Spinelli, 23 BS co-pilots, discussed some of the considerations for flying.

"Mission planning takes place the day before flight, and flying is another day," said Lieutenant Burley.

Ensuring proper gas levels and accounting for center of gravity movements is also an aerial responsibility, said Lieutenant Spinelli.

But how does one get the plane in the air? What lets the wheels leave the tarmac?

Lieutenant Johnson said in drafting a flight plan, he selects points by coordinating for timing needs, i.e., to a refueling location, or for aerial/combat maneuvers.

After we have created the standard route plans, other points can be added to the flight plan as needed, said the lieutenant.

"The fun part," he continued, "is when you have a flight plan change just before takeoff . . . and have to make it all new, on the spot and all while flying the plane."

Lieutenant Johnson said in conclusion, "It's hard work, but it's very fulfilling."