Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

TV station KSEQ (out of Palm Springs, CA?) said in an online article today that yesterday's NASA Scramjet test flight was also the last flight of the B-52B drop ship, nicknamed "Balls 8" (but the station didn't call it that, for obvious reasons Wink

). Anyone know what NASA plans on using as a replacement? Will it even be replaced? Maybe pulling another B-52 outta AMARC or from from an active unit?

A bit of trivia: Balls 8 is the oldest BUFF in the inventory, yet (IIRC) has the least amount of cycle time due to it's test duties. It's sistership, "Balls 3", aka "The High And Mighty One", sits on static display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.

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yeah I hear they are going to use a B-2.. No not really but that is a good question.. probbally just going to get a Newer Buff.. something thats only 30 years old!!!

After further research, it seems NASA already has a replacement: a refurbed H model:

The site's author said he got the image in April but didn't say what year. I assume it's '04.

BTW: For BUFF fans, the site is www.air-and-space.com/b-52a.htm. Lotsa neat B-52 images! Cool

NASA has a "new" B-52G or H, can't remember, to replace Balls 8. They also have no programs planned that require an air-drop mothership.

Just checked, B-52H 61-0025

beat at the lights by LinkF-16SimDude!!! I gotta refresh my window more often... Embarassed

I wondered about that too. I thought 008 was supposed to be replaced long ago. That repainted H model has been out there for two years or more. I guess it took a while to get up to spec for that special use.

Cheers '008 The LAST tall tail has left the building.

habu2 wrote:

beat at the lights by LinkF-16SimDude!!! I gotta refresh my window more often... Embarassed

Musta been those 3 cups of 92 octane Maxwell House I had this mornin'! Very Happy

Makes the fingers type just that much faster I guess. Wink

habu2 wrote:

NASA has a "new" B-52G or H, can't remember, to replace Balls 8. They also have no programs planned that require an air-drop mothership.

Perhaps they plan to use it as a re-engining testbed, among other projects? There are stories goin' round speculatin' that the 8 Pratts could be replaced by 4 militarized GE CF6-series engines. We shall see.

It looks like they've still got the old gunner's station on board that BUFF. An observer post perhaps? A place to let TC ride on your next flight test? Wishful thinking. I do happen to know from personal experience another very good use for a de-commed gunner station...but...well...er...that's a story for another day class! Rolling Eyes

The CF-6 engine would be a good choice for the BUFF. We already use the CF-6-GE-50E2s on our NAOC birds. As far as how, if any, the -50E2 differs from a stock 747 engine, I have no clue. I wasn't a suck and blow guy, er, an engine troop. Wink

So long Balls 8. You worked hard, and did your job longer (and shorter) than any of your sister ships, who are now all serving as museum pieces or soda cans. I also got a very unique BUFF patch because of you, so I will be eternally grateful for that. I'd say that I'm going to miss seeing the big tailed BUFFs fly, but the last one I did see was a D model from Griffiss circa 1984, so it's not like I've really been deprived of much. TC grew up around Voodoos, Deuces, Huns, Sixes, T-Birds, Phantoms, and Eagles, not BUFFs. Well, its off to knock back a couple Silver Bullets. I'll raise one for Balls 8.

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Balls 8 is still the youngest airframe in terms of flight hours, of all B-52s that are still airworthy.

Isn't the H the model being used by the USAF now?

yup, sure is.

I always enjoyed seeing this specific "beauty" fly carrying the scramjet and what I enjoyed the most, X-15.

TC wrote:

The CF-6 engine would be a good choice for the BUFF. We already use the CF-6-GE-50E2s on our NAOC birds. As far as how, if any, the -50E2 differs from a stock 747 engine, I have no clue. I wasn't a suck and blow guy, er, an engine troop. Wink

Taking into account the B-52's famous wing droop and the physical size of the CF6 engines, anyone want to speculate on how the outboard nacelle ground clearance issues will be addressed? A lengthened and beefier outrigger gear strut and wheel maybe?

I don't know if the removal of the 8 existing engines, and replacement with four engines would balance up weight-wise. I'm uncertain as to the weight of one of the BUFF's duel nacelles, compared to a single CF-6. Anyone wanna speculate on that? Also, I don't really know the height of one CF-6 nacelle. However, I do know that they reengined one of the test BUFFs with an A-10/S-3 engine. Obviously, four of those wouldn't do the BUFF much good. Still needs more power. I'd suspect they'd figure out a way to strengthen the wings, and the outrigger gear, and still allow for any necessary wing flex. Also, could someone confirm something for me? The wing tanks on that BUFF look smaller than the tanks the D models carried on missions into Nam. Am I right?

Beers and MiGs were made to be pounded!

Forum: Modern Military Aircraft

An era ends: The last flight of "Balls 8"?