The B-52 lives on

[Charmonium]

The last of 744 B52's was delivered in 1962 but the Air Force plans to keep them in service until 2040 - more than 80 years after the first delivery in 1955.

It's array of ordnance is still impressive.

This photo shows the entire arsenal of a B-52 Stratofortress.
The standard loadout for this plane includes eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 51 500-pound bombs, 30 1,000-pound bombs, 20 AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM), 12 joint stand-off weapons (JSOW), 12 joint direct-attack munitions (JDAM), and 16 wind-corrected munitions dispensers (WCMD), according to Airforce-technology.com.

More info:

http://www.businessinsider.com/here...ru&utm_medium=email&utm_content=MarketsSelect

http://airman.dodlive.mil/2012/04/alive-and-kicking/

 

[dougp]

BUFF!

 

[Fenixgoon]

that's incredible. the airframe must be so freakin overdesigned - but that's what allows it to stay in service so long (in addition to excellent current engineering/maintenance/retrofits)

 

[MongGrel]

I'll bet that BUFF has a lot of things I've made in it.

My babies.

 

[IronWing]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8446/7908815824_c537e5fcb1_b.jpg

 

[qliveur]

https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8446/7908815824_c537e5fcb1_b.jpg

Awesomesauce! :awe:

 

[MongGrel]

There is a real Beryllium ball.

I used to do the final balancing on those that went into the Nav systems on them.

I like F-15Ks and a few other things I've done here and there.

Nice Lego

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you like B-52's read some of the early Dale Brown books. They're technothrillers in the Tom Clancy vein, mostly about special weapons programs centered on heavily modified and modernized B-52s. Good reads if you're into aviation warfare fiction.

 

[MongGrel]

One Squadron of buffs could pretty much fly in and still wipe a small country off the map.

 

[Bartman39]

I worked on B-52G's back in 1978-1982 and they were pigs back then... I got to work a bit on B-52H's during the same period and they were the same... Antiques to say the least but a strong airframe and some awesome landing gear...

80 years I mean like damn...?

 

[Ruptga]

Why would they get rid of them; what would their replacements do that they can't? We have fancy fighters and fighter/bombers to clear the air and AA defenses, so all the B52 typically has to do is show up and drop bombs everywhere.

 

[UglyCasanova]

must be crazy strong where the wings are attached, looking at the weight that is on them it seems impossible.

 

[Charmonium]

Why would they get rid of them; what would their replacements do that they can't? We have fancy fighters and fighter/bombers to clear the air and AA defenses, so all the B52 typically has to do is show up and drop bombs everywhere.

Rolling Thunder

 

[MongGrel]

Vietnam War - Battle Of Khe Sanh - Operation Arc Light B-52 Bombers in Action - 1968

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7B4q37MkB8

 

[K1052]

Looks like they are finally going to re-engine them too. High bypass turbofans will greatly increase range and efficiency, long overdue. The JT3D is ancient.

 

[MongGrel]

I worked on B-52G's back in 1978-1982 and they were pigs back then... I got to work a bit on B-52H's during the same period and they were the same... Antiques to say the least but a strong airframe and some awesome landing gear...

80 years I mean like damn...?

Lots of things have been upgraded since then even ...

It is one hell of an airframe.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

The last of 744 B52's was delivered in 1962 but the Air Force plans to keep them in service until 2040 - more than 80 years after the first delivery in 1955.

only 90-something remain, all the last-produced H models.

if i keep a broom for 80 years, and change the head 10 times and the handle 5 times, is it still the same broom?

 

[MongGrel]

only 90-something remain, all the last-produced H models.

if i keep a broom for 80 years, and change the head 10 times and the handle 5 times, is it still the same broom?

Bad analogy.

Not even in the ball park.

I'm not sure myself, I think it is more like 78 active or something.

 

[Don66]

My dad worked for Boeing when the B52 was launched and watched the first one roll down the runway and take off... He's 82 now

 

[chubbyfatazn]

Looks like they are finally going to re-engine them too. High bypass turbofans will greatly increase range and efficiency, long overdue. The JT3D is ancient.

With RB211s? I thought that plan was still on the shelves?

I guess it wouldn't be such a bad time to consider them now that 757s are increasingly being retired. A lot of them already went to Fedex, though iirc they're done adding any more to the fleet for now.

Haven't read of any other engine being considered yet.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Bad analogy.

Not even in the ball park.

I'm not sure myself, I think it is more like 78 active or something.

what are you talking about? that is a perfectly good analogy.

the b-52 went through 8 discrete generations over 10 years of production, with continuous hotfix and upgrade programs. the survivors have been re-skinned, re-winged, re-bellied, re-brained, re-engined....everything. components that aren't new are cannibalized from retired airframes. so tell me how the head and the handle haven't been replaced multiple times

 

[MongGrel]

Just not in the mood.

 

[crashtech]

My T-shirt:

Props to my bro-in law in Minot who helps keep these fine machines in the air.

 

[mikeford]

Lots of things built in the WWII era were made to impressive standards. The DC3 always impressed me as a will not die aircraft.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Lots of things built in the WWII era were made to impressive standards. The DC3 always impressed me as a will not die aircraft.

This plane wasn't built in the WWII era...

Edit: nm, I guess it kinda was