Why the B-52 is outliving newer bombers

[@dillboi]

People flying the 1st b52: "wow I wonder what bombers they will have in 2050" 2050: grandkid flying the same airframe.

[@Del_S]

The last B-52 pilot may never be born. Cos we might have perfected vat grown clones before then.

[@imperator9343]

Great great* grandkid

[@mrrolandlawrence]

there are a few intergeneration grandad / dad / son BUFF pilots out there.

[@mtms42000]

B1B, B2 and B21...

[@allangibson8494]

@@mrrolandlawrenceand daughters…

[@BHuang92]

It never gets old hearing stories of B-52 pilots who are grandkids of the first pilots that first flew them!

[@demolitiondaz22]

why?

[@Psychli]

@@demolitiondaz22 Not every airframe gets a multi-generational service history.

[@soonerlon]

I worked at the USAF depot where the B-52, B-1, E-3 and KC-135 were overhauled. The secret to aircraft like the B-52 and KC-135 having such longevity was the construction method. These aircraft were designed with slide rules plus 20 percent for structure components. Boeing also built the aircraft off a very thick ship-like lower keel. The B-52 and KC-135 will still be flying when the B-1, B-2 and KC-46 are parked at Davis-Monthan Air Force base. Back in the day Boeing really knew how to build very high quality aircraft.

[@APZachariah]

@@soonerlon "back in the day." That is so laser-accurate and it breaks my heart.

[@timothyzetzsche3517]

@@soonerlon before the McDonnell Douglas merger.

[@tfp0052]

@soonerlon It's a shame that you felt the need to add that final sentence. Without a doubt, Boeing has lost their way! Boeing needs engineers in their management positions. The bean counters just aren't getting the job done. They took down McDonnel-Douglas, and now they're taking down Boeing!

[@Tom_Losh]

As a past USAF tech who worked on several different aircraft, including the B-52F, one of the features that let the B-52 outlast its "replacements" is that it is actually maintainable. One can get to the various parts to repair/replace instead of having to dismantle half the cockpit to replace one small part.

[@allangibson8494]

And maintained with parts from Davis Monthan…

[@jonmcgee6987]

You just have to love Grandpa Buff. Eventually the upgrades will include warp nacelles and photon torpedoes.

[@xgford94]

Team HLC🎉

[@adrianbruce2963]

I've seen several mockups of Buffs with warp nacelles - they look very plausible!

[@andrewpulda7969]

Buff / Franklin '24

[@theretromillennial]

Buff is forever

[@bamacopeland4372]

Where there is a video about Grandpa Buff, or the Kid, HLC fans will be there.

[@Rhubba]

Very fitting this video is being published in the week of James Earl Jones' death as his first film role was as a B-52 bombardier in Dr Strangelove. And considering the production team were denied information about what a B-52 cockpit looked like, they built an uncannily accurate set.

[@acoustic5738]

Ahh youre right!!❤

[@adamlee3772]

Very few people believe me when I tell them that Dr Strangeloves was James Earl Jones first film role.

[@CharlieMile]

I bet if I ever get the chance to get inside a B52 I’d want to wear a cowboy hat

[@31terikennedy]

And that's good?!

[@gerardoramoncesarreynaldo9469]

@@CharlieMile I know where you're coming from....lol!

[@michaelquillen2679]

Have an acquaintance who flew the B-52D for 25 years ('til his retirement). He is pushing 93 years of age today and while he has short term memory loss, his long-term memory is solid. The first time I met him, I asked him what it was like to fly the B-52. His reply? "Easy to drive, hard to park." We had a great conversation after that...from Operation Chrome Dome to Linebacker II in 'nam. A true hero to the Strategic Air Command's history.

[@raylopez99]

Old timers like that is why we need an oral history program. The stories they can tell are priceless and not found in textbooks.

[@craigcampbell8560]

Sounds like his sense of humor is still fully intact. 😁

[@duster1968]

I was a Marine grunt in the Vietnam War and witnessed several B-52 airstrikes. We never saw the planes and had no idea they were even up there until we saw the huge explosions in the distance, followed by the sound of the bombs falling and the subsequent detonations. We were also witness to the strikes at night when it seemed the whole countryside was lit up by blinding lights of the explosions.

[@NVRAMboi]

Salutes, sir.

[@Poliss95]

Which also means the bomb aimers didn't have a clue about where their bombs were falling. Completely useless piece of junk proved by the fact that the US lost the war.

