B-52 Stratofortress bomber

Usaf.Boeing B-52 — A B-52H from Barksdale AFB flying over the desert.

StatsEdit

B-52 Stratofortress.
Category.	Statistic.
First flight on.	15 April, 1952.
Retired on.	No.
Major contractor(s) .	Boeing.
Dose it use nukes or cruse missiles.	Yes, both. Nukes of various types and yield, including the nuclear type of cruse missile. Non-nuclear cruise missiles also used.
Fight ceiling .	50,000 ft (15,000 m).
Top speed.	560 kn (650 mph, 1,047 km/h).
VTOL.	No.
Range.	Ferry range: 10,145 mi (8,764 nmi, 16,232 km).
Crew.	5.
Nationality(s).	American.
Class.	Subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber.
Rate of climb.	6,270 ft/min (31.85 m/s).
Ground attack weapons.	Bombs, mines, missiles, the MK 39 nuclear bomb and cruse missiles. Some also carry technical and scientific instruments for NASA.
Links.	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-52_Stratofortress and http://fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/b-52.htm.

NamesEdit

The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fucker).

50 years?Edit

It was reckoned that the air-frames had about another 50 year's life in them according to a 2009 and 2012 documentary. 1952-2062 = a 110 year life span for the oldest, with avionics and weapons upgrades!

AccidentsEdit

1966 Palomares B-52 crashEdit

The 1966 Palomares B-52 crash was a Cold War era B-52 Stratofortress bomber and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker mid air collision that destroyed both aircraft and almost caused a nuclear accident.

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