Modernizing the BUFF

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Mike hosts Col. Joseph Little, callsign “Little Joe,” to discuss how the US Air Force is modernizing the legendary B-52 BUFF to keep it flying into the 2050s-100 years after its first flight.
Col Little is a B-52 Weapons Systems Officer, a US Air Force weapons school graduate, a former test squadron commander, and currently serving as the Detachment 5 Commander of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC), where he oversees the B-52J program.
The B-52J modernization program is a $48 billion transformation designed to extend the bomber's life into the 2060s. It includes new engines, advanced cockpits, upgraded radar, and more, making it the most significant overhaul in the aircraft's history.
This episode covers not just the tech but also tactics, weapons, historical milestones, and untold war stories. Whether you're a fan of military aviation or interested in strategic operations, this insider’s look at the B-52 is a must-listen!
For those interested in #military #nationaldefense #warfare #nationalsecurity #defense #nationaldefense #tech #technology #defensetech #army #navy #airforce #innovation #b52 #BUFF #bomber #aviation #airplanes #aerospace
Links
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• Mike Benitez (LinkedIn) / mike-benitez
• Joseph Little (LinkedIn) / joseph-little-179133205
• AFOTEC, Det 5 (LinkedIn) / afotecdet5
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Show Notes
00:49 intro
03:24 yesterday vs today
04:57 B-52 in 2024
05:17 changing the crew roles
05:53 bombardier wings
06:12 The youngest oldest B-52s
08:04 BUFF origins
08:39 Orange BUFF
10:14 test units
11:13 test lessons from Vietnam
13:32 B-52 modernization
14:40 the B-52J
16:18 radar upgrade
21:15 quad crew concept
23:29 Fox-4 kill
24:30 new engines - why 8?
28:22 fixing the tanker bill
28:46 Iraqi Freedom tankers
30:10 engine nacelle issues
32:20 testing validated the model
33:05 rest of the engine mods
35:10 alert start requirements
36:21 cockpit upgrades
38:15 BUFF legacy - James Earl Jones
39:01 culture and change
42:49 the nuke consideration
43:29 AEHF radio upgrade
44:50 B-52 nose job?
46:54 Story 1 - aerial mining
48:44 Story 2 - CBU-105 combat drop
52:05 brakes?
52:51 outro

[@stan1027]

I was a "crew chief" on 3 different models of the B-52 at different times, the B-52D, G, and H. Most people today would be amazed at how different these three were from each other, Aside from the airframe itself, they were 3 very different kinds of airplane when it came to the internal systems and how they worked.

[@TheMergeMedia]

Great experiences!

[@cassidy109]

I knew that the short tail G and H models were radically different from the tall tails, but I always thought that other than different engines and different tail armament that the G and H were pretty similar?

[@stan1027]

@@cassidy109 Yes, the G and H are much more similar to each other than the D's, and it's been more than 30 years since I worked on them, but the hydraulics and flight control systems were also different between the G and H.

[@cassidy109]

@@stan1027 That’s honestly really interesting. I’ve always very been curious about the differences between the various models, beyond the visually obvious and noteworthy differences you see published.

[@boboala1]

I appreciate your service and thank you for helping keeping us protected!

[@indycharlie]

As a VNV (70-71) . I want to thank all the Buff drivers for shaking the ground I was laying on , dropping the shit close by our FSB and Base Camp . And , watching and hearing it come in . Both from the air ( stand off ) getting ready to do a BDA after the dirt cleared , and from the ground . Lots of us are still sucking air because of you .. doc 25th I.D / others ...

[@theEVILone0130]

The first model airplane i built was the B-52. I barely remember watching flights of B-52's taking off flying arc light raids and their use at the Battle of Khe Sanh. I always found it fascinating how it's final pitch to the Air Force was hand drawn and sculped in a hotel room at the last minute and won the contract and has lasted close to 75 years and will possibly see the 100 yrs as an active duty airframe. While still being a major player on the modern battle field.

[@nigel3296]

From the UK - great guest, so informative, really enjoyed the video. Thanks to you both.

[@stan1027]

We used to refer to the D model as the "tall-tail", because it was taller than the G or H. Watch the video about the B-52 that lost its entire vertical stabilizer due to turbulence over the Grand Canyon.

[@TheMergeMedia]

The in flight picture of it flying without a tail is eerie

[@drkskyes]

What a National treasure this guy is! About the BUFF at the Zoo is really cool.

[@Bastion71]

Great interview! Glad to hear the BUFF will continue to bring peace through superior firepower for many more years.

