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At the edge of the East China Sea, CNN was aboard a B-52 bomber circling northeast toward Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, Alaska, when the oil pressure gauge on one of its engines began flashing erratically. At 19 hours into one of the longest military missions conducted by the United States, the crew was already grappling with communications issues as they navigated the 13,000-mile journey from Louisiana to Japan and back again. , accurate fuel calculations had to be made.
But something was different about this.
In advance, the two pilots began working through a checklist. Capt. Jinan Andrews read each step aloud, and Capt. Tramaine “Omaha” Barnett piloted the jet. Sitting in the only berth of the huge bomber, his third pilot on the flight crew, Colonel Sabin “Jet” Park, backed them up and made sure they didn't miss any supplies.
After 14 hours of flight and the strategic bomber nearly 7,000 miles from home, the pilots decided to shut down the engines. The B-52 that accompanied them across the Pacific Ocean landed in Japan. Now, our plane, MYLAR11, will be returning with its engine running on its own.
Fortunately, the B-52 has multiple engines, a reminder that the U.S. military still relies on an aircraft that first flew in the 1950s, more than 30 years beyond the Cold War era. Masu.
The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress is America's primary strategic bomber and has participated in every American war since Vietnam.
CNN had exclusive access to the spectacular flight in one of the historic eight-engine jets that are instantly recognizable symbols of American air power. Although this particular jet was built in his 1961 year and is decades older than its crew, the B-52 remains the linchpin of the U.S. bomber fleet and draws attention to America's allies and adversaries. I'm sending you a message.
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Col. Michael McGuinness, commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing, shows CNN's Oren Lieberman (right) the cockpit of a B-52H.
“If you were to go back and look at both the Russian national leadership and the Chinese national leadership, what would they react to?” asks Maj. Gen. Jason Almagost, commander of the 8th Air Force. “We see them publicly commenting on the mission of our bomber task force, especially when it involves others in a very collaborative and public way.”
Our flight took off before dawn on April 1st on one of the world's longest missions. The B-52s will fly from the U.S. mainland, down Alaska's Aleutian Islands, off the east coast of Russia, past China and North Korea, and into airspace off the Korean Peninsula. MYLAR 11 then flew in formation with South Korean and Japanese fighter jets and returned home without landing.
It will fly for 33 hours and cover more than 13,000 miles. The jet was flying at an altitude of about 28,000 feet, primarily over the icy waters of the North Pacific Ocean, where waves were expected to exceed 20 feet. The B-52 was expected to burn a total of 105,000 gallons of jet fuel during the flight.
“Not only are we one of the most visible and flexible parts of the nuclear triad, but this is just a very easy way for the Air Force and the United States to provide reassurance to our allies.”Weapon Systems said Col. Beau “NATO” Cain, the officer in charge. airplane officer. The nuclear triad, which includes strategic bombers, ballistic missile silos, and ballistic missile submarines, constitutes the United States' nuclear deterrent. The B-52 is the most maneuverable element of the triad.
“We deliver B-52s when and where you need them, within 48 hours.”
Oren Lieberman/CNN
The last B-52 rolled off the production line in 1962. Strategic bombers are decades older than their crews, and some jets are showing their age.
The standard crew for a mission of this length is three pilots, three weapons systems officers, and one electronic warfare officer. Most of MYLAR11's crew had never been on such a long mission before.
After a few hours into the flight, it becomes painfully clear that the B-52 was never built for comfort. The jet has a wingspan of 185 feet and an overall length nearly his 160 feet, but the entire crew is crammed into the front of the jet, split between an enclosed upper deck and a windowless lower deck.
The pilots are rotated, and the pilot often rests in the only berth on board. The rest of the crew often have to curl up on the floor or lean against a panel to find a position to rest.
Capt. Leo “Swabe” Weber, weapons systems officer, described the first 30-plus hours of flight as “like a roller coaster ride.”
“You're excited when you leave, and after a sleepy sleep you realize you're not even a quarter of the way there,” he said. “It's been hard to stay focused, but I'm embracing it and enjoying it.”
During the long flight between four mid-air refuelings, the crew spends time having casual conversations, resting, and snacking. On MYLAR11, electronic warfare officer Lt. Rebecca “Vulcan” Moore brought chicken nuggets for the crew, ready to heat in a small oven behind the line of interceptors. Mini pizza bagels and chocolate chip cookies are also a crew favorite.
