[nicmarlo]

I thought I was only an hour flight from the UK to Iraq....didn't they leave the UK yesterday around 11:15 a.m. and the massive bombing started only an hour later?

[smokeyjon]

Noooo, it's about 5.5-6 hours. If they are using ALCM (cruise missles), those can be fired about 1 hour outside their targets.

[nicmarlo]

I thought I was only an hour flight from the UK to Iraq = I thought it was . . . .

[Cboldt]

6-8 hours one way. Depends on ultimate destination in Iraq. There is a 3 hour time zone difference too, Noon UK is 3PM Iraq.

[Robert A Cook PE]

One hour from UK to Iraq?!?!?

No, no.

The B-52's are subsonic, cruising probably 600 knots (650 mph (perhaps) ground speed, depending on wind direction aloft.) But its a long flight of several thousand miles: they won't be over Bagdad (or some other "area" target until 6-8 hours from takeoff.