B-52 Turns 60 (Page 2): Thanks for the correction :thumbup: . I was so into the article that I didn't even check when it was written.

chienfou Loc: Valley Stream, NY

houdel wrote:

Actually the article is almost three years old, which makes the B-52 63 years old this February. In three more years they can start collecting Social Security - if there are any funds left in the trust by then!

Thanks for the correction :thumbup: . I was so into the article that I didn't even check when it was written.

Duckfart Loc: Olympia, Washington

I was the last gunner to fly in a buff. When I flew 'D' models during Arc Light I was always amazed how much the wings would bend upward in a turn--About 15 to 20 feet if you were dodging a SAM and 'bending' it. This and the C-130 are probably the 2 most reliable aircraft made.

chienfou Loc: Valley Stream, NY

Duckfart wrote:

I was the last gunner to fly in a buff. When I flew 'D' models during Arc Light I was always amazed how much the wings would bend upward in a turn--About 15 to 20 feet if you were dodging a SAM and 'bending' it. This and the C-130 are probably the 2 most reliable aircraft made.

The RC and KC-135 are still going strong too in all the different models. I worked on the RC C & E models and they are still flying.

Madman Loc: Gulf Coast, Florida USA

Back in the late 60's while I was a crew member on the P-2, we would occasionally get missions to the North Atlantic. On our return to Floyd Bennett Field (NAS New York) we would stop at Plattsburgh AFB in upstate New York for refueling.

Plattsburgh was home to a SAC wing and as we would taxi down the 11,000' runway, we would pass by an incredible number of B-52's parked wingtip to wingtip alongside the runway.

It was frightening to imagine the destruction that these aircraft could do.

Dakota Boreas

Duckfart wrote:

I was the last gunner to fly in a buff. When I flew 'D' models during Arc Light I was always amazed how much the wings would bend upward in a turn--About 15 to 20 feet if you were dodging a SAM and 'bending' it. This and the C-130 are probably the 2 most reliable aircraft made.

I got shot up in a 130 but not shot down.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

I remember watching the '52's taking off while we were driving by Eielson AFB in Alaska in 1957 in the winter. What a sight to see, couldn't take a picture. There was a guard post at each end of the base and they knew how long it took to come out the other end. If you took to long they would be all over you like a cheap suit. The cold war was on and we took it serious in Alaska at the time. I was 10 years old, who would of thought they would still be in the air. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

chienfou wrote:

She's 60 years old and still relevant, that makes me feel good. What an AWESOME bird.

http://www.cnet.com/pictures/the-b-52-bomber-turns-60-photos/?ftag=ACQ0249d8e&vndid=reuters-reuters

She is indeed a wonderful bird. During my 6 year stint with the Air Force I spent some time at a SAC base (SAC is no longer) and we had about 16 of them on that base. It is indeed an extra good airplane built by the Boeing Company. I worked for them for a short time and can tell you their construction standards are very, very high.

Given the quality that Boeing demands I'm not surprised the "buffer" has lasted all these years and yes, still important to our strategic defense.

Catnlion Loc: Arizona City, Arizona

Dakota Boreas wrote:

I got shot up in a 130 but not shot down.

While the C-130 will go and go, it can go without me. I hope I never have another reason to crew one

Dakota Boreas

Catnlion wrote:

While the C-130 will go and go, it can go without me. I hope I never have another reason to crew one

I traveled a lot in Viet Nam, mostly on 123's and 130's. The C-130's were much nicer.

Catnlion Loc: Arizona City, Arizona

Dakota Boreas wrote:

I traveled a lot in Viet Nam, mostly on 123's and 130's. The C-130's were much nicer.

Nicer than what? I was also qualified on C-9 and C-141.

Dakota Boreas

Catnlion wrote:

Nicer than what? I was also qualified on C-9 and C-141.

The 130 was much nicer than his little brother the 123. Many of the 123's had the windows removed. The noise was painful.

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

chienfou wrote:

She's 60 years old and still relevant, that makes me feel good. What an AWESOME bird.

http://www.cnet.com/pictures/the-b-52-bomber-turns-60-photos/?ftag=ACQ0249d8e&vndid=reuters-reuters

I dident think they been around that long . never knew they had a female in the group . she must have joined later . I still like there old songs when there played on the radio .

Bram boy Loc: Vancouver Island B.C. Canada

Bram boy wrote:

I dident think they been around that long . never knew they had a female in the group . she must have joined later . I still like there old songs when there played on the radio .

sorry wrong group dident read it all first . "sorry"