Re-engining the B-52, which first flew in 1952, could keep it in service until 2097, according to engine manufacturer GE. Is the B.U.F.F. just the perfect military airframe?
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72 replies on “Perfect Plane: With New Engines, B-52 Stratofortress Could Remain in Service Until 2097”
Guys you forgot the other legendary airframe. The Dak, now well past 75 years of flying time. I actually got to work on one that was part of the Burma campaign back in the mid 80’s along with a C46 that the full log store came with it and had the flight logs from its trips during the Burma Hump campaign. I hope the BUFF joins these awesome feats of aviation engineering.
Lived to the northwest just outside of Springfield, Ohio, in the late Fifties, early Sixties. As it turned out, my house was right in the take-off pattern (about 20 miles out) for the B-52s at the SAC area of Wright-Patterson AFB. It was not uncommon to awake to a shaking bed as a couple of squadrons of BUFFs launched in the middle of the night powering up and away to the North (Russia).
For a young boy whose dad was a WWII B-24 Navigator in the Pacific, it was very exciting and I would talk with my dad after nearly every launch about the bombers and loads and a lot of other stuff. Led to me joining the Civil Air Patrol at age 13 and staying involved until I join AFROTC in college. My dad was also in the Ohio ANG so we were at the air shows every year (WPAFB) and saw all the good aircraft because the AF Aeronautical Systems Division (the part of the AF that purchases all aircraft) headquarters was there.
Great Plane. A fun read for you. Flight of the Old Dog by Dale Brown 1987?
Was my first book read by Dale and still one of my all time favourites. Actually wore out my first copy and now have a second.
Then there is the C-130 Hercules, the other ‘perfect’ plane. The most versatile plane in the arsenal. It’s been around almost as long. It has been everything except a fighter. Do a special on it guys.
Sorry but I’m a bit partial to the Hercy Bird since I was an engine mechanic when in the USAF.
Back in my AF days, the C-130 was kind of a red-headed step-child. Now that I’m older, I absolutely love that airplane, and if I were of a certain age, would be honored to fly some of the operational missions that airframe can do.
I got to know her when I was at CCKAB,Taiwan (’69-’70). Jet engine mechanic. She ain’t pretty, but she is beautiful.
Bill:
You forgot to mention the C-47 among the surviving classic airplanes. We had a flightworthy one on my Air Force base in 1967.
Later, John.
I remember being TDY (temporary duty) to a B-52 base in Texas. I was at the end of the runway, watching one take off. Many people don’t know, but there are small wheels at the end of each wing to support the weight of the fuel stored in the wings. Anyway, as the B-52 started to accelerate down the runway, the end of the wings would lift, then settle, then lift again. This continued a few times until they reached takeoff speed. It almost looked as if it was flapping its wings to take off!
My favorite recent B52 meme is this one. https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/347528400195289088/810193404511256596/Screenshot_20210213-104639_Chrome.png with yet another re-engine of the B52’s in the distant future.
The Year 2097-
-B52 service extended with Hawken’s Relativity Drive…
Also this is both recycling and going green, since the new engines are more fuel efficient.
When we entered Desert Shield/Desert Storm and we faced the actual threat of Saddam Hussein using chemical weapons against us, I was stationed on Johnson Island where our Pacific Theater chemical weapon stockpile was stored (and we were starting to demil them). It was decided that if we needed to use chemical weapons to counter Saddam, ours were the ones to be used. Problem was that the only aircraft still certified to carry chemical weapons was the B-52. And only wing-mounted. We practiced the load-out of those weapons. One problem was that the outboard (outrigger) wheels on the B-52 wings were exactly the width of our runway lights on JI. So the plan was to bring the bombers in with only enough fuel to get them back into the air, then have aerial refueling tankers refuel the B-52s and the bombers would fly off to Iraq. When President Bush made the declaration that we would not use chemical weapons regardless, we stood the operation down. Incidentally, our island commander at that time was a B-52 navigator. Our unit was an Army tenant unit on the island. We had the chemical weapons. Ultimately, we ended up destroying those weapons and the demil plant was disassembled and today JI is abandoned. Too bad, as it would have made a great vacation resort after the military and DNA left it.
These engines also used by the Chinese.
Chinese ARJ21.
Rolls-Royce Also looking for the contract.
