The B-52 bomber turns 60

CNET ^ | April 25 , 2015 | CNET

[LeoWindhorse]

It was at the vanguard of aviation technology in the 1950s, and it's still going strong today: meet the B-52 Stratofortress.The B-52 heavy bomber continues to show that old doesn't have to mean outdated, even in an era of rapid technological change. Just the opposite: through good maintenance and occasional updates, vintage tech can hold its own against flashier but more expensive, and more finicky, next-generation (and next-next-next-generation, even) designs.

The very first flight of a Boeing B-52 took place 60 years ago this weekend.

[Mad Dawgg]

Many years back I got to witness the start up sequence and then the take off of a buff at fairly close range.

The words "Very Loud" are woefully inadequate to describe what I heard.

It was like there was something attacking my ears and I could do nothing to fend it off.

[ExSES]

The B-52 is remembered by Vietnam Veterans as “A thing that goes bump in the night.”

BUFF (figure out the acronym for yourself...)

[NetAddicted]

My dad flew one.

[aviator]

BUFFs almost killed me twice in Cambodia when I found myself flying thru an Arc Light strike that was NOT announced on Guard.

[zot]

A couple generations of B-52 aircrews are drawing Social Security.