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After 60 Years, B-52s Still Dominate U.S. Fleet
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:18 pm
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:18 pm
B-52 bombers expected to fly till 2040
quote:
The B-52 is an Air Force plane that refuses to die. Originally slated for retirement generations ago, it continues to be deployed in conflict after conflict. It dropped the first hydrogen bomb in the Bikini Islands in 1956, and it laser-guided bombs in Afghanistan in 2006. It has outlived its replacement. And its replacement’s replacement. And its replacement’s replacement’s replacement.
Air Force commanders are now urging the Pentagon to deploy B-52s in Syria.
“We’re ready, we’re hungry, we’re eager to be in the fight,” said Col. Kristin Goodwin, who commands the Second Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, where about half of the bombers are based.
Now in its 60th year of active service, the bomber is slow, primitive and weighed down by an infamy lingering from the carpet bombing of Vietnam in the 1960s. But 76 B-52s still make up the bulk of the United States’ long-range bomber fleet, and they are not retiring anytime soon. The next potential replacement — the Long Range Strike Bomber, which has yet to be designed — is decades away, so the B-52 is expected to keep flying until at least 2040. By then, taking one into combat will be the equivalent of flying a World War I biplane during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
The unexpectedly long career is due in part to a rugged design that has allowed the B-52 to go nearly anywhere and drop nearly anything the Pentagon desires, including both atomic bombs and leaflets. But it is also due to the decidedly underwhelming jets put forth to take its place. The $283 million B-1B Lancer first rolled off the assembly line in 1988 with a state-of-the-art radar-jamming system that jammed its own radar. The $2 billion B-2 Spirit, introduced a decade later, had stealth technology so delicate that it could not go into the rain
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:24 pm to Street Hawk
Great example of KISS (keep it simple, stupid). Not that the B-52 is a simple plane, but in comparison to the B-1B and the B-2, it's a Commadore 64 vs IBM Supercomputer
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:26 pm to Street Hawk
I find nothing cooler than to be driving down I-20 through Shreveport and seeing one of those big dudes fly over...
I hope one day, before I am too old to attend, we have a B-52 flyover at tiger stadium...
I hope one day, before I am too old to attend, we have a B-52 flyover at tiger stadium...
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:35 pm to Street Hawk
quote:
By then, taking one into combat will be the equivalent of flying a World War I biplane during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:42 pm to Spankum
quote:
I find nothing cooler than to be driving down I-20 through Shreveport and seeing one of those big dudes fly over...
Yeah well when you live here, it's an annoyance.
Eta: not saying it's a bad thing to have those on our side.
This post was edited on 12/6/15 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:46 pm to Street Hawk
If it aint broke don't fix it.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 1:56 pm to Street Hawk
I was expecting to read about "love shack" with arseinclarse leading the charge
Posted on 12/6/15 at 2:18 pm to Street Hawk
That was not a very friendly article for the B-52. Made it sound like we're some old junker car that no one has been able to get rid of. The fact is we have the best Mission Capable rate of all the bombers and is even better than most fighters as well. I'm really curious to know what caused the "computer" to crash since that is a rarity. Also, the rain intrusion into the cockpit is nothing new and is not symbolic of age. They also failed to mention the fact that we are getting upgrades to modernize the aircraft so while the airframe is old, we have advanced capability that removes the comparisons of flying a WWI biplane in OIF during 2003.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 2:36 pm to TigerFanInSouthland
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/13/21 at 8:44 am
Posted on 12/6/15 at 2:39 pm to Street Hawk
quote:Bad arse. I would wear that shite on my hat, shirt, stickers on my car, and email sig.
Second Bomb Wing
Posted on 12/6/15 at 3:49 pm to yankeeundercover
Sometimes, the delivery of a shite-ton of iron bombs delivers a clearer diplomatic message than a surgical strike with a smart weapon.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 3:58 pm to FlyingTiger06
Jalopnik did a cool write up a few months ago talking about the upgrades on the B-52. I always loved seeing these things fly over.
Jalopnik Article
Jalopnik Article
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:03 pm to SaltyMcKracker
quote:
Jalopnik did a cool write up a few months ago talking about the upgrades on the B-52.
Yeah, I read that one too.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:04 pm to Street Hawk
I grew up very close to Barksdale and took swimming lessons on that base. I still know a B-52 when I hear it flying overhead. It has a very distinct sound.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:23 pm to Spankum
quote:
I hope one day, before I am too old to attend, we have a B-52 flyover at tiger stadium...
Amazed that this hasn't happened.
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:32 pm to Street Hawk
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:42 pm to Ponchy Tiger
quote:
Amazed that this hasn't happened.
I know that exact timing is a priority with a flyover and all I can figure is that they aren't maneuverable enough to hit the timing...
Posted on 12/6/15 at 4:53 pm to Street Hawk
quote:
Street Hawk
Guess you didn't get the memo from the bright minds at the USAF: the F-35 will replace the B-52. It's going to replace everything. It's the best ever.
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