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T O P I C R E V I E WgliderpilotukSixty years ago today the YB-52 had its first flight in the hands of Tex Johnston. I don't believe NASA operate a B-52 at the moment but the fact that it continues to be such a reliable platform and could easily make 100 years, is just remarkable. mach3valkyrieThe last one rolled off the assembly line in Wichita in October 1962. It just proves that something built really well to begin with can be useful for a long time. (with upgrades in this case, of course.) Quite a remarkable aircraft.Happy 60th Birthday to the B-52!p51I called in an airstrike with BUFFs once. Afterward, I was talking to one of my SGTs and said, "You know, that would have been like massed bombing of the Iraqi front lines in Desert Storm (circa 1991) with B-17 Flying Fortresses". He just stood there stupified, realizing time-wise, I was correct. I don't think there's hardly anyone behind the yokes of a BUFF these days who was born before the first one flew!gliderpilotukOn that analogy I guess you could say their longevity is due to a combination of the fact that they've never had to go into battle against anyone other than a third world country with weak air defenses!icarkieLoved to have see one fly.I saw the B-52 here in the UK a few years back at RAF Duxford in the American hanger. When I walked in the hanger my jaw dropped by the shear size of the thing. I knew it's nickname was BUFFs.By the way, my yougest daughter at the time wanted to know what BUFFs ment... I still haven't told her. micropoozTell your daughter that the last "F" stands for "Fellow". That's the G-rated version here in the states! albatron quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:I don't believe NASA operate a B-52 at the moment... Actually I believe they have an "H" model now.cspgTo be released by year's end: B-52 Stratofortress: The Story of the BUFF from Drawing Board to the Skies over Afghanistan by Bill Yenne, Zenith Press. Fezman92 quote:Originally posted by albatron: Actually I believe they have an "H" model now. Yes they do. As I recall some of the older ones had to be scrapped as one of the stipulations of the START treaty. cspg quote:Originally posted by albatron:Actually I believe they have an "H" model now. No. According to NASA's Dryden Center: NASA obtained a B-52H bomber from the U.S. Air Force in 2001, intending to use the aircraft as an air-launch and testbed aircraft to support NASA, Air Force and industry flight research and advanced technology demonstration efforts at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.The B-52H replaced Dryden's famous B-52B "008" following that aircraft's retirement on Dec. 17, 2004. However, with no research projects requiring its capabilities on the horizon under NASA's restructured aeronautics research programs, the decision was made to return the aircraft to the Air Force.icarkie quote:Originally posted by micropooz:Tell your daughter that the last "F" stands for "Fellow". That's the G-rated version here in the states! Thanks mate... couldn't put it better myself. hlbjr quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:On that analogy I guess you could say their longevity is due to a combination of the fact that they've never had to go into battle against anyone other than a third world country with weak air defenses! I showed this quote to a couple of buddies of mine who flew in Desert Storm and one of my Dad's buddies with whom he flew F-86's in combat in Korea who also flew two tours in Viet Nam. They all thought this "third-world" comment was laughable considering Saddam's air defense was one of the world's best at the time and in Viet Nam the air defenses were not third-world but first-world proxy defenses of the Soviet Union. You might want to read "Pak Six" or "Thud Ridge" and reconsider the clearly derogatory "third-world" comment. It's an insult to the guys who were shot down by more than third-world Migs and SAM's. Last I checked, no third world country has developed those weapons.minipciFifteen B-52s succumbed to the air defences around Hanoi/Haiphong during Linebacker II. Definitely not Third World!
I don't believe NASA operate a B-52 at the moment but the fact that it continues to be such a reliable platform and could easily make 100 years, is just remarkable.
Happy 60th Birthday to the B-52!
I don't think there's hardly anyone behind the yokes of a BUFF these days who was born before the first one flew!
I saw the B-52 here in the UK a few years back at RAF Duxford in the American hanger. When I walked in the hanger my jaw dropped by the shear size of the thing. I knew it's nickname was BUFFs.
By the way, my yougest daughter at the time wanted to know what BUFFs ment... I still haven't told her.
quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:I don't believe NASA operate a B-52 at the moment...
quote:Originally posted by albatron: Actually I believe they have an "H" model now.
quote:Originally posted by albatron:Actually I believe they have an "H" model now.
NASA obtained a B-52H bomber from the U.S. Air Force in 2001, intending to use the aircraft as an air-launch and testbed aircraft to support NASA, Air Force and industry flight research and advanced technology demonstration efforts at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.The B-52H replaced Dryden's famous B-52B "008" following that aircraft's retirement on Dec. 17, 2004. However, with no research projects requiring its capabilities on the horizon under NASA's restructured aeronautics research programs, the decision was made to return the aircraft to the Air Force.
The B-52H replaced Dryden's famous B-52B "008" following that aircraft's retirement on Dec. 17, 2004. However, with no research projects requiring its capabilities on the horizon under NASA's restructured aeronautics research programs, the decision was made to return the aircraft to the Air Force.
quote:Originally posted by micropooz:Tell your daughter that the last "F" stands for "Fellow". That's the G-rated version here in the states!
quote:Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:On that analogy I guess you could say their longevity is due to a combination of the fact that they've never had to go into battle against anyone other than a third world country with weak air defenses!
You might want to read "Pak Six" or "Thud Ridge" and reconsider the clearly derogatory "third-world" comment. It's an insult to the guys who were shot down by more than third-world Migs and SAM's. Last I checked, no third world country has developed those weapons.
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