B-52 Makes Emergency Landing at Minot International Airport

KXMC-TV, Minot ^ | Feb 22 2008, 8:00PM | staff

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

A B-52 bomber on a training mission from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana was forced to make an emergency landing at the Minot International Airport early this morning.

According to a press release from Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs office, the five crew members from the 20th Bomb Squadron at Barksdale declared an in-flight emergency due to aircraft malfunctions and deteriorating weather conditions at the base.

The B-52 just recently left the airport.

No one from the Minot Air Force Base could be reached for comment on the situation.

In the press release it stated that the 5th Bomb Wing Commander Colonel Westa is appreciative of the help from the city ON CAM of Minot and the International Airport in assisting them with the situation and their on-going support of the Minot Base.

Airport director Patrick Dame says military aircraft routinely land at the airport but the use of a municipal runway by a B-52 is very uncommon.

Dame says the airport's 77-hundred foot runway is able to handle the B-52 but it isn't as long as military personnel would like.

We'll have more on this when it becomes available.

[TenYearLurker]

The way it was explained to me once by a jet jock, “If you can get in, you can get out.”

[MrPiper]

one of the pilots involved in the collision between F-15C’s over the Gulf of Mexico three days ago died of his injuries.

Ali Jivanjee was the name of the pilot that died. Could explain why the collision occured. Not a US pilot.

[Chode]

can they mount JATO bottles???

[sargunner]

An American I guess. Don’t know if naturalized or not. But yes he is a muzz. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/22/funeral-under-way-pilot-jet-fighter-crash/

[TalBlack]

“landing a B-52 on a 7700 ft runway in bad weather! I bet the pucker factor for the aircrew was quite high.”

I wonder how far he was from the threshold when the wheels touched. Not far I’ll bet.

[ops33]

The aircraft had just departed from Minot AFB, another B-52 base. Crew was there for training, many military training routes in the area. Because the B-52 is a long range aircraft most of its training missions are long flights. These type of flights happen almost everyday. The article did not state exactly what the emergency was only that because of bad weather the pilot diverted to Minot International instead of trying to return to Minot AFB.

[mcshot]

This article brings back old memories of Minot AFB in the early 70s. The area is relatively flat and the wind driven snow is very difficult to see and drive in. In fact, it’s called snirt (half snow and half dirt) and the wind chills are very dangerous. So much so that wearing of winter military parkas was authorized during civilian hours. I lived off base across from Minot International and remember it well.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

It’s bigger than Iraq, although that is a contributor. In the 1950s and ‘60s, we were spending nearly half our annual budget on the military. Today, it’s significantly less than 10%. What has taken its place? Entitlement spending. In other words, welfare and free pills for old people have become more important.

[loomex]

I was in Minot at the time the B-52 landing. The ILS, (instrument landing system) that allows the aircraft to land in bad weather failed on the A/C. The base, located 15 miles north was fogged in (make note the temp was 5ºf) and the minot airport was light and patchy fog, still good for a VFR landing. The runway at MAFB is 10,000’ X 300’, the runway at the city is 7700’ X 150’. The B-52 wing span is 159’. The span between the outrigger wheels is about 140’. Not an easy job when there is only 5’ room for error on either side of the runway. I have video of the plane leaving. The A/C was loaded with enough fuel to get to
AFB. It used about 5000’-6000’ of runway

[Centurion2000]

During the Kennedy Administration, military spending was 42% of our GDP. Today, it’s about 4%.

BS .... show us those numbers. 42% of GDP would be like North Korean levels of spending. 10% is a lot more believable.

[walkerk]

OK - no ordinance and minimum fuel. Were the outriggers even touching down? Did you post your video on-line? Thanks for the feedback!

[Non-Sequitur]

My question for Congress: still think it's a good idea to run the military on-the-cheap?!?!

Iraq is sucking up every available dollar. Maintenance suffers as a result.

[loomex]

The wings were dry on landing and take off as you can tell by the video link below. From what I was told, the plane used about 6500’, with parachute, spoilers and some tense time on the brakes. She then taxied to a spot off the runway to avoid blocking any airport traffic. The next day the plane was pushed backwards to the very edge of the runway for take off. I just happen to be on vacation in Minot to visit my 19y son. He was taking his flying lesson and got an extra 15 min. of flight time waiting for the BUFF to leave.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKSx3pl9oYE