Boeing’s oldest jet-powered bomber, the B-52 Stratofortress is, at age 75, older than most Flying readers. According to a story in DefenseOne.com, reengining work scheduled for later this year on the 76 aircraft remaining in the US Air Force inventory could keep the historic machines flying until they’re more than 100 years old. Boeing’s YB-52 prototype first flew in April 1952. “The new engines are intended to enable the B-52 to serve alongside the future B-21 Raider as the airborne leg of the nuclear triad into the 2050s,” the story reported.
B-52 Engine Replacement Could Keep the Bomber Flying Past its 100th Birthday
Key Takeaways:
- The B-52 Stratofortress, at 75 years old, is set for reengining work later this year to extend its service life to over 100 years, potentially flying alongside the B-21 Raider into the 2050s.
- A key factor in the B-52's remarkable longevity is its incredible versatility, adapting from a high-altitude nuclear bomber to a precision strike platform and soon, the first American hypersonic shooter.
- The B-52 is a heavy bomber capable of carrying up to 70,000 lbs. of payload and has a max takeoff weight of 488,000 lbs.
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