Here is a rendition of what the B-52 might look like with the Rolls Royce engines.
B-52 bombers fly missions in Syria
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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An amazing aircraft that has had an amazing career in service.
Back in the day, they were designed for high altitude missions.
They were later equipped with contour mapping radar and were intended for very low level runs.
Today, they are mainly intended for standoff runs.
Interesting how their use and intended missions have changed over the years to accommodate both improved ground defenses and to avoid the structural toll the low level mission profile imposed upon them.
After all these years, she's still alive and operating, long after many later aircraft have been retired.
Her escort, the KC-135 tanker, the military version of the B707, also remains in service.
Maybe Boeing back in the fifties really did know what they were doing?
Back in the day, they were designed for high altitude missions.
They were later equipped with contour mapping radar and were intended for very low level runs.
Today, they are mainly intended for standoff runs.
Interesting how their use and intended missions have changed over the years to accommodate both improved ground defenses and to avoid the structural toll the low level mission profile imposed upon them.
After all these years, she's still alive and operating, long after many later aircraft have been retired.
Her escort, the KC-135 tanker, the military version of the B707, also remains in service.
Maybe Boeing back in the fifties really did know what they were doing?
MolaKule
Staff member
I have had the privilege of being up inside them and working on various systems at McConnell AFB when I worked at Boeing Wichita.
One amazing military aircraft.
One amazing military aircraft.
MolaKule
Staff member
I imagine those A-10 pilots were up close and personal with those ISIS fighters.
650 engines for $2.6 Billion. Even with inevitable cost over runs that is probably less the cost for one or 2 new aircraft.
Seems like a good deal to me.
Good airframe, continuous upgrade to avionics.
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Image what the B-52 would be if the Air Force were to begin building them once again using modern materials, improved electronics, and the engineering and materials know how that has been learned over the last 60 years or so. I believe it would be a world class bomber that would in class all by itself. BUFF has proven itself time and time again.
So here’s a question. What was wrong with the B1 bomber such that it did not become a legacy aircraft like the B-52? Here is something confirming it is on the way out.
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4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Return of the WartHog !
Better fuel specs - better range, fuel consumption, and payload. Better maintenance parts availability.
Lower cost of operation overall along with increased performance.
Edit- this is the second time the bomber will get new engines. The first upgrade was in the early 1960s, when J-57s were upgraded with TF-33s.
The engines on the bomber are from the very early 1960s. Engines have gotten dramatically better since then.
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I went to B-52 Tech School at Chanute Air Force Base Rantoul Illinois
in 1968... I'll never forget the first day of training when the
instructor said "thank your lucky stars you're on a Buff because
nothing will ever shoot it down once it reaches cruise attitude" I
would argue to the contrary before the start of each class day...
This battle between us continued on for 3 months...
1972 during the Vietnam War the U.S. acknowledged the loss of 16 B-52
in 1968... I'll never forget the first day of training when the
instructor said "thank your lucky stars you're on a Buff because
nothing will ever shoot it down once it reaches cruise attitude" I
would argue to the contrary before the start of each class day...
This battle between us continued on for 3 months...
1972 during the Vietnam War the U.S. acknowledged the loss of 16 B-52
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Hard to outmaneuver a SAM with a bomber. Hard to outmaneuver anything at high altitude. ECM on the other hand…
Wow it's like we're back in 2014 again.
Wasn't there a U-2 shot down in like 1960?
At Barksdale AFB, when I was in Air Force jrotc, we got to climb in one. Amazing the lack of space for the crew. Very tight quarters.
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