[@DonnerPassWhisky]

Fantastic guest with great insight into whats happening with the B-52. Maybe he can come back when they have a test aircraft with the new engines installed? Seems like he would be one of the people flying it?

[@TR4Ajim]

It’s amazing that the B52 actually has a component called a “CRM”! In Dr Strangelove, the communication scrambler was called the CRM114.

[@stan1027]

The CRM114 is just Hollywood stuff, as is a lot of other stuff in "Dr Strangelove".

[@TR4Ajim]

@@stan1027 yes of course! However the fact that it actually has a component called a CRM, is pretty coincidental.

[@irongron]

That heritage paint scheme is boss. If you watch old video's of the X-15 programme from the 1960's, the B-52 "mothership" that took the X-15 up to altitude for the launch was painted like that. The good old days! Great episode Mike. 👍

[@TheMergeMedia]

Thanks for watching! I learn something from every one of these episodes--from the guest and the comments!

[@irongron]

@@TheMergeMedia I can't paste the link because my comment gets zapped, but just search for this old USAF doco here on YT that shows the BUFF (and the F-104 chase planes) in that scheme in the first minute of the video - The First X-15 Documentary

[@zlm001]

@@irongronThanks.

[@planetim]

Watching Dr. Strangelove was a mandatory formation when I was a cadet at USAFA (class of 79). I remember flying low level during a Red Flag and coming ripping up behind a buff flying less than a wingspan above the desert. It was a very neat sight.

[@TheMergeMedia]

That's LOW!

[@planetim]

@@TheMergeMedia Flying Red Flag (F-16A for me) in the 1980s was an absolute blast. Get low, go fast, blow things up.

[@planetim]

Should have mentioned that I was stationed at Nellis, and we flew in every Red Flag.

[@cdyjv118]

@@planetimdid you get to fight the MIGs?

[@planetim]

@@cdyjv118 A Mig 21 a couple of times. The Mig 23s were always broke, so if you got one on the schedule, you were destined for disappointment.

[@ptgreen70]

I'm an ex SSG submariner but love these interviews. Great work Pacho and Little Joe!

[@Ferndalien]

The conversation about fuel costs, and the logistics of enough tankers reminded me of what I had read and seen about the Falklands war and the coordination required to get the UK Vulcan bombers over the Falkland Islands and back. There were tankers to refuel the tankers that refueled the bombers - both directions.

[@jeremycox2983]

The fact that Grandpa BUFF will be flying for a century is incredible

[@johnnybarfield647]

D- and H-model gunner here. There are TWO gunner kills confirmed from Vietnam. Also, your diagram had the positions for the gunner and the EW reversed - The gunner was on the right, looking backwards, and the EW on the right. Since the BUFF is a flying gas tank with a little room for bombs and even less for people, the ONLY place in the crew compartment of an H-model where a person could stand was in the ladder passage from the lower deck to the upper. Like your guest said, ergonomics was NOT a consideration. :)

[@TheMergeMedia]

Great clarification. We keep the conversation lively and sometimes miss a few details.

[@johnmorykwas2343]

My gunner at Carswell, 7th BW, 20th BS, was a MIG killer.

[@johnnybarfield647]

@@johnmorykwas2343 Outstanding (I was 7th BW, 9th BS at Carswell). Sam Turner and Al Moore had the only confirmed kills, but I know we claimed several others. The problem was that the MiGs liked to attack the last bomber in the stream, meaning there were no other eyes to confirm any kills.

[@johnmorykwas2343]

@johnnybarfield647 I was invited into the 9th due to problems with the political position squadron commander of the 20th. The 9th had the best Sq. Commander in the 7th. In hindsight, I should have accepted the position, but I wound up in RF-4s with a view of low-level that I missed in the BUFF. My call sign was "MORK." I miss both jets. Two different experiences, but both were a challenge and fun. The photo taken by the 9th Stan Eval of the D flying over the carrier in Team Work 76 was our BUFF. The word spread throughout SAC with numerous copycats from other Teamworks. The best of two worlds and two aircraft. Long live SAC!!! By the way 'Tango Tango' was in the 9th and started the series of books "We Were Crewdogs" of which I'm the subject of a few chapters and co-author.

[@johnmorykwas2343]

Are you in the KZbin video produced by Tom Towery, "We Were Crewdogs"? I'm in 4 of the photos. The ready room shot has the entire alert crew, which was for the visiting Congressman.

