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Sixty years on, the B-52 is still going strong
The iconic aircraft of the Cold War made its debut flight in 1952. The Air Force says the bomber could easily still be flying in the year 2040. That feat of longevity reflects both regular maintenance and timely upgrades ... and to the astronomical costs of the next-generation bombers that have followed the B-52 into service with the Air Force. (news.cnet.com) עוד...My grandfather retired from the Air Force as a refuel instructor over at (now former) Castle AFB in northern California. He bought a piece of land not far off the departure path of path of runway 31. My Summer memories in the '60s as a wee lad include watching those roaring monster beauties take off into the air day and night. In those simpler times, he took us grandkids driving around the base sometimes and saw those breathtaking machines on the flight line from afar. In the '80s when I got my private ticket, I had a flight one Sunday morning that took me over the base. The bored controller granted my 152 a low and slow look at the parked B-52s on the tarmac. I haven't see a B-52 in years now, but when I do my mind goes back to those carefree days.
And 1959 they were already talking about a replacement.
Aircraft can be flown for many many years provided they are taken care of and not abused. The Air Force could be still flying the C-141 if they had taken better care of them. Now the AF is going to park the C5 A models in the desert and just keep flying the B models once a aircraft goes to the desert, that's the last time 99 % of them ever fly again. To bad the Military wastes so much of their equipment with bad maintanance.
just like the DC3(C47)(R4D),designed by men,not computers and built at least 3 times stronger than they had to be for the job requirment,many of these are still in service today,most hauling cargo,but a few like Buffalo Airways still in scheduled passenger service.To me,the most beautiful airplane ever built.