"B-52s to fly over all 30 NATO member states"

[MarkOttawa]

One heck of a coordinated display/effort:

Six B-52 Stratofortress aircraft will today conduct flyovers above all 30 NATO member states in Europe and North America.

The mission, called ‘Allied Sky’ is intended to demonstrate solidarity among NATO members, provide training and improve interoperability between US and allies aircrews.

Allied Sky is a spin on regular Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions conducted by the USAF in Europe which began in 2018, since then over 200 BTF sorties have been flown by the US and NATO allies.

Most recently these BTFs saw flights over the Nordic, Baltic, and Black Sea by B-1B Lancer aircraft and an air policing flight over NATO’s newest member North Macedonia.

As part of the mission, four B-52s will take-off from Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in the UK to complete the European wing of the sorties, meanwhile, two B-52s will take off from Minot Air Force Base (AFB) and fly over the US and Canada [emphasis added].

Commander of US European Command (USEUCOM) General Tod Wolters said: “US security commitments to the NATO Alliance remain ironclad, today’s bomber task force mission is another example of how the Alliance sustains readiness, improves interoperability and demonstrates our ability to deliver on commitments from across the Atlantic.”

During the mission, the US Air Force (USAF) B-52s will be joined by 80 fighter aircraft from Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, and the UK [emphasis added].

EUCOM said that the operation showed that despite the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic US forces ‘remain fully ready’ to operate across all domains and alongside allies.

Wolters added: “By further enhancing our enduring relationships, we send a clear message to potential adversaries about our readiness to meet any global challenge.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “Today’s training event demonstrates the United States’ powerful commitment to NATO, and Allied solidarity in action. As US bombers overfly all 30 NATO Allies in a single day, they are being accompanied by fighter jets from across the Alliance, boosting our ability to respond together to any challenge.

“Training events like this help ensure that we fulfil our core mission: to deter aggression, prevent conflict, and preserve peace.”
https://www.airforce-technology.com/news/b-52s-to-fly-over-all-30-nato-member-states/

Mark
Ottawa

 

[daftandbarmy]

One heck of a coordinated display/effort:

Mark
Ottawa

Because nothing says 'we are committed' like spending a couple of hours looking down on your minions from 60,000 feet, while eating Lobster Thermidor, right?

 

[dimsum]

Because nothing says 'we are committed' like spending a couple of hours looking down on your minions from 60,000 feet, while eating Lobster Thermidor, right?

I think you have a very over-inflated sense of aircrew box lunches  :nod:

 

[SupersonicMax]

Because nothing says 'we are committed' like spending a couple of hours looking down on your minions from 60,000 feet, while eating Lobster Thermidor, right?

I have never eaten, pissed or pooped in a Hornet, despite 8+ hours missions (~10+ hours in the seat).  I have always been scared of chocking while eating and there isn’t much that can be done.  Perhaps the lobster works on the Challenger and Airbus but most definitely not in a Hornet.

 

[Gorgo]

So who's the idiot in Washington who arranged for this dick-waving contest?  :rofl:

 

[medicineman]

So who's the idiot in Washington who arranged for this dick-waving contest?  :rofl:

The one that likely needs extra strength Viagra just to make it visible...

MM

 

[Rifleman62]

Should only fly over the nations that are living up to the 2% commitment to NATO. Save fuel. Trudeau will be happy to highlight his Green defence policy.

 

[CBH99]

The one that likely needs extra strength Viagra just to make it visible...

MM

Looking at a majority of the Senate, and a majority of Congress...that doesn't narrow it down in the slightest 

 

[medicineman]

Looking at a majority of the Senate, and a majority of Congress...that doesn't narrow it down in the slightest

I'd go then with either "The Chinless Wonder" or "The Pumpkin Windbag".

MM

 

[blacktriangle]

The one that likely needs extra strength Viagra just to make it visible...

MM

They make extra strength Viagra? 

...asking for a friend 

 

[CBH99]

They make extra strength Viagra? 

...asking for a friend 

They do indeed.  They are called Supermans.

Don't ask me how I know this, but they work

 

[LiveFightMove]

Video: Unsafe Intercept Of B-52 By Russian Military Over Black Sea

The U.S. military said two Russian Su-27 Flanker pilots intercepted a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber that was conducting routine operations over international waters in the Black Sea on Aug. 28. The Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while crossing within 100 feet of the nose of the B-52 multiple times at co-altitude and while in afterburner causing turbulence and restricting the B-52’s ability to maneuver. (Air Force)

https://www.militarytimes.com/video/2020/08/30/unsafe-intercept-of-b-52-by-russian-military-over-black-sea/

 

[SupersonicMax]

What the Russian Flanker did is a headbutt (albeit a little close for my personal comfort!)

It is a fairly standard maneuver during intercepts.

 

[LiveFightMove]

What the Russian Flanker did is a headbutt (albeit a little close for my personal comfort!)

It is a fairly standard maneuver during intercepts.

I saw the tilting wings back and forth before that. Is that considered a salute/wave?

And a headbutt... is that to advize the "visitor" (B-52) to change course? Maybe because they were nearing Russian airspace?

 

[SupersonicMax]

The wave means “follow me”.  The headbutt is used when other means of getting an aircraft to follow you has failed.

 

[kkwd]

Here is some video of "Allied Sky".
From the description box of the video.

The U.S. air force and other air force Conduct Allied Sky mission.

A B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, integrates with Royal Air Force Typhoons, Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35 Lightning IIs, Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, and Belgian F-16 Fighting Falcons during the Bomber Task Force Europe mission, Allied Sky.

This YouTube channel contains more videos that may be of interest.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4plRaP6TJRUkZBLuqMFEUA/videos