[@johngriffey3902]

I saw that stories on the history channel! Nice, this is the dude who first used those things! Awesome and hats off, this is a testimony of the B.U.F.F. Great story and even greater job.

[@larryrobertson4099]

Now, about modernizing the buff, the B52H, B52J, or the B52K, wherever it settles name wise, with those new, more fuel-efficient F130 engines, the mission planners will schedule longer missions for the crew. That means more crew members for pilot and navigator relief, I don’t know about EWO relief, if there is still that position. My point is, that damn stinky honey bucket may be used on longer missions. More... The one time, ONE TIME, it was used on a longer two-ship mission I was assigned with a KC135 background, wing operations officer on board that was our mission commander, it was used. When he asked how to get to the restroom, I knew we were in trouble. Let me tell you, on the way back, three hours of pressurized, on oxygen stink, well the memory stays with you. So unless the ‘H’ model B52 already has a separate restroom, is adding a restroom part of the modernizing effort?

[@tonedeafjd]

Great video, fantastic insights into so many aspects of the B52, thanks! . Buffs forever!

[@TheMergeMedia]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@I_am_Phil_Lee]

Regarding all that fuel being carried into the air and "Murica" I give you the Black Buck operations with a refuelling plan that'll make your brain hurt. Both the heaviest-ever recorded gross wet weight and the lowest-ever recorded airborne weight of the AVRO Vulcan were recorded by the same aircraft on the same mission, so that must have led to some utterly evil W&B calculations. It still stands as the longest-distance raid ever carried out entirely from a single base and runway (at the time it was the longest ever, period), which every one of the eleven Handley Page Victor tankers used in fifteen sorties to supply the lone Vulcan to its target and back.

[@markbrown4442]

Great interview, fellas! Lil Joe is awesome

[@raithebatou]

Thank you both for a very informative, enjoyable video on the legendary in its own life time B-52.

[@thunderamu9543]

New name for the J BUFF should be "CENTURIAN". Excellent video Sir, not the same old hash regarding the J. 💯👍 BRRRRRRRRRRT!

[@widescreennavel]

Imagine something created in 1962 that still has value! Man I for one can't think of anything that age lol

[@Rorschach1024]

The RL-10 rocket engines comes to mind.

[@KrisHornung]

you Rock Little Joe

[@stan1027]

I actually worked on 083 at one time, when it was stationed on Guam.

[@daveleyerle2525]

That was awesome, love your brand of technowarfighting information dumps! I REALLY look forward to both the news letter and the pods! Thanks for your service, past, present and future!😊

[@TheMergeMedia]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@richardbergren8117]

Another great show, as usual

[@TheMergeMedia]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@michaelinsc9724]

Absolutely fantastic!

[@TheMergeMedia]

We appreciate it!

[@Freebaggin]

Brilliant

[@stan1027]

There was one B-52 mission from Barksdale to Iraq and back, non-stop, during Desert Storm.

[@TheMergeMedia]

Secret Squirrel!

[@nigeldenford1983]

I lived not far from Swindon at the time (1991) and used to watch them flying out of RAF Fairford heading for Iraq, then see them coming back in again.

[@dgax65]

Great show. Lots of good info and very entertaining.

[@jonathansanchez6687]

This was great, love bomber stories!!! B1 next !!!

[@jimgrif5998]

Great episode.

[@MrBen527]

Wow! B-52J. I was stationed at Edwards 98-02. Good times!

[@stan1027]

It's the crew chief's job to recover the old and reload the new chute after landing. Wish I had a dollar for every one of those I did!

[@TheMergeMedia]

After I asked the question, I was immediately wondering who, how, and when they picked the chute up

[@stan1027]

@@TheMergeMedia We would be waiting at the end of the runway. The pilot would release the chute, we grabbed the attachment point and dragged it into the van first, then two or three guys would drag the rest of it in as the van driver slowly backed up. Then we took it to the chute shop, dropped it off, grabbed a new one, and then took it to where the bird was parked and loaded the new one.

[@ryanpeeples6998]

wow these keep getting better

[@stan1027]

The D and G model's engines had water-injection, to assist in takeoff thrust.

