‘We do heavy maintenance to the B-52. I mean heavy,’ Darren Dennis, Aerospace Propulsion Apprentice at US Air Force.
The B-52 Stratofortress has served as the backbone of the US-manned strategic bomber force ever since it entered service. The B-52 is known as the “Big Ugly Fat F****r” by its aircrews, and it is equipped to drop or launch the most varied lineup of US arsenal weaponry. This includes joint direct attack munitions (JDAMs), precision-guided missiles, cluster bombs, gravity bombs, and such.
The US Air Force (USAF) has actually decided that the B-52 will continue to be used until at least 2040 when it intends to retire all B-1B and B-2 bombers. In order to operate alongside the newest Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, a proposal to re-engine the fleet of 76 B-52H aircraft was made in 2018. The goal of this project, known as the Commercial Engine Replacement Program (CERP), is to equip the illustrious aircraft with current-model, commercially available business jet engines.
But how did the recognizable BUFF manage to continue operating for so long?
‘We do heavy maintenance to the B-52. I mean heavy,’ says Darren Dennis, Aerospace Propulsion Apprentice at US Air Force, on Quora.
‘I work on the engines of the B-52 and I can tell you that anything that even looks broken, from everything from clamps to major components gets replaced or repaired by the good ole maintenance folk.
‘Not to mention the Air Force has very strict guidelines of how our parts and components are maintained and kept serviceable.
‘Think about it this way. Imagine you buy a car and as the years wear on it, eventually you can’t drive it anymore because the parts are too worn out. Even if you change the fluids and do every simple maintenance thing you could to it.
‘Now imagine if every 1,000 miles on your car, mechanics are going in and changing out everything from your tires, wiring, body paneling, AC, fluids, lights, and car seats. Essentially your car will last forever.
‘Same concept with the B-52. Also, it’s just a reliable aircraft.’
Dennis concludes;
‘The Air Force isn’t getting rid of them any time soon cause there isn’t anything good enough to replace it yet. Much like the A-10 Warthog.’
The classic BUFF will likely continue to fly for at least another 25 years, proving that old soldiers don’t die; they only fade away, until a new aircraft is created to replace this legendary model.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander W. Riedel and Airman 1st Class Jacob B. Wrightsman / U.S. Air Force