|
Author
|
Topic: Boeing B-52's "birthday": April 15, 1952
|
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-15-2012 01:04 PM
   
Sixty 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. |
mach3valkyrie
Member Posts: 719
From: Albany, Oregon
Registered: Jul 2006
|
posted 04-16-2012 04:33 PM
The 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! |
p51
Member Posts: 1642
From: Olympia, WA
Registered: Sep 2011
|
posted 04-16-2012 09:59 PM
I 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! |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
|
posted 04-17-2012 08:43 AM
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! |
icarkie
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 04-17-2012 12:18 PM
Loved 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.  |
micropooz
Member Posts: 1512
From: Washington, DC, USA
Registered: Apr 2003
|
posted 04-17-2012 02:14 PM
Tell your daughter that the last "F" stands for "Fellow". That's the G-rated version here in the states! |
albatron
Member Posts: 2732
From: Stuart, Florida
Registered: Jun 2000
|
posted 04-17-2012 02:44 PM
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. |
cspg
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
|
posted 04-17-2012 02:45 PM
To 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
Member Posts: 1031
From: New Jersey, USA
Registered: Mar 2010
|
posted 04-17-2012 02:50 PM
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
Member Posts: 6210
From: Geneva, Switzerland
Registered: May 2006
|
posted 04-18-2012 01:23 AM
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
Member Posts: 618
From: BURTON ON TRENT /England
Registered: Nov 2002
|
posted 04-18-2012 11:34 AM
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
Member Posts: 475
From: Delray Beach Florida USA
Registered: Mar 2006
|
posted 04-20-2012 06:42 AM
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. |
minipci
Member Posts: 365
From: London, UK
Registered: Jul 2009
|
posted 04-20-2012 07:49 AM
Fifteen B-52s succumbed to the air defences around Hanoi/Haiphong during Linebacker II. Definitely not Third World! |
advertisement