[@majorhicksusmc]

@@duster1968 I saw a similar B-52 strike up in the DMZ in July ‘67 on Operation Buffalo. It was a wall of explosions. From where I was located you could feel the ground vibrate from the explosions. In late November ‘67 we moved through an area that was east of Con Thien and south of the Trace where B-52s had made a strike. It was bomb crater after bomb crater. Just an incredible sight - nothing standing. Delta 1/3 Vietnam 66-67

[@extremiztic]

"whole countryside was lit up" is euphemism for killing thousands of innocent women and children in an illegal war. At the bare minimum, let's not celebrate the horrendous Vietnam invasion.

[@sebastiang7394]

Just imagine all this going down on civilian populations. And then they gave Kissenger the nobel prize for that, so disgusting. So many lives needlessly wasted.

[@thestanleys3657]

Don't fix what isn't broken...but you can upgrade it

[@MC-nb6jx]

Once it gets those new Rolls Royce engines👌🏻👌🏻

[@MC-nb6jx]

@@477BravoJuliet .. Don’t think anyone said they weren’t..

[@SCscoutguy]

@@MC-nb6jx they are really German designed BMW engines. RR just bought out their aerospace division and slapped their name on all of their products.

[@MC-nb6jx]

@@SCscoutguy .. Like BMW buying Rolls Royce cars and sticking there’s parts in them and still calling them Rolls Royce🤔 We’ve all seen the car rebuilders searching for parts😉 Or even Mini 🤣

[@adamski-l5w]

I saw 689 at Duxford in 1987 when it was still kept outside. Holy cow that was a long time ago. Thanks for the video particularly answering why it is still flying.

[@rael5469]

That was my aircraft just before it was retired to Duxford. We sent it from Carswell AFB near Fort Worth, Texas in 1983 I think. If I'm not mistaken it was flown by Colonel Jim Nerger who made an impressive short field landing there. We saw the video back at Carswell. Colonel Nerger was a battle tested Vietnam veteran. He was the most highly respected bomber pilot at Carswell. The B-52D models only had about 15,000 hours on them. I recently worked on a much younger Boeing 757 with over 100,000 hours....and still going strong.

[@adamski-l5w]

@@rael5469 Wow! That’s amazing. Cheers to you and thank you for replying.

[@sd3457]

@@rael5469 I can confirm the landing (on the second go, mind you) was very impressive. I was 12 years old and watching from Hunts Road as it went directly overhead 500m short of the runway.

[@rael5469]

@@sd3457 Nice.

[@adamski-l5w]

@@sd3457 awesome! Thanks for sharing 😀

[@54mgtf22]

Funny. I heard a different last word for the acronym BUFF 😂😂😂

[@stevenshea990]

"Big Ugly Fat Fella for its polite crews"🥸

[@darylmorning]

The other is when you're on the ground and the handlers are parking more than one.

[@almondwine]

Well they got it 3/4 right

[@OLDMANTEA]

It ain’t fat!

[@chadvarnell1889]

@@stevenshea990 Fresh out of those when I was in the USAF... 😂

[@danielficke131]

I currently work at the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in Ashland, Nebraska, Home of B-52 52-8711, the first B-52 delivered to the Air Force.

[@cjespers]

That is an outstanding museum. I live in Omaha. Visited many times.

[@FKHC2005]

which i have seen as kid....when it it was still outdoors (along with the Vickers Valiant too)

[@danielficke131]

@@FKHC2005 We have an Avro Vulcan on display at the museum, but as far as I know the Vickers Valiant was only deployed there at Offutt AFB

[@FKHC2005]

@@danielficke131 I meant Avro Vulcan

[@danielficke131]

@@FKHC2005 that would be XM573, she is currently undergoing full static restoration

[@jaycole3050]

I am a Vietnam Veteran stationed at U -Tapao Airfield, Thailand in 1968, as an aircraft mechanic on the B-52D model & KC-135A model. Proud to have done my small part in helping ground troops in South Vietnam.

[@stephenmonken1337]

Hydraulic mechanic in 1972. Hate changing hydraulic packs that would fail when turned on.

[@geoffreylee5199]

In the film Dr. Strangelove, they wanted to use one for filming, USAF said No. So using photos from magazines, the built an interior … the USAF wanted to know where they got the information from … books and magazines …

[@TommygunNG]

Yep. I’m an old military Intel man. 80% of intelligence gathered is open source - magazines, books, news broadcasts, word of mouth.

[@donaldaxel]

@@TommygunNG :: That is interesting. When I saw "Dr.Strangelove" for the third time I could see how difficult it was for the director to get the best relevant pictures of the flight of the bomber in the film, clearly fake, but the story worked - the visualization was telling a story, and that was an amazing story - the "fake plane" did not matter.