BUFF Bomb Run So a BUFF and a F-16 were on approach … both calling ATC for priority landing. The 8-engine BUFF had engine out, and the single engine F-16 was running “a bit peaked.” The ATC told the fighter jock that he was number two behind a the B-52, that had one shut down. The F-16 pilot responded with “Ah, the dreaded seven-engine approach!” ;-/
An F-4 joins up w/ a 52 on a long over-water leg. The F-4 driver gets bored and starts hot-doggin’ culminating in a barrel roll around the Stratofortress. The fighter jock get’s on the radio and says, “Bet you guys wish you could do that.”
The bomber’s flight engineer responds, “I know something we can do you can’t.”
The Phantom waits. Doesn’t see anything. “What? I’m not seeing anything.”
Engineer replies, “I just turned off two engines. Let’s see you do that.”
Ha, the F-4 Phanton, proof that even a brick can fly, given sufficient engine & thrust (in this case, two afterburning J-79’s).
My eldest brother was born in 1952. I intend to send him this story and ask him how it feels to know that the plane will outlast him.
Bill: my favorite Big Ugly Flies Forever story is a F-4 Double Ugly taunting one saying his plane is more capable. The B-52 pilot said ‘top this’ The F-4 pilot watched and did not see anything happen & asked what he did. The B-52 pilot said he switched off two engines & was waiting for the F-4 to top that.
The version of the story I heard was that the pilot had gone to the head and gotten himself a cup of coffee on his way back to the pilot seat. ^_^
That’s the one I heard. Another version has him waking the relief pilot from his slumber and having the new pilot contact the F4 jock saying to call back after he gets his mandated 8 hours.
Was in the Air Force at RAF Upper Heyford England in the 70’s, as a crew chief on F-111’s, 20th TFW. We would frequently have BUFF’s land at our base for fuel or maintenance, and they were awsome! I remember being sent out to inspect some issue or another, and they were always cordoned off with security personel, and we were limited to the area of the aircraft in question. What was also interesting were all the Brits at the end of the runway with cameras to film the takeoffs!
Awesome. Thank you.
Bill, Was the B-52 you saw on pylons at the USAFA in Boulder? That is where I saw one as you described.
How much has the weight been reduced just replacing the original electrical controls of its origin with modern solid state digital electronics? This includes wire harness with fibre optic.
Perfect? No, not really. But highly impressive and mighty damn good to be sure. One point that you might have well made about this very complex weapons system is that it has already been in service far longer than any simple battle rifle design that the US military has ever fielded … and that is certainly saying something. I do think it extraordinarily unlikely that the B-52 will stay in service until 2097, but will most certainly do so for quite a few more years, until it is successfully replaced by autonomous/pilotless technologies, in smaller, faster, less expensive packages. But that won’t be tomorrow, nor the day after tomorrow either!
Another “perfect” aircraft for your short-list: the A-10 Thunderbolt II “Warthog”. The best close-air-support platform in the universe…period.
I think Scott mentioned this on the Backstage. Said his nephew flew one. The only thing giving the BUFF and edge is that it has been used for multiple purposes while the A10 has been stupendous at one.
I had a chance to see a B-52 up close in Okinawa. The wing span is a marvel to behold.
Also had the unique “pleasure” of almost being “engine toasted” by a SR-71 Blackbird (aka: Habu) when stationed on Okinawa.
I remember the F4 was called a “brick” by pilots and crew chiefs.
A-10’s were much more liked by their drivers and mech’s.
A nice walk down memory lane. Thanks! 🙂
As a Marine in Viet Nam, ’66 and ’67 we would see the BUFF’s at dusk coming in from the west and they would turn and head back before they were over us and be going well away before to the east of us the rumble and fire of bombs raining down would come. We ground people loved them.
We saw one at the March Field Air Museum over the weekend and the excellent tram tour guy mentioned there were plans to upgrade/update. He said something about the military keeping it in service until 2050. Imagine flying in a 100 year old airplane, not as some kind of antique heritage flight, but in everyday use.
As a former B-52 Gunner, I am very happy to see this.
BTW, the newest B-52H “rolled off the factory floor” in 1963…
Thank you for your service John; Much respect.
I enlisted in the Air Force in 1986. The B-52 was the first plane I worked on and they were talking about doing a re-engine back then.
Shows how slow government works.
Now all we have to do is convince the generals to keep the A-10 Warthog! There is no better ground support weapon in existence and probably never will be. It has the same qualities of toughness and versatility as the BUFF.
Agreed! It’s one of the classics. I saw a former TACP guy sing it’s praises.
A buff will ruin your “HOLE” day! Keep-em flying boys!
And another thing!
Re: flying the same plane his great grandfather flew. I’ve been led to believe that w/ all the upgrades and refurbs, modern B-52s are completely different aircraft that occupy the same space as the old aircraft.
