Off Topic - Big Buff Crash

[Bill Glaze]

Nik:
Thanks for the posting, even if it's a heartbreaker.  A lot of friends 
of mine have flown the B52 in service.  Nobody ever mentioned anything 
like the spiral dive problems noted.  A friend of mine has actually spun 
one of them, (glad I wasn't along for that!) and another has had the 
fin/rudder depart the airplane in mid-Atlantic, due to extreme 
turbulence.  He said the Dutch roll was impossible to describe; but they 
got the thing back to the States and a red-alert landing.
In a model size, if it had only spoilers in lieu of ailerons,  as on the 
full size, the aerodynamics just might prevent a spiral recovery.  
Obviously, something prevented a recovery.
Bill Glaze

Nik Middleton wrote:

> Thought some might be interested in this video.  It was shot last 
> weekend at the british Nationals.
>  
> B52 has eight gas turbines.  Weather was very windy.  Apparently, if 
> the bank angle is more than 20 degress, the aircraft will enter a 
> spiral dive.  Not sure if this is the same on full size or not
>  
> rgds
>  
> http://www.teambanana.co.uk/b52crash2.wmv


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