ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
Interesting article on the plans for the USAF bomber force:
"The new B-52: How the Air Force is prepping to fly century-old bombers"
"The new B-52: How the Air Force is prepping to fly century-old bombers"
B-52 to be in service for over 100 years
- Thread starter ThomasP
- Start date
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
- Thread starter
- #5
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
I wonder how old the oldest F-4 Phantom airframes still flying are?
I realize this site is the home ground of parsers and nit pickers, but take into account that the B-52s have had at least five major overhauls, affecting all structure and systems.
It's like George Washington's hatchet ... the handle's been replaced 11 times, and the head 3, but it's still the same hatchet.
I find it remarkable that ANY design is still in use after a century, military or otherwise, and shouldn't be diminished by any "My argument's bigger than your argument" quibbling.
It's like George Washington's hatchet ... the handle's been replaced 11 times, and the head 3, but it's still the same hatchet.
I find it remarkable that ANY design is still in use after a century, military or otherwise, and shouldn't be diminished by any "My argument's bigger than your argument" quibbling.
MIflyer
Captain
Back around 1976 at Tinker AFB I was examining a Boeing drawing of a B-52 part to see if it contained the data required for use to procure some examples for spare parts. Then I stood up and announced to my mostly much older colleagues that I was unqualified to proceed with the task. The date on the drawing was before I was born.
Throughout its service life, the B-52 fleet went through countless updates and mods, and replacement parts had to be matched not just to the model (ala B-52A, B, C, etc.) but the production block # and often the a/c serial #. Even then, techs had to compare parts as record keeping often lagged in those pre-computer days.
My father was a SAC base supply officer for the Wing at Barksdale, and it drove him nuts. He did a good job, and the only way he escaped LeMay's clutches was to get accepted to Command and Staff School.
Shortly after that around '60/61, as a newly minted pilot willing and eager to fly anything that someone would let me and pay for the AvGas, I was on call to fly for Slick Quick Trans out of San Antonio. They contracted to SAC to deliver mission critical parts for their B-52s and KC-135s. We flew fast Aero Commanders, Cessna 310s, P-51s, a P-38, and even two Mosquitos.
The overhaul depot (for J-57s and other B-52 systems) was at Lackland/Kelley maintenance complex, and they'd build components to spec within hours to meet the urgent needs, and we'd deliver. Otherwise, we'd fly to say Dyess, pick up a part, and deliver to Minot in a matter of hours.
A great way to build flight time. Tom Slick was offered some surplus T-33s, but found the WWII recips cheaper to operate, with better range, and overall, faster point to point. (115/145 was $.30/gal)
Alternator/generator/charging systems were especially diverse, far from standardized, and hard to stock at a base level.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
COOL!
Thumpalumpacus
Lieutenant Colonel
The H-model BUFFs at Carswell were older that I was.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The B-52 and I entered service the same year. I hope I make it to the B-52's retirement.
MIflyer
Captain
Just about the first thing I did in the USAF was to go through a list of recent mods to the B-52 and check to see if the technical orders had been updated. Just that list equated to about $100K per aircraft.
The old girl continues to be updated:
www.twz.com
This Is What The B-52's New Radar Looks Like
The B-52's new AN/APQ-188 active electronically scanned array radar is critical to the bomber's future relevance.
www.twz.com
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Amazing airplane.
Admiral Beez
Major
Alan Stevens
Airman 1st Class
- 180
- May 24, 2023
Well, the B-52H. The earlier ~90% of the fleet has long since been retired.
- Thread starter
- #17
ThomasP
Chief Master Sergeant
re
Greece and Turkey are still flying a few.
I so love the look of that aircraft. They don't make them like they used to.
Admiral Beez
Major
I believe Greece and Turkey retired theirs this year. But I'm not sure.
Had Canada replaced its CF-100s and Canadair Sabres with Phantoms instead of Voodoos, Starfighters and Freedom Fighters, I expect we'd never have got the CF-18 Hornets, and instead operated the Phantom well into the 2000s until they were replaced by the likes of the Super Hornet, Typhoon or even Lightning.
MIflyer
Captain
I sat down to look at a B-52 component drawing around 1975 and then told the boss that I was not qualified to examine it. It was dated before I was born.
Nowadays B-52 aircrew who were born after the actual construction date of their bomber are the norm.
Nowadays B-52 aircrew who were born after the actual construction date of their bomber are the norm.