Except for the airframe, this is true. It’s still the old metal! The last new B52 was built in 1962. Airframe number 61-040.
I seem to recall a B-52 back in the 50s 0r 60s actually did drop a nuke on one of the Carolinas. Fortunately, one of the fail safe systems on the bomb DIDN’T fail.
Two nukes! Faro, NC, in 1961.
Bill- Nice video, one thing the Boeing 767 is a replacement for the KC-135 Tanker (which was based on the B-707). It has never been intended to be a Bomber.
TBF: Boeing’s been trying to sell the Air Force a combat version of the 747 for decades. They keep trotting out some new idea they think the DoD’ll go for. B-747, airborne aircraft carrier, ABM system. Anything, just buy the damn airplane.
Yeah, after the Max debacle, I wouldn’t trust them to build a munitions cart. Just sayin’. That company is broken.
Just retired from Boeing. Agree fully w/this thought. MAX, KC-46, 787, 777X/747 engines, CRV … then shut down all R&D sacrifices future (Calhoun has admitted he has zero future vision, past MAX) … wow, I just wish I’d have sold my stock, a LONG LONG time ago.
Not sure if you were privy to their “plans” for the Max, but if I worked there and got wind, that would have been a good time to sell shares.
Hope you enjoy your retirement. I’m sure life is a lot less stressful. 🙂
I was Advanced Concepts for both commercial, and military (started this work in 1979). Watching grass grow is a bit slow, so trying to get a few consulting gigs. Loads of new electric airplane startups these days 🙂
I’ve never understood why they dropped the 757 and chose to keep stretching and modifying the 737. I have no airline experience, but from what I hear and read from people who have flown 737 and 757/767, the seven-five is said to be superior in many ways, and is versatile enough to serve short-haul domestic runs as well as trans-Atlantic routes. Wouldn’t a revised 757 have made more sense than the MAX?
perhaps, but twin-aisle are much larger (and costly to operate). NMA was supposed to be something in between. FSA (737 replacement) was going to be tech-evolution, but could not close business case.
There was a concept for a bomber using the 747 air frame.
Yep. But the way I heard it, since the 747 was never designed to shed several thousand pounds of weight in-flight, it would have required Boeing to pretty-much design a whole new aircraft. Rather than the off-the-shelf w/ some internal changes Boeing was marketing it as.
If the Biden’s* handlers have their way, the BUFF will still be flying sorties over Afghanistan in support of our troops on the gound in 2097
I think I saw drool on Steve’s chin at the first mention of lasers. 😀
That might have been from a bit too much Scotch in his coffee this morning
If that was what was dribbling, then I say it was a waste of good Scotch.
<a bit too much coffee in his Scotch this morning>
There. I fixed it for you…
I see what you did there…
All I want is BUFFs with fricken laser beams. Is that too much to ask?
Not at all. You could then say those B.U.F.F.’s are sufficiently-buffed.
Pffft! Make them death rays!😆
Steve would never waste good Scotch by letting it dribble out his mouth, or by putting it into his coffee. Have to stick up for Steve when things are truly of import!
A reference to COBOL! I programmed in that language for 22 years!
I am sorry to hear that. 😉
I enjoyed it, and it paid the bills.(very well, thank you). Yes, I know, enjoying COBOL is a sign of a demented mind. Just one comment. Motto #2. “I am not normal. Normal is boring.”😜
Yes. You are correct. “Normal is boring.”
I’ve done my share of FORTRAN programming. While I don’t like FORTRAN, I’ve known it to be useful. Added to all that rambling, unlike all of the young-uns emerging from college CS departments in recent years, I prefer Perl to Python, C to C++, and other such dementia 🙂 — all continue to be useful tools to pay the bills.
Normal is for people who can’t do math.
Pic (x)
I like COBOL. I actually wrote a (character-based) GUI for an accounting package back in the early ’80s. I like it much better than RPG II, thank you..
Same here. Knew both (plus Fortran and more.) COBOL was my most used.
Then I found C with inline assembler. My life was complete.
Fortran IV was in use in 1961 when I worked for Thiokol in the Solid Fuels Grain Design group. It was amazing to see what could be done with that IBM 7074. Unfortunately, input was punch card, which meant we had to take the deck into the ‘sanctuary’ machine room where no one except the operators were allowed. Then we would pickup the printouts the following morning, hopefully without the dreadful “OP ERROR” message on top. The only advantage I had as a lowly data card monkey was to learn Fortran IV on an old IBM 1620 system tucked away in a corner. Those were the days!