![]() Date: 2024-08-16 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00018856 | |||||||||
Engineering and Technology | |||||||||
Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess | |||||||||
B-52 Stratofortress Take Off U.S. Air Force 5,562,860 views • Jan 11, 2020 MOTORIZADO B-52 Stratofortress take off from RAF Fairford, England, B-52 are from Barksdale Air Force Base, US Air Force. (2nd Bomb Wing/U.S. Air Force) B-52 Stratofortress Take Off U.S. Air Force 3,294,492 views•Apr 8, 2020 MOTORIZADO B-52 Stratofortress taxi and take off, air crew race to launch multiple B-52 Stratofortress at Barksdale Air Force Base, US Air Force, Louisiana, United States. (2nd Bomb Wing, U.S. Air Force, Motorizado) Category People & Blogs B-52 Stratofortress Documentary US Air Force 1,035,474 views•Mar 18, 2019 WAR - HISTORY - DOCUMENTARIES The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons,[5] and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.[6] Beginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36. A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only conventional munitions in combat. The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fucker/Fella).[7][8][9][Note 1] The B-52 has been in active service with the USAF since 1955. As of June 2019, 58 are in active service, 18 in reserves, and approximately 12 more aircraft in long term storage.[11][12] The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command (ACC); in 2010, all B-52 Stratofortresses were transferred from the ACC to the newly created Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept the B-52 in service despite the advent of later, more advanced aircraft, including the Mach 2+ B-58 Hustler, the canceled Mach 3 B-70 Valkyrie, the variable-geometry B-1 Lancer, and the stealth B-2 Spirit. The B-52 completed sixty years of continuous service with its original operator in 2015. After being upgraded between 2013 and 2015, it is expected to serve into the 2050s. Category Film & Animation |