Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123108767

B-52H reaches retirement

A B-52H Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., takes off from Minot AFB, N.D., July 24 on its final flight to Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. This is the first B-52H to be retired after more than 45 years of dedicated service to the United States and the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cassandra Jones)

by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs

7/30/2008 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. (AFPN) -- The first B-52H Stratofortress reaches retirement after more than 45 years of dedicated service to the country July 24 here on its final flight to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

"It is a truly sad time when we decommission a plane," said Lt. Col. Bill Stahl, 5th Maintenance Group deputy commander. "But, the aircraft has served her country well."

The B-52H with tail number LA1023 was built in 1961 and assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, La., but was here due to parking shortages at Barksdale AFB. It is the first of 18 B-52Hs selected by Air Combat Command to retire. Every two weeks a B-52H will be retired, alternating between here and the 2nd BW in an effort to maximize funding for the aging assets.

"It is easier and cheaper to modify and maintain 76 planes, than to keep all 94 up and running," said Master Sgt. Curtis Jensen, 5th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron production superintendent.

While funding was a primary point of the decision process, there were other concerns involved.

"A choice was made between the Air Force and Congress stating that at this point we need fewer operational B-52s," Colonel Stahl said.

"The decision to pick the selected aircraft was based on a number of criteria that looked at the aircraft as a whole," he said. "It's not like the aircraft are all rusted and corroded; it's just that the selected 18 are not as airworthy as the first 76. The remaining planes are split equally between here and Barksdale AFB."

When planes arrive at Tinker AFB, maintenance crews will cover all vents, engines and vulnerable areas. The planes will then be stored in a hangar in case they are needed sometime down the road, Sergeant Jensen said.

"Our job now is to make sure we keep the planes left here flying," said Tech. Sgt. Paul Nixon, 5th AMXS electronic warfare element chief.

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Someone needs to inform A1C Stratton that "LA" is not part of the official tail number. Must be a noob.

Doesn't look like he's got too much gas judgin' from where the outriggers are. Maybe a mid-air swig was planned en route for old time's sake.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:

Someone needs to inform A1C Stratton that "LA" is not part of the official tail number. Must be a noob.

Doesn't look like he's got too much gas judgin' from where the outriggers are. Maybe a mid-air swig was planned en route for old time's sake.

At takeoff speed, the wingtips are that high regardless of fuel load in the outboard. The wings start flying and lift off the ground, then the fuselage "catches up" to them and they're off. IIRC, the externals are hardly ever filled anymore for training flights.

(U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Cassandra Jones)

Well I'm embarrassed to say that it bein' on the TO roll didn't even occur to me. Embarassed

Can definately see some lift happenin' there.

Don't be embarrassed, with a BUFF, you never know sometimes what it might be doing... Very Happy

tbarlow wrote:

Don't be embarrassed, with a BUFF, you never know sometimes what it might be doing... Very Happy

Especially since it climbs with a nose low attitude thanks to the wing's incidence. I remember seeing several G models sitting on the flightline at Barksdale with one wing down and the outrigger really fully compressed with the other wingtip WAY up in the air (so much that maint troops could walk under the external without ducking) due to uneven fuel load.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:

Someone needs to inform A1C Stratton that "LA" is not part of the official tail number. Must be a noob.

Maybe not a noob, just a NONNER.

tbarlow wrote:

Don't be embarrassed, with a BUFF, you never know sometimes what it might be doing...

Yeah, like breaking. Wink

Seriously, when it comes to the BUFFs, I don't think we need to put more in AMARG, we need to simply make more Cann birds. Even some of the old G models are still good for some parts.

BUFFs still look funny without that M-61 gun sticking out the back. I remember going down the taxiway at Minot one day in 1972 and having a BUFF's tail gun track us as we drove by. That's sorta like me years later locking my F-16s radar on Air Force One as it did touch 'n goes at KRIC. Ahhh, the good ole days!!

SixerViper wrote:

BUFFs still look funny without that M-61 gun sticking out the back. I remember going down the taxiway at Minot one day in 1972 and having a BUFF's tail gun track us as we drove by. That's sorta like me years later locking my F-16s radar on Air Force One as it did touch 'n goes at KRIC. Ahhh, the good ole days!!

I always preferred the quad .50's of the G model myself. Nice and smooth looking without the bulk of the cockpit back there. My neighbor at Barksdale was a gunner before they dropped the position and he showed me around the gunners station once. He wouldn't power it up and let me control the turret, but he showed me how it's done.

Had a brother stationed at Kinchloe AFB, MI (near Kinross) back in the early 70's. Me and the parents go up to visit and he managed to get me into the left seat of one of their jets (may have been a G). I was 11 and didn't know what I was lookin' at....but thought it was cool nonetheless! It had that "Au du BUFF" aroma that gave it a certain....ummmm...."atmosphere"... all it's own. Wink

Forum: Military Aircraft of the Cold War

Retiring some B52H's...