[@stuartb9194]

Great update, cheers

[@FlyingDutchmanPodcast]

This is great information. I have been looking for a SME just like little Joe. Thank you

[@tippo5341]

I find the B-52 as one of the more beautiful aircraft still in flight (BUFF is such a harsh nickname 😂😂)...my other fave was the SR-71....two polar opposites of aircraft and missions, but both having their beauty in their own right...and as far as an icon goes, the BUFF wins hands down...to still hopefully be in frontline service on her centennary....just amazing...her adaptation from a nuclear strike aircraft through to her current missions, never will there be another like her. I had the pleasure in 1988 of seeing (and hearing) one do a flyover of RAAF Richmond for the the RAAF's Bicentennial Airshow, she flying a return trip from Guam for the show, was just amazing, loved it before that, and loved it more so since seeing that as a teenager. Long live and fly the BUFF!!!! Cheers from Sydney Aus!!!! 🍻🍻🍻🍻

[@cathiestubes2820]

Awesome info about the progress of the upgrades to the 52. Please keep us updated when you can obtain a guest who can give us more insights.

[@AdurianJ]

In Vietnam the D was the workhorse getting a bomb bay upgrade so it could take a lot more conventional bombs than the G and H at the time. The D also got two mig kills in Linebacker 2

[@PatrickLipsinic]

Boeing has a B-52 for mockup of all these upgrades at a Boeing facility of outside of Tinker AFB. Once it's all figured out. The B-52's will have these completed at Tinker. Also each Rolls Royce engine is 100lbs lighter then the TF33. I through the APU was going to be in each pylon between inboard pairs of RR engines?

[@Old_B52H_Gunner]

I really miss flying in the BUFF.

[@carlfischer4163]

Very interesting info. Thanks PAKO 👍👍

[@TheMergeMedia]

😎😎😎

[@PapaG603]

Great convo new sub glad I found your channel

[@TheMergeMedia]

❤❤❤

[@bryanbishop2377]

My unit provided the RAPCON service on day one 2003 of Diego Garcia. 297 ATCS.

[@TeemarkConvair]

this was great

[@TheMergeMedia]

Thanks!!

[@TheSnookman]

"Why not Minot?" "Freezin' the Reason." 😂

[@cragnamorra]

Couldn't help smiling at characterizing a week to Hawaii as a "hardship" mission. 🤣

[@Aokitadamitsu]

Ok so I was in the past a Crew Chief on H models at Minot, @29 minutes he hits the engine nail on the head. Parts and Operational Logistics. Fuel is KING, A BUFF will hold a bit over ~310k lbs(YMMV) of fuel, we very rarely filled it that full on the ground. However if no weapons/pylons on and full fuel you take off from Barksdale or Minot going to Guam(Anderson AFB) a Aerial Refuel passing Hawaii, and fly on (this route adds a bit to shortest flight line but it means you don't have to land and fuel)(Barksdale planes could grab a tank over Cali and top up)..

[@Aokitadamitsu]

the Key is that Hickam has the 154th that has KC-135-R model that can carry ~200k lbs of fuel total, which will allow them pass gas on the fly as a heavy resource(b52, b1, c5, c17) just keeps flying, So a full tanker takes off burns 15-20k to get up and in the box(a big space off the north side of Hawaii over the ocean) at speed, gives the BUFF 110-120k at ~5k lbs/minute that's a long tank (22-24 minutes) this gives the KC-135 ~ 50k to get home and that should take 18-25k landing with about ~20k in the tanks.. so if a four ship of Heavies comes by its a ONE TO ONE match to Tank them..

[@Aokitadamitsu]

the bleed air system on a BUFF is mostly limited to the wings(deice), and forward body, so you kind of want to put it in the top of #2 wheel well, kind of between the wings. But yes launching a H we put a AGE-60 (small gas turbine) on Engine #4, external AC to run the hydro's and lights, the -60 would turn over and start engine 4, that would pressurize the Bleed Air ducts and you could turn over #5, 4/5 ran the body hydro pumps so they always go first. depending on external temp depends on next steps, at Minot we launched in some vicious cold so you had to wait to engage the AUX pack or risk shearing a generator/pump shaft..

[@Aokitadamitsu]

My advice would be with the move toward electric hungry applications like Lasers, put a generator on every single engine, and replace the Concrete block in the tail with a large scale battery or capacitor in the 47 section to feed the beast.. why?? because a BUFF with a 125-250KW laser hanging from each wing pod would dominate the ground like no weapon system EVER. One forward One rear facing

[@Aokitadamitsu]

So heavy bomber crews thing differently than fighter crews.. the BUFF ECM system weights ALOT, and for SAM defended areas, BUFFS planned to run 4 ship elements to sub divide the Spectrum's to jam. I have fond memories of being on the line at Minot, and all our Radio's go white noise for like 10-15 seconds, and then clear up and the next thing you hear on the Radio is Bomber-1 say over the maintenance channel, "ECM-1 were are you".. Because someone just executed a broadband jam one the ground. opps.