[@FlorentinoRebuildingCo.5644]

Now that would explain the corny B52 model flying across soviet terrain at a weird angle......very unrealistic scenes but EXCELENT and fun movie. RIP James Earl Jones.

[@cosmicsquid]

One of the best movies ever

[@paulwheeless1080]

The Imperial War Museum at Duxford is special. The living flying exhibits are unique. The construction of the American Air Museum is a fitting tribute our shared sacrifice. During my 4 year service at RAF Mildenhall, I lived in a tiny village just 20 miles from Duxford...LOVED when the Spitfires would fly over my garden during the summer airshow!

[@sjl-s7q]

Enjoyed a magical visit there in 1995, you could actually buy from the souvenir shop flight instruments scrapped from old fighters. Still looking forward to a return visit w my boys someday

[@andrewhrichardson]

B36. Peacemaker?

[@daryl9915]

I think I went to an air show in Duxford one weekend while I was at Anglia Ruskin uni about 20 years ago (just before they rebranded from APU). Wasn't massively interested in military stuff at the time, and don't have a super clear memory from back then, but I think I had family visiting who wanted to go see. It was a fun day out; more interesting than I expected being able to look around a few old planes

[@BionicRusty]

I love that they named it after such a great band. 😂

[@MemeLord004]

@@BionicRusty wym

[@onlythatonetime]

My dad had hoped for a B52 after graduating flight school, but got the KC-135 (and later, KC-10). After having a chance to take a right-seat flight in a 52, he was VERY happy with the assignment he had gotten. Sure, tankers aren't as sexy, but they're a hell of a lot more comfortable to fly :) Mad props to those BUFF drivers, for sure!

[@MaconMedia]

I love the Star Trek meme that shows a B-52 with warp nacelles next to the Enterprise-D of the Star Trek: The Next Generation: "Captain's Log, Stardate 43125.8. In preparation for the decommissioning ceremony for the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D, we have the exceptional honor of being escorted by one of the newly re-engined Federation ships...the B-52X"

[@3108frank1]

I was a flight line jet engine mechanic on the B52 G at Mather AFB from late 71-72. You cannot belive the level of noise when you have a ramp full of 52's and 135's with all engines running.

[@jumpanama]

July 4, 2276: in honor of the nation's 500-year anniversary, the B-52Ω performs a flyover of the capital of the US State of Mars.

[@jerromedrakejr9332]

Hardly... it will rather be: "August 19, 2276: in honor of the nation's 150000th gender discovery anniversary, the B-52LGBT performs a flyover of the capital of the US State of Wokeland welcoming Trans Flag Day..."!

[@260Torrent]

@@jerromedrakejr9332 Right wing brainrot

[@5heffPaul]

The B-52 is the aircraft equivalent of Trigger's broom. It's been flying for over 60 years but has had 4 new handles and 6 new heads! 😂

[@marks6663]

70 years

[@stuband4159]

Not really as the airframe is still the same, can't replace that.

[@iain075]

@@5heffPaul brilliant work Paul. *tips hat*

[@Ushio01]

Not really the fuselage and wings are the same as when they were built. The wings were modified in the 1960's and they are finally in the process of getting new engines for the first time as well an updated cockpit, radar, comms and navigation for the first time in the J model upgrade designation.

[@WildlifeOutlaw1066]

Hahaha great comment/ OFH reference

[@LotsOfRobotsINC]

My father got called up on xmas eve for Linebacker 2. It was going to be the first Christmas home since I was born. The crew he flew out with from Texas to Guam was shot down, his crew made it back in one piece. My Dad was also on Operation Chrome dome. He had 350 combat missions when he finally moved on to NSA.

[@roypiltdown5083]

very proud to have served as USAF ground crew on B52 in the mid 80s - so many stories, but my fave? me and dad brother sitting around drinking a few years ago - dad (ex-T37 pilot, one engine) griping about how loud the Tweet was, brother (ex-F15 engine specialist) tells him, "that's just one little engine, we had two big ones on the Eagle" - i looked over my glass at them & said, "you two are just adorable..."

[@delurkor]

Story that has many variations: B52 is cruising along and an F4 comes by to say hello. The F4 proceeds to do a loop over and around the B52. F4 pilot radios saying: Bet you can't do that. Buff comes on: Bet you can't do that. F4: What did you do? Buff: Shut off 2. 😁

[@TheGhostGuitars]

LOL, with EIGHT jet engines in close proximity, each capable of over 10k pounds of thrust, I can imagine the racket they'd cause. You'd need a squadron or two of fighter jets to match the noise …WITH the afterburners on! 😅😉😁

[@roypiltdown5083]

@@TheGhostGuitars the barracks was 2 miles from the flightline, and we'd still get shaken out of bed during engine runs.

