 | B-52 Longevity| Modern Discuss B-52 Longevity in the Other Eras forums; How does the B-52 able to remain in service for so long (and until 2025) when parts are no ... |
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06-05-2006, 10:56 AM
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#1 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Posts: 214
| B-52 Longevity
How does the B-52 able to remain in service for so long (and until 2025) when parts are no longer made for the craft? I understand that many pieces are available from the boneyards, but what about the structure and wings? Don't these have a limited amount of time until structural fatigue would set into the meta? | 
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06-05-2006, 12:06 PM
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#2 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country:  | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Marshall_Stack How does the B-52 able to remain in service for so long (and until 2025) when parts are no longer made for the craft? I understand that many pieces are available from the boneyards, but what about the structure and wings? Don't these have a limited amount of time until structural fatigue would set into the meta? | Yes and no...
These aircraft are rotated through "Depot Maintenance" where they are almost taken completely apart and those critical structures are the ones rebuilt. At the same time the airframe is "Non-destructive Tested" NDI through such methods as ultra-sound and x-ray to further ensure that there are no failures in any of the primary structure. There are many components of the aircraft were the fatigue life is unknown and has been extended by Boeing and Air Force engineers....
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06-05-2006, 12:27 PM
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#3 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: City of the Angels California
Posts: 810
| And believe it or not there are Buff pilots whose fathers flew the same plane when they were on active duty. Not just another B-52 the SAME exact one!
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06-05-2006, 12:29 PM
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#4 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Posts: 214
| Thanks for the info Flyboy. I'm still amazed that they can last so long. | |
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06-05-2006, 12:33 PM
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#5 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
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Originally Posted by Marshall_Stack Thanks for the info Flyboy. I'm still amazed that they can last so long. | They may last well beyond 2025....
The US tax payer realy got their money's worth. I'd like to tell that to some pinko who drives around with this stupid bumper sticker... 
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06-05-2006, 01:40 PM
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#6 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: British Columbia
Posts: 147
Country:  | From what I've read the crew compartments in the BUFFs smell pretty funky from the years of box lunches and chemical toilets.
The smell of Freedom I guess. 
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06-05-2006, 01:42 PM
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#7 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: St. Louis, Mo.
Posts: 214
| I like your comment - "The Smell of Freedom". Good name for a rock band.... | |
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06-05-2006, 03:04 PM
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#8 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
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Originally Posted by Dac From what I've read the crew compartments in the BUFFs smell pretty funky from the years of box lunches and chemical toilets.
The smell of Freedom I guess. | Don't forget vomit!
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06-05-2006, 08:05 PM
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#9 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: British Columbia
Posts: 147
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Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ Don't forget vomit! | 
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06-20-2006, 12:39 PM
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#10 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California
Posts: 1,187
Country: | B-52 flyover, er, flyunder
Here is an email I received. The source is trustworthy I have the name of the writer.
"This picture is real because I witnessed this flyby personally.
This picture was taken in the spring of 1990 as we started are deployment to the Persian Gulf.
I was up in the "tower" with the air boss as the Viking squadron rep for the launch/recovery and
these Buff drivers (2 of them) called that they were at 8 miles for a flyby. They had been 'orange air' for a big war - at - sea exercise we were doing When they called 5 miles the boss said "we don't see you" and we heard back "look low". Out on the water we saw this smoke trail first, (the planes merged with the color of the water) at about a 1-2 miles we could break them out and the two buffs came by at 20-30 feet off the water splitting the ship at about 350kts. Then they pulled up and did a big plan form 180 and said "do you want to see that again" - The air boss said "hell yea" so they went back out an did it again.
It was the only time in my 20 year career that I have seen any services jets purposely flying below flight deck level.
One of my reserve buddies showed me this picture this weekend and I got all excited about it. It was always one of those
moments at sea that I had talked about." | |
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06-20-2006, 12:42 PM
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#11 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country: | Great shot!!!!
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06-20-2006, 01:41 PM
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#12 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 8,303
| yes, a very good shot!!!!!
I bet thats a view few sailors will forget.
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06-20-2006, 01:48 PM
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#13 | | World Traveler
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK
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Country:  | That is for sure sys! Great shot!
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06-22-2006, 06:41 AM
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#14 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Londonium
Posts: 610
| I've seen that photo before and wondered if it was fake or not, amazing!
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06-22-2006, 07:47 AM
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#15 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,729
Country: | I did a little digging about that shot and everything I have read points to it being a real photo. I also spoke with a carrier pilot last night and he said that they had a flypast just like that back in 1995. He said the Brits in their Tornados were even lower, when they passed by, you only heard them until they popped up in front of the carrier!
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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