[@Aokitadamitsu]

Ok so I had to search on this one, the CBU-105 is just an improved CBU-97 x10 BLU-108/??? each holding 4 pucks/skeet so 40 per munition dropped.. If you dropped 16 of these bad boys that's 640 pucks deployed!! OMG!! that's freaking amazing, that would combat ineffective a Regiment if they were scattered well.

[@charlesmoss8119]

Brilliant - thank you

[@samiamgreeneggsandham7587]

I’d have thought that even with a couple of staff tours, a B-52 pilot would’ve accumulated more than 3000 hours over a period of 20 years.

[@johnferguson1455]

Awesome

[@Rorschach1024]

Another reason for 8 small engines vs 4 big engines is redundancy. If you lose one or even two big engines you lose a quarter or half your power. If you lose two smaller engines then you've only lost 1/4.

[@Ryan_Christopher]

20 years ago I or one of my team probably did then-Lt. Little' gas mask QNFT for his Readiness Jacket. 21 years ago I definitely did the fit-test for the Vice Commander 8 AF.

[@deansmits006]

With the upgraded avionics, communications, and radar, I'm curious if they will be able to launch drones that can perform radar spoofing/jamming (EW) to protect it in contested environments. And then recover it?

[@alexrebmann1253]

Love to see a new B52 made from the ground up with fly by wire, all glass cockpit, and side stick. Just dreamin.

[@johnmorykwas2343]

B-52D Crewdog. Are B-52 crew members still called Crewdogs? Read the series of books 'We Were Crewdogs', co-author. Our crew delivered Diamond Lil to the Zoo.

[@76Starship]

Good one :)

[@jonniez62]

Wait a minute, D, E, Fs still sat alert while parts of the Wings were flying missions in Vietnam. E and Fs were retired after the D got the big belly mod.

[@apitheous194]

The Buffarillo lives on

[@amadablam8229]

Buff it up!

[@davegt27]

they liked the D models because they could carry more bombs, my Tech school instructors where Vietnam vets so I got a few B52 stories from them

[@MPrybil]

It’s great to see the United States not discarding something just bc it’s more than 25 years old. The newest stuff isn’t always the best. It usually takes a while to work out the bugs and when you do you can end up with something as awesome as The B-52; the C-130 and the F-15 all still defending the USA and other countries are also using the C-130 and the F-15.

[@fergystuff]

An incredible legacy Boeing product that they would have no chance of creating today

[@irongron]

Yeap. That merger with McDonnell Douglas had an impact on the culture big time, where Boeing's engineers and McDonnell Douglas's bean-counters went head-to-head, which the latter won. Never a good thing when the bean counters win over the engineers. 💰

[@zacharyramsli8002]

CBU-105s are OP Merica!

[@brucefelger4015]

One of my older friends was the Boeing test pilot when the BUFF first went low level. Yeah, take this stratosphere level bomber into a low level strike.

[@ccartee1]

At 41:07 you talk about a B-52 that crossed some line in a simulation. You used a term I don't understand. What is "MESPETTING" (?) From the context, it sounded like the B-52 jammed the range telemetry in order to cross the restricted line safely? Thanks!

[@TheMergeMedia]

MEZ PEN = penetrating the missile engagement zone. It was a live training mission, and that line depicts where the adversary surface to air missiles can reach out and touch you

[@ccartee1]

Thanks. So to help me better understand context/understanding. Did crossing the MEZ PEN line automatically disqualify the pilot/crew from the exercise? Or did they jam their way out of it? Btw, came to find your channel through Ward Carroll. Also enjoyed your clip on Netflix about Killer Robots. The success of AI pilots on KR was pretty impressive, until I found out that the AI had “god mode” and essentially was directly tracking you in the computer. So no having to use sensors (cameras, radar, etc) to try and locate you. Sort of like the difference between self driving cars in a simulator and in the real world. In the real world, you need to declutter the various input sources.

[@thomasmiller5502]

K.I. Sawyer ‘64-‘68. Goodby.Sunstran CSD for those who know.

[@miketenny5201]

Dad had a tractor that was started with a 12 ga shotgun shell.

[@Taphfy]

Dont forget the contract Honeywell won to supply aux power units to provide electricity to rail guns and lasers.

[@anthonysacco5010]

Now I understand why it takes so long for the airforce to get things done. It's absolutely insane that this plane has to go all over the place for upgrades and dozens of different people doing hundreds of different things. Zero efficiency.... Here's an idea.... develop, refit, test all in one spot with one crew...