[@gordonbergslien30]

The Tweet has two engines.

[@roypiltdown5083]

@@gordonbergslien30 as i said, we were drinking - i must have heard something incorrectly thru the alcohol clogging my ears - thanks for pointing that out

[@wonkothesane7510]

Hard to improve on a overbuilt bomb truck. The re-engine program is going to add decades to it's operational life.

[@tankerd1847]

That's exactly it. If they were to make a new one what would it be? A multi-engine, supersized jumbo jet that carries a ton of bombs and drops them out the belly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[@KityKatKiller]

Honestly I think that's the kinda the case for most heavy military tech nowadays. Just think how long virtually all countries have used the same tank hulls, compared to how quickly the turnover rate was in WW2. Those designs are simply mature. The B52 won't be replaced by anything. At some point drones and ai will probably make the job it does unnescessary, but until then it's a good design.

[@TrappedinSLC]

@@tankerd1847 If it ain't broke AND YOU KNOW HOW IT *WILL* BREAK. I think people underestimate the value of knowledge of how and when things will break or develop problems in military equipment. But if you're trying to make plans, knowing how likely a specific piece of equipment is to be reliable and able to do the designated job has a lot of value. As does being able to repair it with what you can scrounge up at least to patch it up well enough to get to somewhere for proper repairs, instead of having to have all kinds of stuff transported to more forward locations.

[@garyshuttleworth3459]

brilliant informative video, many thanks to all those people involved in making it

[@420BulletSponge]

"I'm gonna get them doors open if it hairlips everybody in Bear Creek."

[@xgford94]

😂

[@familyman3573]

*harelips

[@williamlloyd3769]

Once a year, B-52s were dispersed to our local USAF base in Ventura County, CA. No one ever failed to notice the noise and smoke when they took off to return to their home base.

[@miguelmederos8634]

My dad was a Radar Navigator aboard B-52s, and participated in Operation Desert Fox

[@WalterHartwellWhite-mk2vi]

@@miguelmederos8634 did he ever find out what the fox said?

[@miguelmederos8634]

@@WalterHartwellWhite-mk2vi certified dad joke

[@n6mz]

Mine was radar nav in the G model 1961-1968, including many Chrome Dome missions.

[@lyedavide]

The B-52 is the last of the great heavy bombers. A truly remarkable aircraft that its original designers would have never imagined would still be flying another 25 years from now.

[@markdavis2475]

Before the Air Force Museum was built, the B52 was kept outside. I remember standing under the wings, trying to stay dry during a very wet air show! Duxford is a great place to visit!

[@adamlee3772]

Last time I was at Duxford, the US part was closed so didn't get to see it. What is amazing though Hattie is seeing you climb in to the cockpit there and how "snug" it appears in such a large aircraft. A very well presented video and a great deal of knowledge is obviously in yours and your colleagues brains. How come you and you colleagues, especially my friend Graham, are not presenting docos like this on mainstream television?

[@razorsedge7100]

I saw one of these planes about 40 tears ago while fishing the Youghiogheny River in western Pa. Heard it long before I saw it. Awesome sight. Always wondered why it was flying over Pittsburgh area so low. We are talking under a 1000 ft.

[@beefeekeefee]

I had a job that had me on the road constantly in the Central Valley back in the '70s when Castle AFB was still in operation. Occasionally I would park at the north end of the base perimeter and watch new B52 pilots try to get lined up with the runway threshold that was still a couple miles away. You could tell which ones had the knack and which ones didn't. A lot initiated the go around just after passing over where I was parked. I never saw one close up until I visited the Air Force Academy. The fuselage was way smaller than I expected, but the wingspan...yeah pretty impressive.

[@codyjames52]

Grandapa buff will live forever

[@spud5400]

@@codyjames52 buff and Franklin 2024

[@WasatchGarandMan]

Does Joe Hendry believe in the B52

[@spud5400]

@@WasatchGarandMan wrong patter, take it elsewhere

[@codyjames52]

​@@WasatchGarandMan👏👏

[@Morrismini1]

@@spud5400 BUFF and Franklin 2024

[@kajani6181]

One of my WW2-era uncles started in the Army Air Corp in India servicing machine guns among other things. He ended his career in the late 60s at the K.I. Sawyer Air Base servicing nuclear weapons for BUFFs. Or as I phrase it, when Michigan's U.P. was a recognized nuclear power.

