This is a photograph from the launch of an X-43 from the NASA owned and operated B-52 '008'. It appears that one engine is producing a plume of smoke in the photograph. Why is this?
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21$\begingroup$ That's what you get when there is no cabin attendant to tell the crew this is non-smoking flight. $\endgroup$– Rob VermeulenCommented Dec 13, 2016 at 18:21
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1$\begingroup$ @RobVermeulen She was commissioned in 1959... everyone smoked back then ;) $\endgroup$– J...Commented Dec 14, 2016 at 13:31
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$\begingroup$ @RobVermeulen Ladies and gentleman this is your captain speaking - I've just turned off the "No Smoking" signs. I figure if the plane's smoking why can't you? (Also can we talk about the soot marks behind those engine pods? Wash your planes, NASA!) $\endgroup$– voretaq7Commented Dec 16, 2016 at 21:54
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2 Answers
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@Adam is right. The aircraft, NB-52B has smoke generator installed to assist in tracking.
A smoke generator has been installed on the left wing of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress mothership to assist in tracking the airplane.
Its use during the test of X-38 is detailed here:
Outside I could see the white trail from the smoke generator in the number-2 engine nacelle of the NB-52B approaching from the east
... I aimed my telephoto nearly directly up at the tip of the smoke trail.
As the same aircraft was used during the X-43 tests, it certainly served the same purpose.
answered Dec 13, 2016 at 16:39
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22$\begingroup$ So, paratroopers invented jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. Not to be one-upped, NASA decided to set a perfectly good plane on fire. Touche :) $\endgroup$– DVKCommented Dec 13, 2016 at 20:48
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My guess, and it is only a guess, is that they are using a smoke generator to make the B-52 aircraft easier to visualize. Typically for flight tests like this they would be doing optical tracking from the ground (essentially a telescope) and this would make it easier to locate the target. (I was going to add also for the pilot of the dropped aircraft, but the X-43 is unmanned)
