Morgans wrote:

"Bob Matthews" wrote


About 20 (maybe 25?)years ago I was out cultivating corn just northwest
of Waterloo, IA and I swear a B52 rumbled right over my head.
Incredibly low and slow. Looked dangerous.


A couple of years ago, I heard a low rumble that I could not identify. It
kept getting louder, and I finally "had" to go outside and try to identify
what it was, or at least from what direction the sound was coming.

It lasted several minutes, and I made up my mind that it *must* be the sound
of big afterburners, and from how loud it was, more than two. I guessed it
must be a B-1 running the nearby gorge on a low level training run.

The next couple days, I asked around, and many had heard it. Finally, I
came across someone who lived out in the direction of the Lindville Gorge
that saw it come directly over his house.

That was 15 or more miles away, and it was unmistakable and different, and
had a deep rumble unlike anything I had ever heard. The next year I saw a
B-1 doing afterburner runs up close at an air show, and heard how loud they
were. Yep, that was it!

Still not a buff, though. :-)

Being in the flight path of a Bone low level in max aug is a truly
moving experience and double hearing protection is advised! The BUFF is
slower, uglier and more smoky not nearly as impressive a sight to
behold. The Bone emanates raw power and graceful lines. The BUFF is
the fat ugly lineman, sure its not as sexy as a quarterback, but it
grinds it out like that lineman and makes the mission happen.

My personal preference, the Bone is a hell of a lot more fun to fly.
Get real, if given the choice between a Ferrari and a pick up I'll
always pick the Ferrari as more fun to drive. The practical side of me
though acknowledges that the pickup is pretty useful, but some what less
sexy. I've only flown the Bone sim, but spent plenty of time in its
cockpit. I have flown in the BUFF and also spent a fair amount of time
in it. I'd rather spend a 20+ hour sortie in the BUFF, more room makes
a difference after the 6th or 7th hour of a flight.

Michael Kelly
BUFF Flight Tester (Former Bone Maintainer)