[@thedysfunctionalbiographer3314]

'By Dawn's Early Light' is a must see for a B-52 centred movie.

[@Daniel-S1]

Great film on DVD, hope to watch it on Blu-ray one day.

[@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or]

Completely agree. It also has one hell of a great cast. If you can, check out the book it was based on, William Prochnau's "Trinity's Child".

[@eloscuro704]

@@MarcMcKenzie-qb6or I remember watching it on VHS. Any movie with James Earl Jones is guaranteed to be great.

[@casinodelonge]

really decent film that, apart from the "love interest"

[@timmotel5804]

Good Day. Excellent documentary. Well Done. Thank You.

[@shed66215]

Saw it in '88 as an Air Cadet during our summer camp at RAE Bedford, jaw dropping to say the least. Concord was there too - know which one I'd rather have been able to fly in, leg room on Concord was terrible.

[@TheGhostGuitars]

"She may be faster, BUT I can stretch better on the Buff." 😁

[@mrsodolo]

I used to work on B-52’s when I was stationed at Barksdale AFB 06-12’ Maintenance Squadron.

[@cosmicsquid]

My son currently stationed at Barksdale, wife and I planning to see him for the holidays this year.

[@peterfmodel]

Very good documentary and a truly great aircraft. The war museum in Seoul has a B-52 on display and i found it impressive when i visited during the years i worked in North Asia.

[@davidvanwagoner9027]

Flew in the B-52 for five years as an EWO on B-52Gs out of Mather AFB, CA in the early 80s. She is very well informed. I’ll expand on the crew comforts. B-52G (I believe the H models, also) did not have a bunk. The toilet was a box with a hole and a plastic bag. You did your #2, and the bag was placed it in the wheel well. As for doing a #1, the aircraft had what is referred to as “torpedoes”. Cylinders with a flip lid. The only place on the aircraft you could stand straight up is on the ladder between decks. The AC was so bad in the B-52 that I literally had snow coming from the upper AC vent and at the same time so hot at my feet the shoe polish became soft. The navigator carried a thermometer and would often relay that the temperatures were either 110 degrees or at 40 degrees at his station. Needless to say it wasn’t always pleasant. But, I loved the mission and being a member of SAC.

[@DetroitMicroSound]

Excellent mini-doc! Your productions are top notch. Love this channel!

[@freekeefox]

It's crazy to think that these airplanes are not just older than most modern warships, they're a LOT older than most modern warships.

[@BeniBen]

amazing fact is the landing gears are steerable in line with the landing strip while in heavy crosswind

[@bobmorgan1575]

The first time I saw a pilot landing sideways all I could think of was the mess we were going to have to clean up from the crash.

[@larsw8601]

Whooo Hooo a real person narrating the video!

[@goweresque]

How weird is it that the B52 has now been operational for far longer than the time between its first flight and that of the Wright Brothers first powered flight? We went from Wright Flyer to B52 in about 50 years, the B52 has been around for about 70 years, and counting!

[@dennisboisvert3143]

I was a Cadet in Civil Air Patrol in the 60s Every year we'd have a two-week encampment/Air Force orientation encouraging us to join the US Air Force. As part of our activities, we got a tour of B-52 climbed up inside, and sat in the pilot and co-pilot seats. I had made it through the line to where I think I was the second person in line to sit in the pilot or copilot seat. As I was waiting for my turn an Air Force Master sergeant Was literally in a panic clawing his way through the cadets. I thought what was the issue the injection seats were armed and all the Cadet had to do was throw the wrong switch needless to say I didn't get to sit in the pilot seat. but I did get to fly a simulator. thanks to the good sergeant no Cadet was splattered against the hanger ceiling. My older brother was in the Air Force at the time stationed at Loring Air Force Base he worked on the Hound Dog missile, the precursor to the cruise missile on guidance system.

[@woodwaker1]

I remember both a B-52 and SR 71 landing outside my barracks window at Offutt AFB - Belluve NE. I worked nights almost the entire 3 years I was stationed there (1970-73) and when they landed you were no longer sleeping! Part of my job was to help maintain the classified coding equipment on Looking Glass a airborne command post that would take over in case the President and Joint Chiefs were out of commission due to a nuclear attack.

[@mikeerickson2412]

I am truly amazed by the B-52. Their air frame must be incredible to understand so many years of flying. I do understand that they’ve been rebuilt multiple times.

[@87yugo74]

Nice video, This was when things were built properly and always over engineered.

