Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52 Stratofortress is a bomber which, with in-air refueling, can fly long distances to reach targets anywhere in the world. The B-52 can carry up to 70000 lbs of bombs and weapons in its large bomb bays, and on wing hard points.

B-52 Stratofortress
A United States Air Force B-52 bomber in-flight
Role	Bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	April 1952
Status	Operational Active: 58 Reserve: 18 ANG: 0
Primary user	United States Air Force

This airplane is one of the most significant in modern aviation history on several levels. It was created in 1948 as a strategic nuclear bomber, and first flew in the early 1950s. The B-52 fought its first war, under the code name of "Arc Light" in Vietnam from 1965 through 1973. The B-52 is a direct ancestor of many of the airliners which have made Boeing Aircraft, one of the most successful privately owned aerospace company in the world. The B-52 will stay in military service until around 2040. It is not clear what will replace it as the United States Air Force's main strategic bomber.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Media

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  XB-52 prototype on flight line (X-4 in foreground; B-36 behind). Note original tandem-seat "bubble" style canopy, similar to Boeing's earlier B-47 Stratojet.

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  Side view of YB-52 bomber, still fitted with a tandem cockpit, in common with other jet bombers in US service, such as the B-45 Tornado, B-47 Stratojet and Martin B-57 Canberra

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  B-52H Stratofortress undergoing maintenance to its rudder with its fin folded

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  First flight of the B-52 Stratofortress on 15 April 1952

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  B-29 Superfortress Doc, B-17 Flying Fortress Thunderbird, and a B-52 Stratofortress flying in formation at the 2017 Barksdale Air Force Base Airshow

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  B-52H (AF Ser. No. 61-23), configured at the time as a testbed to investigate structural failures, still flying after its vertical stabilizer sheared off in severe turbulence on 10 January 1964. The aircraft landed safely.

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  A view of the lower deck of the B-52, dubbed the battle station

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  A B-52D with anti-flash white on the underside

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  B-52H bomb bay: AGM-69 SRAM missiles (front) and B28 nuclear bombs (background), as a downloading takes place during Exercise GLOBAL SHIELD '84

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  Members of the Global Strike Challenge nuclear/conventional load crew team lift a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition into position during a dry run leading up to the 2012 Air Force Global Strike Command Challenge on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., Aug. 20, 2012.