A very Big Bang for the tax buck!
Gotta hand it to Boeing. They really do know how to build quality into their aircraft.
“B-52H Stratofortress nuclear bombers”
Did not know these airplanes were nuclear powered.../s/
B-52 ping.
So who's stopping them?
Right. An airshow with our a B52 walk around and the noisy filthy take off isn’t the same.
It's been like pulling teeth to keep the A-10s on the line!
New engines and new electronics....................
My Great-grandfather was born in 1868 when you could get scalped on the plains. The Santa Fe Trail was closed due to Indian raids, Custer was fighting Indians in Oklahoma, the first cattle drives were starting toward Kansas, bison covered the plains, the transcontinental Railroad was still being built, Billy the Kid was still just a kid.
He lived long enough to see the first B-52A bomber go into service.
I worked on the B-52 bombers in the USAF, and later the KC-135.
Old Dog!
(Dale Browns, Flight of the Old Dog)
Several novels of the modernized B52 essentially turning it into an aerial battleship.
I was in formation at a change of command at VAFB when a B-52 overflew the ceremony low and slow. Just about everyone in formation looked up to see it. Many hats ended up on the ground. I’m not sure the commanding general appreciated the break in formation to retrieve hats. But, it was humorous.
The H were the first B52’s to have fan engines, I was Boomop on KC-135 with the J-57 water injection engines, had many long runway take offs at heavy weight, pucker time.
I was in the USAF from 1970 - 1974. The BUFF has an honored place in my heart.
I was excited about the B-52 when I signed up for the Defensive Fire Control position in 1971.
They decided to send me to Nuke Weapons school instead....thank heavens!
Meant staying state-side during Nam......
No more flying oil slick? I’ll believe it when I see it.
In the early ‘70’s I used to drive past March AFB outside of
Riverside, CA with some regularity when a squadron on B52’s was there. It was a highway then and not a freeway and almost everyone would pull to the side of the road when one of them was taking off. An awesome sight and sound of freedom!!
So the BUFFs are moving away from coal power. About time!
Go here to the bottom, and read the "way forward" recommendations.
http://www.airpowerstrategy.com/2016/11/22/old-dog-new-engines/
Yes 8 engines and fitting in the existing nacelle would be sweet, I'd have to research what fits that is approx the same thrust w/ a much lower TSFC.
Their recommendation that the TF-33's need to be purged from all aircraft and retired, that is a much bigger issue clearing out those spare parts and logistics.
IMHO upgrading the B-1 w/ F-119 engines was the proposal that should have been done, maybe even before this one as it might get the B-1 to supercruise/supersonic again. Their were some B-1 drivers here back in the day they floated that idea, and they seemed very happy....
what ever it takes to keep the Old Dog in the air...