[@brentbarr498]

11:46 That flying time is attributed to the amazing capabilities of the KC-135 Stratotanker from which I'm familiar with on the most INTIMATE levels..lol! Having served on her for 16 of the 25 years of my Active Duty Air Force life I can tell you that the BUFF holds a special place in the 135 HEART!! We're essentially brothers... The plane I served on was built in 1957 and I'm proud to have kept her flying during my tour of service!

[@nickrct]

All the refurbishments, upgrades, repairs and overhauls...make it a real world 'Ship of Theseus' thought experiment

[@Osoyoos48]

Worked on the Ds and Gs gun system (DFCS) 72-79 at Loring, UT and Griffiss. One of the best times of my life.

[@Del_S]

As bombers shift more and more to being missile trucks, and the next generation of them focuses more and more on stealth, there will still be a place for something that can circle around for a long time, very much visible on radar, and carrying enough explosives aboard to make your military installations resemble the -average Glasgow road- moon it'll have so many -potholes- craters. Stealth does trade some capacity to get the right shapes and sizes for maximum sneak points (B-2 and probably B-21 have about 2/3rds the bomb bay capacity), and of course, you might also be wanting stealth cruise missiles to be even more ninja. And yet sometimes all you really need is a really big hammer. A really big hammer that might also be firing some stealth cruise missiles as well as raining down some other very unwelcome presents....

[@kellyobrien1387]

Because the B-52 is such a HUGE radar target, MY JOB in the USAF was keeping the ECM systems running. Without ECM, No B-52 would make it to the target. Yet our planes in the early 80s at Barksdale AFB won exercises often and we were the crown jewel of SAC. At that time they were the G models. TurboJet engines that needed water injection to get a fully loaded plane off the ground, leaving a huge back cloud of smoke behind. But ECM could wipe out a radar site, or show the plane as being somewhere it was not, or give many false targets to the enemy.

[@jonwalter6317]

Plus the B-52 is relatively very cheap to operate. I imagine even the B-21 will have a higher cost per hour of operation, especially after the B-52s get the new engines and all of those maintenance costs essentially disappear, and the fuel costs go way down (and less air refueling required). The BUFF can't go very far into contested airspace, but as a stand off platform and in areas with air superiority maintained, it's just a great truck.

[@sjm3430]

I was stationed at Grand Forks during the early 70's, and when the '52's took off you could feel the vibration of those huge engines, even from across the base.

[@cosmicsquid]

I was firefighter there in late 70's. Amazing winters but they didn't stop operations.

[@sailordude2094]

I saw one of these flying out of nowhere on a ship while I was in the Indian Ocean. It seemed pretty low altitude, perhaps giving us a friendly hello. It reminded me of seeing the Star Trek Enterprise by the F-104 pilot in an episode. I wondered how it stayed aloft, lol. I understand why its called the BUFF.

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

I really miss flying in these.

[@onenote6619]

Realistically, if the USAF wants a replacement, they need to drag out the original designs and - very lightly - update them. No changes without a damn good reason. Replacing the engines definitely counts as a damn good reason, by the way.

[@bobmorgan1575]

Cheaper to design a new one. All of the original tooling used to manufacture that model has long since been destroyed.

[@TheGhostGuitars]

Y'know when I was a kid a Hickam, I remember the first time I saw the B52s flying overhead, it wasn't until I saw the F15s flying escort that it dawned on me at how BIG those bombers were! Later when I saw them on the ground did they really impressed me on their enormous size. The ONLY time I ever saw a bigger plane was the C5 Galaxy!!!

[@kellyobrien1387]

Spent my time in the USAF working on the ECM systems on the B-52G models. Turbojet Engines, unlike the much more powerful present day TurboFan Engines on the H models. With 8 Buffs and 8 Tankers all doing MITO (Minimum Interval Take Off), you were rudely awakened on the base and for a couple of miles away from it! The BUFF has the main wings already in a steep angle to get it off the ground... when it comes back empty it generates so much lift it flies "Nose Down" and often the front wheels would touch down first! Also, all four wheel pods can turn, so the plane can take off in high broadside winds, but seeing it going down the taxiway "crabbing", going crooked but straight down the taxiway was just Bizarre!

[@bobmorgan1575]

Hello from Iowa. I spent four years between Minot AFB and Andersen AFB servicing the EW systems on both G and H models. We did a full wing MITO at Andersen once, only we launched four KC-10's with the bomb wing instead of the 135's. I got forced cross-trained from 328x3 to 457x3C and reassigned to McConnell AFB in Kansas when I got rotated back to the CONUS.

