Posted: 11/29/2009 1:12:10 PM EDT
| I have known what it means to "scramble" fighters since I was a kid- but where does the term come from? Why not "deploy" for example? |
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The term started with the RAF early in WW2.
In response to an incoming air threat, RAF pilots would scramble to their aircraft, each getting into the air as fast as possible. It was not an orderly process. Once airborne, those aircraft that managed to get off the ground would attempt to link up into their respective sections and be directed to the incoming threat. The term "deploy" really indicates an action of forethought and planning. If you've ever had to "scramble" a group of aircraft, you'd understand why the term has stuck around. 
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So, if scramble is to fighters, what is ____ to b52's on a minimal interval take off? And not to hijack the thread, I assume a MITO is for when the SHTF on a superpower scale and nukes need to be dropped? yes. nukes imbound, gotta get the retaliation into the air. |
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So, if scramble is to fighters, what is ____ to b52's on a minimal interval take off? ETA: I'm thinking herd of turtles? You're pretty close. When I was in SAC, during the cold war, when the bombers and tankers taxiied out during a klaxon, it was called "the elephant walk". |
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Quoted: Quoted: So, if scramble is to fighters, what is ____ to b52's on a minimal interval take off? ETA: I'm thinking herd of turtles? You're pretty close. When I was in SAC, during the cold war, when the bombers and tankers taxiied out during a klaxon, it was called "the elephant walk". We still do elephant walks here and there. I've been involved in one and, other than getting up way too early, it was interesting to see everything but one or two jets get off the ground. Said one or two were hard broke. |
| In the 1970's I flew KC-97L tankers for the Governor of Texas. When the federal boys would come to give us an ORI we would fire up all ten of our sophisticated war machines at the same time (causing the field to go IFR with grey smoke) and taxi out together. If we had them configured with hose and drogue it did look like an elephant walk, complete with the screaming sound of the old expander tube brakes similar to the trumpeting sound of a distressed pachyderm. |
I believe MITOs are no more in the B-52 world. I think minimal interval now is 30 seconds (a cell takeoff interval in my day!). Now, 9 seconds will get your heart pumping.  Sucks when the guy ahead is slow setting the throttles and hitting the water and the trailing jet (US!) is quicker!!!
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Quoted:
Quoted:
So, if scramble is to fighters, what is ____ to b52's on a minimal interval take off? ETA: I'm thinking herd of turtles? You're pretty close. When I was in SAC, during the cold war, when the bombers and tankers taxiied out during a klaxon, it was called "the elephant walk". And forget about any MX support after the alert force got back to the pad. |