Got my pilots license in the early 80’s. Was flying one day one of my first solo flights heading east. Saw some smoke to the north; off to my left; and BELOW me. A few more seconds as I looked closer; saw a B 52 flying south! I decided NOT to intercept!!
They were doing low level training flights at the time. Pretty cool!
Witnessed a similar event during the early 1980s while driving north of Ashville, NC, along the French Broad River valley. A Buff was following the river while staying just below the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains. Made a big impression on me.
That had to be great! Got mine around mid ‘80s. Was towing banners over Long Beach Island in NJ a few years later when a C141 overtook a little further off the coast, same altitude (about 600)! They followed the beach for another few minutes then climbed and turned inland, assuming to McGuire AFB.
B-52s out of Omaha flew low and slow across southern Iowa in the mid 1960s when I was in high school. One kid in our study hall looked out the window of the library when a Buff sailed by and yelled, “Air Raid...”
Flying a hangglider in Alamogodo New Mexico at about 12K
Had a flight of four F-15s from Holloman pass about 1000 feet below me.
Don’t think they even saw me. (yes, our takeoff area is marked on sectionals)