Although Moore's official role is to track threats outside the jet, she has taken it upon herself to know how everyone is doing inside the plane. “I try to pay attention to who's tired. Is anyone hungry? Is there anything I can do to help someone?” Moore said.
“As you can see, this is an old jet and it takes a whole crew to deal with the many problems that come with it.”
The Air Force plans to upgrade the B-52H to the newer B-52J model with more efficient engines, upgraded avionics, and new radar. This modernization program will keep the jet in the air for nearly a century, since it first entered service in the mid-1950s.
“For decades to come, we will be able to see how jet aircraft that have been around for decades will continue to evolve with the times and be capable of doing more, if not more, than ever before. “Sho,” he said. Lt. Col. Jared Patterson, 20th Bomb Squadron commander.
This year, the Air Force began low-volume production of its next-generation stealth bomber, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. China is not far behind, with the Chinese government promising that its secretive H-20 strategic bomber will be unveiled soon.
Oren Lieberman/CNN
Airman Avery Balsterbaum (left), Senior Airman Andrew Rodriguez (center), and Senior Airman Justin Joyner (right) practice assembling a precision 500-pound bomb as part of the munitions team.
Oren Lieberman/CNN
Staff Sergeant Daquilla Nelson (left) and Senior Airman Veruca Plott (right) ensure that a precision 500-pound bomb is properly loaded in a B-52H's underwing bomb rack.
Supporters of the B-52 say it will still have a role in the future. “This may be the most adaptable aircraft in the history of aerospace,” said Col. Michael McGuinness, commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing. “It started life as a high-level nuclear bomber. We turned it into a low-level penetrating bomber. We turned it into a standoff cruise missile platform. And in the process, the U.S. Department of Defense We also received almost every other air-to-ground mission set in the.”
At the western edge of the Pacific Ocean, MYLAR11 reaches its mission area, a rectangular airspace between southern Japan and South Korea. Hours earlier, North Korea test-fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile, a stark reminder of the threat in the region.
In October, Chinese fighter jets intercepted a B-52 bomber at night over the South China Sea south of Japanese positions. The Chinese fighter jet flew within 10 feet of the much larger bomber in what the United States called a “dangerous interception.” This time it's a nearby friendly fighter.
Through a layer of clouds, our B-52 and an accompanying second bomber fly in formation with Japanese and South Korean fighters stationed outside the wings. Crews remain alert even when visibility is reduced due to multiple aircraft flying close together. However, small fighters do not have the endurance of large bombers, so they cannot stay in the air for long. Missions require precise timing.
“The more players we have, the more complex and interesting the missions become,” said Capt. Sabin “Jet” Park, one of the B-52 pilots.
Oren Lieberman/CNN
Capt. Sabin “Jet” Park flies a B-52 at night and uses the cockpit's red lighting to help him see in the dark. The main display is one of the few modern additions to the cockpit.
After snapping a few photos of the jets in formation, I quickly returned home to find the engine 5 warning light illuminated bright orange. Within minutes, the crew shut down the engine. Don't panic. Just manage the risk.
Even if one engine fails, the B-52 has seven engines to bring it home. It is not a smart plane like modern fifth-generation fighters, but it is redundant with numerous backup systems to accomplish its mission.
“Even though the B-52 has been in service for many years and is considered a legacy aircraft, it is a very formidable aircraft,” said Col. Genan Andrews. “She's a tough girl.”
After dodging the airspace off eastern Russia on our return flight, we geared up for the long journey home. Everyone is tired, especially as the flight time approaches his 24th hour, but the mission is not yet complete. Landing an aircraft is difficult, but flight time makes it even more difficult.
And the B-52 has one last surprise for the crew. On final approach, the right main unit does not extend as Barksdale Air Force Base looms beyond the nose of the aircraft.
“Now, emergency extension,” commands the mission commander, Captain Tramaine “Omaha” Barnett.
Seconds later, 33 hours later, the plane landed on Runway 33 and deployed the jet's drag parachute as it slowed on the runway.
CNN's Jeremy Harlan contributed to this report.