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Started By
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B-52 Stratofortress, how is it still in service?
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:08 pm
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:08 pm
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?
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.
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.
34
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:10 pm to Emteein
Simple plane. Relatively cheap to maintain. They have done some upgrades to it over the years but still very relevant as heavy bomber
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:10 pm to Emteein
They will still be in service until 2045-2050, then will be replaced by the B-21
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:11 pm to Emteein
quote:
A total of 102 B-52Hs were built. The last production aircraft, B-52H AF Serial No. 61-0040, left the factory on 26 October 1962.[231] XR-16A
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:12 pm to Emteein
quote:
B-52 Stratofortress, how is it still in service?
It can fly long distances and carry/drop a lot of shite.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:14 pm to Emteein
Good design, versatile, large payload, etc
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:15 pm to LSUBoo
Don't need anything fancy to carpet bomb the frick out of something.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:15 pm to Emteein
They’re not the same airframes as the ones back then. It’s a well-designed aircraft that is good at dropping payloads on relatively undefended areas. Just like the C-130, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
We do have other bombers in the arsenal already like the B-1 and B-2 which will have their roles taken over by the new B-21.
We do have other bombers in the arsenal already like the B-1 and B-2 which will have their roles taken over by the new B-21.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:18 pm to Emteein
While the airframe may be 1960s, engines, systems, avionics have been upgraded continuously. Everything besides the frame is modern
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:22 pm to Emteein
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
But seriously, it still does the job it needs to do. Simple yet effective
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:22 pm to Boston911
quote:
Everything besides the frame is modern
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.
This post was edited on 2/16/18 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:23 pm to Emteein
It fits a certain niche perfectly.
It's really still the cutting edge of design as far as big, reliable, heavy bombers with long range goes.
Need a bomber that can fly long distance while going undetected to drop bombs on a precise target? We have that too B-2.
Need an aircraft that can hit precise targets that aren't exactly that far away? F-15 strike eagle.
Need a flying tank remover? A-10 Thunderbolt 2.
In short it would cost a crap ton of money to design a new platform that can do what the B-52 already does and it wouldn't be much of an improvement.
It's really still the cutting edge of design as far as big, reliable, heavy bombers with long range goes.
Need a bomber that can fly long distance while going undetected to drop bombs on a precise target? We have that too B-2.
Need an aircraft that can hit precise targets that aren't exactly that far away? F-15 strike eagle.
Need a flying tank remover? A-10 Thunderbolt 2.
In short it would cost a crap ton of money to design a new platform that can do what the B-52 already does and it wouldn't be much of an improvement.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:32 pm to Emteein
It is designed to carry lots of bombs to drop in uncontested airspace. They aren't flying those things through heavy antiair defenses. Or really any antiair defense at all.
But it's great for just plastering a wide area of bad guys hidden in caves in the open desert.
But it's great for just plastering a wide area of bad guys hidden in caves in the open desert.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:33 pm to Emteein
It can carry a few things.....
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:38 pm to Emteein
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 main heavy bomber (TU-95 bear bomber) for the Russians is prop driven so I think we are ok.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:43 pm to Emteein
Because 60,000 pounds of bombs.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:48 pm to Emteein
the main mission of Tinker AFB, OK City, is depot overhaul/repair of B-52's and B-1's
basically after so many number of cycles theyre rebuilt
basically after so many number of cycles theyre rebuilt
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:53 pm to Emteein
Good enough for nondefended environments. Otherwise it's a big fat target. The relatively unsophisticated (by modern standards) air defense network above North Vietnam was already too dangerous for the B52 by the early seventies.
Posted on 2/16/18 at 2:56 pm to Emteein
...and this bad boy, too.
>
I've made several trans-Atlantic flights on one of these. Most comfortable ride ever when you're aft swinging in a hammock.
> I've made several trans-Atlantic flights on one of these. Most comfortable ride ever when you're aft swinging in a hammock.
This post was edited on 2/16/18 at 2:58 pm
Posted on 2/16/18 at 3:04 pm to Notro
What is the round thing in the middle in front of the B-52?
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