B-52H Stratofortress Bomber: 'Big Ugly Fat Fellow' Likely to Lead US Fleet for Decades

Video: B-52H Stratofortress Bomber: 'Big Ugly Fat Fellow' Likely to Lead US Fleet for Decades

The B-52H is the US Air Force’s (USAF) long-range, large-payload multirole bomber and is known as the Stratofortress or the Buff (big ugly fat fellow). It is the USAF’s principal strategic nuclear and conventional weapons platform that supports the US Navy in anti-surface and submarine warfare missions.

The B-52H is a very large aircraft, with a length of 159ft 4in (48.5m) and take-off weight of 488,000lb (220,000kg). The all-metal skin bears a high proportion of flight loading. When on the ground, the surface of the aircraft on the forward section of the fuselage has a wrinkled appearance. The skin expands and becomes smooth as the crew compartment is pressurised when the aircraft gains altitude.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress celebrated its 50th anniversary (first flight April 1952) in April 2002 and is the longest-serving combat aircraft in the world – a total of 744 were built.

The B-52H entered service in 1961 and 104 of them were built. The last was delivered in October 1962. Due to an extensive system and structural upgrades, its service life is expected to continue beyond 2030.

The USAF retired 18 B-52H aircraft leaving 76 bombers in service stationed at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and Minot AFB in North Dakota.

The aircraft were retired at the rate of one every two weeks and are stored in a hangar at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma in case they are required in future. The first aircraft was retired in July 2008. All B-52s were transferred from Air Combat Command (ACC) to the new Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) in 2010.

The USAF plans to re-engine its B-52 fleet under the Commercial Engine Re-engining Program (CERP). Rolls-Royce plans to offer its F130 engine for the programme. The re-engined B-52 fleet is expected to achieve initial operational capability by 2024.

Video by US Air Force, Staff Sgt. Jonathan A Guzman, Airman 1st Class Jamie Titus, Airman 1st Class Jennifer Zima
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