B-52 bombers were used recently to bomb ISIS camps in Syria. Not bad for for a 60 year old lady. 
B-52 bombers fly missions in Syria
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We still use them for our heavy bomber fleet. They are continuously being modernized at great cost...
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We still use them for our heavy bomber fleet. They are continuously being modernized at great cost...
My BIL is a USAF Chief and runs a crew that services these and other aircraft. You would be amazed at the cost of some repairs.
Great aircraft.
Here is a link to a realistic movie about a SAC B-52 bomber crew on a mission. Very suspenseful.
By Dawn's Early Light
Here is a link to a realistic movie about a SAC B-52 bomber crew on a mission. Very suspenseful.
By Dawn's Early Light
The re-engine program with Rolls Royce engines has moved back to 2033. It’s supposed to give another 30 years of life to the plane. If successful there could be some 100 year old B-52’s flying some day.
I am very familiar with the RR BR710 (and the similar BR725 used on the G650) engines chosen for the B52 upgrade. They are stupidly expensive, powerful, high performance, jewel like engines, with great high speed cruise performance and a relatively short useful life. These are not airliner engines that can operate on condition for 20,000 hours and be repaired on wing. They go about 4,000 hours before corrosion sets in, and/or compressor coatings start delaminating and they won't start.
If I can find the pics I took when we had ours repaired, I'll post them. High stage compressor blades are literally less than 1 inch tall and 1/3 of an inch wide.
If I can find the pics I took when we had ours repaired, I'll post them. High stage compressor blades are literally less than 1 inch tall and 1/3 of an inch wide.
Actually, a 72 year old lady as its name denotes its year of origin, 1952. I share the same birth year. She’ll definitely outlive me it appears.B-52 bombers were used recently to bomb ISIS camps in Syria. Not bad for for a 60 year old lady.
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Imagine if the sopwith camel was still being used in Vietnam or Korea. Greece just stopped using the ladt of their A-7's a couple of years ago. The Croatian air force just retired the last of their cold war era mig 21's.B-52 bombers were used recently to bomb ISIS camps in Syria. Not bad for for a 60 year old lady.
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As always, jets are jets and props are props. The B52, while ancient, does have a cruise speed of M0.84 and a range of about 8800 miles. That's about the same speed as many modern airliners and a whole bunch of range.
Older aircraft are proving to be interesting case studies. As long as fatigue and corrosion/deterioration issues are well managed, there is no reason they can't operate for a very long time.
I can remember hearing and seeing them fly from Westover AFB in Mass. as a kid in the 60's.
The base was a bit over 4 miles from our house.
The base was a bit over 4 miles from our house.
19 years old. 1977. Camped in very high Sierra mountains in CA. Back packed in, maybe 3rd or 4th day.
Early evening, watching a B-52's cruising the passes and circling mountains, blue whitish belly, black matte top. VERY close to us. VERY agile.
Amazing. Were stunned for a bit. Kind of a double rainbow moment.
Early evening, watching a B-52's cruising the passes and circling mountains, blue whitish belly, black matte top. VERY close to us. VERY agile.
Amazing. Were stunned for a bit. Kind of a double rainbow moment.
Older than that! Years ago at an air show at Andrews AFB, it was really hot. The only shade on the tarmac was provided by a B-52. Under it it was a light rain of hydraulic fluid. I asked the airman there what was going on. He replied that's normal they all do it. They constantly top them up. May have been in the 90's.B-52 bombers were used recently to bomb ISIS camps in Syria. Not bad for for a 60 year old lady.
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Cool plane. My FIL flew on these in his USAF days during the Cold War whilst hauling some interesting payload.
Yes, I was wondering what to use and since the surviving planes are series H, I averaged it to the early 60’s and came up with close to 60 years.
B-1B, B-2. Obviously different. All bombers. B-52 is indeed an amazing aircraft.
great freaking movie! I must have watched it 30 times back in the day.
While the first B-52 rolled out in 1952, first Air Force deliveries in 1954, all of those still in service were all built in 1961 and 1962. The last one delivered was in 1963, although it was manufactured in 1962. They are still in service because of very extreme maintenance.
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