- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Posted on 2/16/18 at 3:23 pm to rmnldr
quote:
I talked to a B-52 pilot at the air show in NO last year from Barksdale and I think he said almost all or all the current B-52s flying are 1970s and later airframes. Still pretty old but it’s a lot better than 50s/60s lol.
How can this be true if the last airframe for that aircraft rolled off of the factory assembly line in 1962 ?
Posted on 2/16/18 at 3:27 pm to OchoDedos
I had a friend who did maintenance on them, (Carswell Ft. Worth) quite a few years bac. He said they liked to use RTV silicone caulk to set their repairs. He would laugh and say almost the entire wing of many B52s were silicone caulk with the skin over the stuff.
The pilot seats were leather, usually covered in wool and usually older than the pilots who flew the bombers.
He also said they could fly pretty nearly all the way to the other side of the globe, bomb third world enemies like crazy and then fly back. If our air defenses were in place it was just another day at the office for those who flew them.
In our days in Ft. Worth, we would drive over to Carswell and park on the road that borders the west runway. Would sit and let our two sons watch the B-52s take off. Along side the runways were the bunkers I always assumed were where the nukes were stored. Went out there on a public day and got to walk into one of the B-52s. Was awesome. Not so funny, they had nice warning signs 50 yards or so from the bunkers, saying the guards were to shoot you first and then worry about who you were, so you should, Stay the Hell on your side of this line. My wording, not theirs, but said the same thing.
The pilot seats were leather, usually covered in wool and usually older than the pilots who flew the bombers.
He also said they could fly pretty nearly all the way to the other side of the globe, bomb third world enemies like crazy and then fly back. If our air defenses were in place it was just another day at the office for those who flew them.
In our days in Ft. Worth, we would drive over to Carswell and park on the road that borders the west runway. Would sit and let our two sons watch the B-52s take off. Along side the runways were the bunkers I always assumed were where the nukes were stored. Went out there on a public day and got to walk into one of the B-52s. Was awesome. Not so funny, they had nice warning signs 50 yards or so from the bunkers, saying the guards were to shoot you first and then worry about who you were, so you should, Stay the Hell on your side of this line. My wording, not theirs, but said the same thing.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 3:36 pm to Emteein
The air-frame was over-engineered and built like a tank. It was designed with the cold war in mind and having to fight the USSR. There would be no point (cost wise) in scrapping them just to design a more modern bomber to do the same thing because they have so much life left in the existing frames. They have been upgraded in many ways but they still use the original TF33 engines. The airforce is just now planning to re-engine them as the current engines will be almost impossible to maintain post 2030.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 3:37 pm to MikeBRLA
Clip in rotary launcher for 8 Air Launched Cruise Missiles (ALCM)
Posted on 2/16/18 at 4:13 pm to choppadocta
They're about to put new engines in them.
LINK
LINK
quote:
“The B-52 Re-engine program will replace current B-52 engines with new, commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) engines for the entire 76-aircraft fleet,”
Posted on 2/16/18 at 4:29 pm to Emteein
quote:
B-52 Stratofortress, how is it still in service?
No one has built anything that is better/more cost effective.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 5:16 pm to MeridianDog
quote:
Not so funny, they had nice warning signs 50 yards or so from the bunkers, saying the guards were to shoot you first and then worry about who you were, so you should, Stay the Hell on your side of this line. My wording, not theirs, but said the same thing.
IF you got past the buried vibration/motion sensors and minefields before they got a chance to pull the trigger...yes...hypothetically speaking of course
Posted on 2/16/18 at 5:19 pm to Emteein
Badass fricking maintainers, that's how
Posted on 2/16/18 at 5:20 pm to creolechef
quote:
The air-frame was over-engineered
Too bad the brakes weren't
Posted on 2/16/18 at 5:21 pm to 9001
quote:
Replacement parts out the arse.
This is subject for discussion, based on the part...
But, we are 3D printing molded pieces now, so that will ease the issues
Posted on 2/16/18 at 5:47 pm to Emteein
quote:
Air Force baws, What makes the B-52 still viable as a military air craft? surely, we have better technology, materials, or designs by now, right?
No. We'd use them if we had them. If you need to drop a lot of boom on someone's head and you've already sent in the stealth shite and the air superiority fighters to clear the path, there's nothing like a flying dump truck to bring some pain.
quote:
I'm really blown away by this fact: The B-52 has been in service since 1955, 63 years. that is a longer period of time than from the first powered flight(1903) to the introduction of the B-52 to service, 52 years.
The B-52 will be in service for about 100 years before it retires. The Air Force has no plans to replace it in its role in the near future. For what its job is in an air campaign, you can't get much more effective or as cheap as the existing B-52 fleet.
This post was edited on 2/16/18 at 5:59 pm
Posted on 2/16/18 at 6:11 pm to Emteein
My deceased father was a B-52 pilot during the Korean and Vietnam era who absolutely adored these bombers. During the Cold War, USA had constant flights near these areas to act as a deterrent to USSR aggression. His biggest complaints were sitting on the tarmac for hours waiting for orders in a 100 degree cockpit, taking the 24 hour flight (refueling mid-air) and ordered to return without dropping payload for political reasons. When he got back to base, he was given sleeping drugs (Ambien) so he would sleep for 12 hours before repeating this process.
He referred to his beloved B-52 as a BUFF, which means "big ugly fat fricker". B52's are constantly updated with modern technology. Air Force One is probably the most defensible plane in the world and is built on a 1950's platform.
Barksdale AFB in Shreveport is one of the biggest home bases for B-52's in the world.
He referred to his beloved B-52 as a BUFF, which means "big ugly fat fricker". B52's are constantly updated with modern technology. Air Force One is probably the most defensible plane in the world and is built on a 1950's platform.
Barksdale AFB in Shreveport is one of the biggest home bases for B-52's in the world.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 6:16 pm to choppadocta
The CSRL also can carry 8 conventional missles as well. Most (if not all) of the airframes still flying are 60-61 models.
There is a third generation B-52 pilot that was flying them, and are programmed to put last the Bone and the B-2. Contingent on getting the B-21 on time...and we all know how the government procurement process goes....
There is a third generation B-52 pilot that was flying them, and are programmed to put last the Bone and the B-2. Contingent on getting the B-21 on time...and we all know how the government procurement process goes....
Posted on 2/16/18 at 6:37 pm to Tbobby
My dad worked on radars that told b52s when to drop and where to go in that era. He and your dad probably interacted at some point
Posted on 2/16/18 at 7:22 pm to Emteein
I’m not an expert in military aviation, but B-52s bad mofos. They make things go boom boom from way up high. But nothing is as badass as the A-10 Warthog. Flys in low and delivers a fury of bullets so fast it sounds like God’s fart.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 7:44 pm to Emteein
The BUFF is an amazing airframe and can haul a shite ton of payload pretty much anywhere in the world.
It has the ability to drop a GMU down a vent hole from Flt350 and do so it often.
Cheap to maintain and fairly easy to fly it is here to stay.
It has the ability to drop a GMU down a vent hole from Flt350 and do so it often.
Cheap to maintain and fairly easy to fly it is here to stay.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 8:19 pm to ksayetiger
quote:
Because they are based out of barksdale and shreveport/bossier >>>> almost every other city.
But seriously, it still does the job it needs to do. Simple yet effective
Growing up in Bossier, it's like second nature to have them flying low and loud.
That was a big shock to me when I left for college and now living in BR. When I go back to visit family, it really is impressive.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News