Nope, didn't drop a zero, and he wasn't referring to a sim flight. "
All B-52s are equipped with an electro-optical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward-looking infrared and high resolution low-light-level television sensors to augment targeting, battle assessment, and flight safety, thus further improving its combat ability and low-level flight capability. Pilots wear night vision goggles (NVGs) to enhance their vision during night operations. Night vision goggles provide greater safety during night operations by increasing the pilot's ability to visually clear terrain, avoid enemy radar and see other aircraft in a covert/lights-out environment.
The B-52H was provided with equipment intended to make low-altitude operations safer and easier on the crews. The H was the first version to receive this new equipment, although some Ds, Es, Fs and Gs were later retrofitted. The new systems provided relief from the tremendous strain posed on pilots and navigators in flying at low altitudes at high speeds for long periods of time. Instrumentation was provided for terrain following. An advanced capability radar (ACR) radar was fitted which could give three-dimensional information on a dual-mode video display on the pilot's and navigator's instrument panel. The height of the terrain was shown continuously at selected distances of three, six or ten miles ahead of the aircraft. The pilot could select either a PLAN mode which gave a map-like display or a PROFILE mode which showed the terrain height at various ranges ahead of the aircraft. In order to assist the pilot in flying at low level, control wheel steering was built into the MA-2 autopilot. This reduced the amount of control forces and the frequency of control movements required to fly the aircraft.
No runway in sight. Welcome to low-level penetration.
That, and I've seen them fly low-level missions while I was at Nellis.
Thanks for the education. I don't think I would like to be on the ground where these babies leave their wake. Blackbird.