The Boeing B52 Stratofortress is the mighty U.S. bomber that flew more than 70 years ago. A historical documentary that looks back at the first missions.
The Boeing B52 Stratofortress is an American longrange, subsonic, jetpowered strategic bomber. The B52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.

Beginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B52 design evolved from a straightwing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The B52 took its maiden flight in April 1952. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold Warera deterrence missions, the B52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B36 Peacemaker. A veteran of several wars, the B52 has dropped only conventional munitions in combat. The B52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fucker/Fella).

The B52 has been in service with the USAF since 1955. As of June 2019, there are 76 aircraft in inventory; 58 operated by active forces (2nd Bomb Wing and 5th Bomb Wing), 18 by reserve forces (307th Bomb Wing), and about 12 in longterm storage at the DavisMonthan AFB Boneyard. The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command (ACC); in 2010, all B52 Stratofortresses were transferred from the ACC to the new Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite the advent of later, more advanced strategic bombers, including the Mach 2+ B58 Hustler, the canceled Mach 3 B70 Valkyrie, the variablegeometry B1 Lancer, and the stealth B2 Spirit. The B52 completed 60 years of continuous service with its original operator in 2015. After being upgraded between 2013 and 2015, the last airplanes are expected to serve into the 2050s.

Throughout the Cold War, B52s and other US strategic bombers performed airborne alert patrols under code names such as Head Start, Chrome Dome, Hard Head, Round Robin, and Giant Lance. Bombers loitered at high altitudes near the borders of the Soviet Union to provide rapid first strike or retaliation capability in case of nuclear war. These airborne patrols formed one component of the US's nuclear deterrent, which would act to prevent the breakout of a largescale war between the US and the Soviet Union under the concept of Mutually Assured Destruction.

General characteristics:

Crew: 5 (pilot, copilot, weapon systems officer, navigator, electronic warfare officer)
Length: 159 ft 4 in (48.5 m)
Wingspan: 185 ft 0 in (56.4 m)
Height: 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m)
Wing area: 4,000 sq ft (370 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 63A219.3 mod root, NACA 65A209.5 tip
Empty weight: 185,000 lb (83,250 kg)
Gross weight: 265,000 lb (120,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 488,000 lb (219,600 kg)
Fuel capacity: 47,975 U.S. gal (39,948 imp gal; 181,610 L)
Zerolift drag coefficient: 0.0119 (estimated)
Drag area: 47.60 sq ft (4.42 m2)
Aspect ratio: 8.56
Powerplant: 8 × Pratt & Whitney TF33P3/103 turbofans, 17,000 lbf (76 kN) thrust each
Performance

Maximum speed: 650 mph (1,050 km/h, 560 kn)
Cruise speed: 509 mph (819 km/h, 442 kn)
Combat range: 8,800 mi (14,200 km, 7,600 nmi)
Ferry range: 10,145 mi (16,327 km, 8,816 nmi)
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 6,270 ft/min (31.85 m/s)
Wing loading: 120 lb/sq ft (586 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.31
Lifttodrag ratio: 21.5 (estimated)
Armament
Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan cannon originally mounted in a remote controlled tail turret on the Hmodel, removed in 1991 from all operational aircraft.
Bombs: Approximately 70,000 lb (31,500 kg) mixed ordnance; bombs, mines, missiles, in various configurations.
Avionics
Electrooptical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward looking infrared and high resolution lowlightlevel television sensors
ADR8 chaff rocket (1965–1970)
LITENING Advanced Targeting System
Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
IBM AP101 computer

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