[@LafayetteSystems]

Excellent presentation!

[@linhdtu]

my neighbor who has since passed away, was a BUFF driver during the Cold War and the VN war. he told me his route covered northern canada to Alaska and back. he was a good friend. very touchingly he lived with his friend's VN war widow. the friend was F100 Super Saber pilot and when he died in VN, he took care of the widow. they had a platonic relationship. she took care of him and he took care of her

[@Rasscasse]

Very interesting video IWM Thanks Really enjoyed my visit to Duxford a few years ago. Probably time for a re visit I think.

[@francismcgovern5042]

tough to keep my attention for ten plus minutes...good video! Very informative!

[@victoriaburkhardt9974]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@stephenmonken1337]

I worked on G's and H's until sent to U-Tapao in Thailand to work on old D's. The D's had soft flexible wings that would handle battle damage better and were expendable since the G's and H's were the models they wished to keep for future use. Most of the D's had 60,000+ hours of flight time and were experiencing fatigue and multiple failures. Landing gear framework would split and have to have a scab plate over a crack that was "stop drilled" to hold it together. It was to be checked after every flight. Multiple drives (hydraulic, ECM, and electrical) were powered by engine bleed air which was supplied by hot air ducting. This resulted in many burned spots from air leaks. Some had the aft wing spars split where the flaps were attached. You could walk under the wing and see daylight where they was suppose to be wing structure. They also scabbed a patch on them and sent them onto Oklahoma City for repair. I understand that OC sent them onto Davis-Monthan to be parked for a rest.

[@michaelwong4303]

Amazing how the airframe can last that long. No other aircraft in the world can ever match this.👍👍

[@Visigoth1952-ld3zo]

I served at Kincheloe AFB from 1972 to 1974 , B52 was the main aircraft

[@ddc163264]

When I worked on them as a USAF crew chief, I knew then that these would be flying for many years to come. They were just so solidly built. But it's also the MANY hours of work that we did and do on them. If they were anything commercial they would've been retired by now as they wouldn't put in the work to do so. It's a very weird aircraft as well. There's nothing weirder in flight than watching a B-52 crabbing while landing. Between the B-52 and the KC-135 (which is the original American jet the 707) they'll still be flying for years more. Boeing back then was run by engineers, not like now when they're run by accountants and lawyers who know NOTHING about aeronautics. Most of the aircraft in your video I worked on. Certified on 16 and did basic work on others. including that nice f-15 and a-10 in the background.

[@CyberSystemOverload]

Great video and truly excellent presentation. Does she do full length aviation documentaries? What an amazing jet. What she said at the end hits hard - that the last generation of BUFF crews aren't even born yet!

[@rahmatshazi883]

One thing we forget to mention is that the wing spars were built using the most powerful hydraulic presses available back in the 50s. I dont recall the exact numbers, but I recall the article I read said something in the region of 10 million lbs. I stand to be corrected. But still, an amazing aircraft.

[@JohnJBrowne11209]

I've been told the grandchildren of B-52 pilots are flying their grandfather's jets. Perhaps we'll have great grandchildren flying the jets. It's awesome.

[@joegen280]

Miss those. Grew up near Griffiss AFB. Overflights daily

[@jonmcgee6987]

I saw them often when my parents were stationed at Fairchild AFB in the 80's and early 90's.

[@AKUJU]

Did anyone catch the “You-eye-nals” 😂 8:05

[@nzwj]

@@AKUJU yeah she's British and that's how they pronounce it.

[@skyden24195]

The "B-52s," what other bomber could create such memorable songs as "Love Shack" and "Rock Lobster"? 😉😁😄

[@FloweredUp-n4t]

Good Stuff though is a seriously poor album.

[@skyden24195]

@@FloweredUp-n4t I'd probably have to agree. In fact, I'm not actually much of a fan of "Rock Lobster;" the only song of theirs that I can actually say I like is "Love Shack," but, c'mon, who doesn't love "Love Shack"? 😏😄

[@edwardchester1]

Had no idea all the airframes were that old. Had assumed there had been some later models produced. Amazing.

[@stevecallagher9973]

Certainly an impressive part of the Duxford exhibition. I visited in the 2001-2003 period and took photos using actual film! I left with the impression that while an aircraft can look very big from the outside the reality on the interior is nothing less than claustaphobic. Thanks for the experience and see you next time I am in country!

[@McMinderbinder]

I used to see them take-off and land at March AFB. It was awesome.

[@WrightsW5]

February 1946, Hermann Goring was in prison, the big bombing legend was the Avro Lancaster, and Boeing started the design process of the B-52.

