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Author Topic: B-52s  (Read 1444 times)

Offline Syzygyone

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B-52s
« on: September 20, 2001, 12:50:00 PM »
Quote
From CNN: "Among the aircraft being deployed are F-15E and F-16 fighters and B-52 bombers  

Are 52s still active in the inventory?   What ordinance, Cruise missles?
  :confused:
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Offline Rebel

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B-52s
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2001, 12:56:00 PM »
Rollin' Thunder, baby  ;)
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Offline Maverick

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B-52s
« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2001, 12:56:00 PM »
52's are still active and they have combination loadouts of dumb bombs and cruise missles.

There are a few still on nuclear status as well I believe.

There are still lots of them at the bone yard in AZ available for refit and return to duty. Quite a few of the ones on Nuclear duty were cut up as part of the SALT agreement but the conventional buffs are still kicking there.

Mav
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Offline AKDejaVu

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B-52s
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2001, 01:10:00 PM »
B-52s are still in the arsenal.  There just isn't a plane that can replace them right now.

Their primary role is dropping massive ammounts of conventional bombs.  Cruise missiles would be a secondary role.  A b-52 can carry 12 cruise missiles externally if memory serves me correctly.  It can also carry some 128 500lb bombs... or was it 1000 lb bombs?  Can't remember anymore.

The B-1 is primarily a cruise missile launching platform, though it was retrofitted to handle conventional bombs some time ago.  It definately excells at the former though... being specificially designed using cruise missile rotary launchers as its main platform.

The B-2 is one I don't really know about.  My initial impressions is that it too would be a cruise missile launching platform over a gp bomb dropper.

I really don't know if we'd have a huge need for the B-52 to drop anything but cruise missiles in Afghanistan... strategically speaking.  There really isn't an entire army to try to demoralize.  My money says the conventional weapons are going to be delivered by F-117, F-15E and F/A-18 fighters as opposed to bombers.

AKDejaVu
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highflyer

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B-52s
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2001, 01:22:00 PM »
I worked in and on the B2 for a few years.

just to give you an Idea of how large the two weapons bays are... You can fit about 4 small cars(similar to a maxima) in each bay  ;)

Cant tell ya much more than that  :D

not allowed...
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Offline mrfish

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B-52s
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2001, 07:48:00 PM »
i helped restore the one at travis afb. used to sit up there for hours 0 it's an oven in those things. b52s rock, i love em.
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Offline Yoj

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B-52s
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2001, 02:34:00 PM »
B-52's will be in the inventory at least another 20 years - maybe more.  There is talk of redesigning them with four engines.

Interesting trivia - the bomb release mechanism in the B-52 is the next upgrade of the one in the B-29.  It has not changed since 1953.  I guess when you got it right...

- Yoj
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Offline Gadfly

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B-52s
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2001, 02:50:00 PM »
   

My brothers B52 doing a fly by of a successful (the blackened area mid-ship)  training attack on a target ship.  Harpoon, if I remember right, from 50 miles away, just after they converted from nuclear alert forces.

[ 09-21-2001: Message edited by: Gadfly ]
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Offline Ripsnort

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B-52s
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2001, 02:52:00 PM »
Did you know that there is not one original rivet on any currently active B52 that was there when it was produced?  Every part has been replaced by spares over the last 40 years..and yep, they'll be around another 40..when you enter my office at home, you are greeted with a 'Nam verison 1/72 scale B52 I made about 10 years ago.  Besides the Black Widow, the B52 is my 2nd favorite A/C.(not that you care...)
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Offline Replicant

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B-52s
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2001, 03:13:00 PM »
B-52s usually operate out of RAF Fairford in the UK.  I'm not sure if the new runway at Fairford has been completed yet so I haven't a clue where they'd operate from.  

Regards

Nexx
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NEXX

Offline Gadfly

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B-52s
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2001, 03:21:00 PM »
Here is another interesting fact.  At that time(early 80s), there were an estimated 5,000#s of dead wires in each plane from updated avionics.  Just cut em off at the ends and leave em in there.
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Offline discod

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B-52s
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2001, 04:39:00 PM »
I can't remember for sure but I beleive this was a B52 on display at the Texas air show last Con.  

It is freaking huge!  This is Rafbader and me
 


this is Rafbader and LLB in one of the mongo huge bombays.  Looked like this one bay could hold 6 cruise missiles.
 
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Offline snafu

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B-52s
« Reply #12 on: September 21, 2001, 05:08:00 PM »
Hey Gadfly,
 You got a bigger version of that pic? Really nice <S>

TTFN
snafu
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Offline -ammo-

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B-52s
« Reply #13 on: September 21, 2001, 05:11:00 PM »
Quote
Originally posted by Replicant:
B-52s usually operate out of RAF Fairford in the UK.  I'm not sure if the new runway at Fairford has been completed yet so I haven't a clue where they'd operate from.  

Regards

Nexx


I was at RAF fairford for desert storm. The B52H (model deployed) will hold 52 500 lb bombs or CBU87's or CBU89's. They will operate out of Diego Garcia.
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Offline Ripsnort

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B-52s
« Reply #14 on: September 21, 2001, 08:42:00 PM »
Disco'd, did they have a ladder up to the window?  Its funny seeing analog mixed with digital stuff in the cockpits, (It's 1960, no! its 2001 !~)
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