Still in front line service as a major component of our strategic bomber forces, the Boeing B-52 was built before most of its crewmembers were even born. The first flight of the YB-52 prototype was April 15, 1952, and the production that followed reflected a continued development of the massive bomber. Boeing's B-52 Stratofortress became the core of the modern Strategic Air Command. While the aircraft changed little visually, many significant modifications and improvements were made in the design: greater power, redesigned flight controls, improved avionics and countermeasures, not to mention airframe life extension programs.