[@richtaylor2129]

Love the B52. Seen 2 fly & some on static at RIAT & seen the example at Duxford. I am still surprised that it managed to land at Duxford considering the length of the runway & size of the aircraft

[@rael5469]

That was my aircraft when they retired it to Duxford. The pilot was Colonel Jim Nerger and he was the most respected bomber pilot at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas. We saw the video of it landing there. Here's the video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qYSseJdseLR5mJo

[@DolisianX]

Great content 👏

[@gregcarlson6012]

8:40 I'm so glad that you mention "chrome dome". Before the ICBM, this is how nuclear war was prevented. B-52s taking off from Texas to patrol western Europe. Multiple jets airborne every minute of every hour. Brought to you by the United States and their taxpayers ... our condolences to Greenland for the accident. Really impressive video! Thumbs up, new sub.!

[@Sunsets.Philippines]

@@gregcarlson6012 I just saw a B52 take off from my house here in padre island. That’s why I came to KZbin. They are STILL taking off from the Texas coast. 😃

[@jrfsailing07]

Great video, Great job!!

[@burntsider8457]

Well written and presented doc. Excellent narration.

[@samiel992]

Grandpa Buff has seen more action than the kid and still going

[@Jefff72]

USAF vet, I worked on those from 92 to 93 at Castle, AFB. But ours were the old turbo jet engines.

[@kaliberimaging5579]

When I was in high school, I had hoped to become an aeronautical engineer that worked on the B-52. I became an optical engineer and radar engineer. In the 1980s, I worked on system integration of the ALQ-117 onto the B-52. As I was climbing around the Class 1 mockup in WIchita, I remarked to the program manager from USAF that I thought it was nice the kept the plane around to fulfill my high school wish.

[@Minotaur-ey2lg]

As Buff said to the F-35, “You’re a computer with wings. Come back when you’re an apocalypse with wings!”

[@rogerrees9845]

Another very informative and well presented video..... Thank you IWM... Roger.. Pembrokeshire

[@ViaAvione]

Brilliant film. Thank you for sharing.

[@crosshairs007]

"Why the B-52 is outliving newer bombers" Me: Because it's cheaper and it gets the job done. There will always be a place for a cost-effective bomb-truck until we develop teleporting bombs.

[@TroupeGoal]

Wow I at least thought those still flying had been built since the 60s. Remarkable.

[@FontaineLovers]

if the B-52 is still being used in the 2050s it's the equivalent of us still using WW1 biplanes lmao

[@TonyCossey1]

I was an Air Force B-52 crew chief during the Cold War. I started out working on the D-models and have actually assisted in maintaining the B-52D shown on display in the museum. We phased out the Ds and then I transferred to the B-52Hs. I was a proud member of SAC and my duty station was at Carswell AFB which is no longer in operation. There, I was a member of 7th OMS, part of the 7th Bomb Wing. I will never regret the time I served.

[@donscheid97]

The two features that are keeping it in service are that it was built sturdy enough to carry a HUGE load and there is room to continually add electronics upgrades. While new technologies have made speed and stealth less effective for the B-1 and B-2, none of that matters for the Buff, which does not have them anyway, because it finds ways to side-step the dangers of those shortfalls with tactics and electronics and press on, and is less expensive than either. The B-52 is like the foot-soldier in a world of tanks. That museum plane started service the year I was born, put a chair under it for me to sit on display as I gray.

[@user-cr6zj2oc6p]

B52 going to be serving long enough to get social security benefits 😭🙏

[@randyduncan795]

But to answer the title question: It has fixed wings and does not have the expensive & complicated maintenance requirements of both swing wings aircraft and the modern stealth aircraft.

[@briancooper2112]

You forgot the wood model made in the hotel room. Lemay didn't want a cockpit where the pilot and copilot sat behind the pilot. The side by side was a must by Lemay!

[@John-or9ccUndauntedRaceCars]

Lemay was right too.

[@briancooper2112]

@@John-or9ccUndauntedRaceCars yes

[@George_M_]

This and the Tu-95 will always be around.

[@AlanBrando-s4x]

Until the 80s we all thought by 2020 we gonna have flying cars, bases in mars, etc . Instead of that we have the selfie stick, tik tok and smart coffee machines.

[@toddkurzbard]

It has always amazed me how the B-52 has endured for SO long. With sea-going ships, maybe they last 25 - 30 years before scrapping. THIS has been going since the FIFTIES. Considering the years of in-flight stresses these airframes must have taken, I'd think they HAVE to have some unique quality that keeps them in the air even today.