[@markfrav]

Anyone think another cool call sign for Col Little would be Samwise Gamgee?

[@cujimmy1366]

Have different generations of the same family ever flown in the same plane at different times 🤔

[@vevenaneathna]

idk why they never considered just re-engening the inside 2 pylons and leaving the outer 2 with those old turbojets. it worked on the peacemaker to have mixed engines... not a totally new idea to have 2 different engine types.... not sure that it would be a big issue with logistics. rudder is happy with outer 4 engines being old turbojets, inside 2 could be big high bypass ones, and that would set up some interesting use cases where you could throttle down the lesser efficient engines and loiter a lot longer on the 2 high bypass engines. basically go from an 8 engine plane to a 6 engine plane. i doubt the inside engines are an issue with them going down on take off at max weight and not having enough authority. torque is force x radius so the drag forces are like 1/3rd on those inside pylons

[@deansmits006]

From the context of what was explained,re-engine with essentially the same form let's them do a LOT less engineering, changing, testing, and validating. It's a relatively easy change keeping the same pod setup. Your idea could work, just takes more time and budget

[@bertg.6056]

A major factor in re-engining is the TBO and/or the time on wing. Too bad this wasn't addressed.

[@RKW1138]

Is the BUFF version of Top Gun documentary called By Dawn's Early Light?

[@gsr4535]

BUFF! 👍

[@buddypvaz124]

I vote to keep the Parachute. Who is with me?

[@stan1027]

Something else most people were never aware of was the nuclear false alarm that happened on Nov 9, 1979. I was on Alert duty that day.

[@dsdy1205]

"What's a photon torpedo?"

[@matthewbrinker6615]

Will need engine have thrust reverse

[@TheMergeMedia]

Great question, I wish I asked!

[@mchristr]

Very informative interview. I'm always surprised when someone with an education can't say "nuclear". Perhaps my pet peeve from a classical upbringing.

[@redrum707monkey]

$45 million seems like too little for such a great platform

[@johnthivierge6872]

727 apu is in wheel well

[@jefffradsham2297]

Boeing needsw to ramp up a production line for the B52 soon. I doubt if the US could go to war without theB52

[@ajc389]

What happened to the 'I' model? Also you don't fuel jet engines on gasoline but kerosene.

[@TheMergeMedia]

Great question. From what I recall, the I was supposed to be an interim upgrade (radar no engines, etc.) but they decided to drop it and stick with the J

[@oml81mm]

The letter 'I' can be confused with the number '1'.

[@oml81mm]

Turbine engines can be (and some have been) gasoline fuelled, but the vast majority use kero. The abbreviation 'gas' has unfortunately become an unofficial generic name for fuel.

[@timgene4118]

fuel [jet]?

[@dillybar722]

a 777 APU has more than enough capacity to start engines from the tail.

[@andrewvare3173]

No, those are twin 50 cal.

[@samuellord8576]

$48 billion buys the entire fleet of 100 B-21 aircraft and a large complement of their weapons. (So no.)

[@eveningstarnm3107]

"Nucular". My dad commanded the aircraft maintenance wing at Warner Robbins AFB. I'm sure that he's rolling over in his grave.

[@timgene4118]

gas?

[@marsmotion]

Seems like the work horses always suffer for the new hot stealth show horses. Why are people so darn risk averse these days...

[@larryrobertson4099]

No cross over during 'old school' flying of the buff? Really? I piloted the B52G in the 70s over Vietnam from Guam. 6 to, 30 in, 6 back, no air refueling with an occasional low approach over a carrier for an instrument approach credits. Then after the liberals in congress kicked us out of Vietnam after we won, back to the states to go on SAC alert. Training missions, high level and low level with 'tone' targets. During the high-level navigation training for the nav team, I, the copilot, the EWO, and gunner occasionally shot the moon and stars for them with the periscopic sextant next to the never used honey bucket. Isn't that some cross over???

[@everythingman987]

For context: imagine if the SPAD XIII from World War I was still in service as a frontline fighter in 2016. That’s how old the B-52 will be when it’s retired in the 2050’s.

[@jrs80920]

Why’s this guy in uniform?

[@joesutherland225]

Waiting for boeing software,hmmmm not exactly incouraging news considering 737

[@rayjay848]

Hey, I worked on that “antiquated” ECM equipment. That probably saved your asses by the way. If it works, don’t fix it.