Discovery Wings - Great Planes - Boeing B52 Stratofortess

[Monza62000]

the  yb49 was the best

[ad356]

lol they were even talking about replacing the b52 when this show was new........ its still in service and is expected to be until 2040, thats 90 years of service. only matched by the tu95 Russian bear counterpart.... how ironic?

[skeilak]

@ad356

Well, there will probably still be a few DC-3/C-47s flying around then, as well.

Probably even a few Piper Cubs, too.

Excellent aircraft design is timeless.

[ad356]

@skeilak dc3's/c47's are awesome. i have had the pleasure helping to work on a c47 that belongs to a local muesum, the 1941 HAG.(historical aircraft group). the aircraft can be seen in the airshow circuit around the country. they fly her 50+ hours per season. i think there will always be dc3's in the air. its a tough, durable, versatile aircraft much like the b52

[skeilak]

@ad356

Restoring a classic flying machine sounds like a wonderful way to spend some free time.

Until recently, my job required my traveling around the US, often utilizing small, local airports. I was amazed how often I'd see a DC-3 sitting on the apron.

Even more amazing, when you realize that not one of them is less than 65 years old.

And a good many of them don't look like restoration projects, but actual working aircraft.

[dvamateur]

The music is great!!! from like 19:12 to 19:17 it must be the DX7, nothing else sounds like this.

[mohiahmed1]

That b52 is a bad ass plane,and so is the warthog in the videos over here>>>>

we made all this technology during the cold war era, and to think, we could made totally different technology,to help mankind, not destroy it. Sure it bought us to the moon, but to think we probably coulda done so much more, if only the world saw through the same lens.

[coupedude]

The StratoFORTESS must have been a very limited model. As far as i am aware all other versions bar the one that Luciano has seen are tagged as StratoFORTRESS lmfao.

[HenryDavidT]

Yes, dropping 3M tons of conventional explosives and chemical bombs on tens of thousands of square miles below --- where millions of civilians live --- is quite "effective." So long as it is on SOMEONE ELSE's head, not your own.

[dvamateur]

@HenryDavidT Nah... B29 with one bomb over Hiroshima was more effective

[stuntmanmike37]

Clearly nearing the end of it's life? Doubt it! I can't wait to see 75 years of Buffs!

[samopdrift]

@stuntmanmike37 It is a great plane, but most B 52's now in service are more than 30 years old, which is really almost the limit for an airframe. Besides, it is big and quite easy to hit with modern SAM's. In the near future, warfare will probably not be carried out with big conventional planes dropping bombs, but more with unmanned drones, stealth planes or experimental 'things' like the X-43. Star Wars coming true... Well, we'll see.

[stuntmanmike37]

@samopdrift Actually, the youngest B-52s in service are 1961 models. So they've celebrated their 50th birthdays this year! But I still crew an airplane that's even older. ;-)

[samopdrift]

@stuntmanmike37 ... But that's what you are a stuntman for, i guess??? ;-p

[stuntmanmike37]

@samopdrift You have to be part stuntman to work on a KC-135. lol.

[samopdrift]

@stuntmanmike37 It seems SAC turns itself intu a flying museum! But there is something to say for flying Boeing planes: they must be very well-made. Not many airframes turn 50 and are still doing their daily job...

[jimmy24508]

@samopdrift today they are flying the modern b-52h, which is not 50 years old

[jimmy24508]

@samopdrift but still they are very reliable

[montrosepatriot]

Of the three B-52As produced - #52-003 was transferred to NASA until Balls 8 became its replacement...

[Josh31656]

Thanks for adding this! Easily my favorite episode from this series.