One of my favorite memes shows "The retirement ceremony of the last active-duty B-2 bomber interrupted by a B-52 conducting routine touch and goes." Like a handful of other great aircraft, the only replacement for a BUFF is another BUFF.
In the mid 70's, I was in the active duty USAF at Whiteman AFB. I lived off base and my house was just off the north end of the runway. We had 9 B-52's and three KC 135's at that time. They flew over my house at a very low altitude at all hours of the day and night. My house would literally shake. I loved it. :-)
I first heard this comment years ago. "When the last B-2 is retired the crew will catch a ride home on a B-52." I worked on fighters and attack aircraft during my Air Force career, but I always had great respect for the buffs, their aircrew, and their mantainers.
@@marklindsey1995 : I lack the technical term for the equipment used to affect the horizontal component of lift. You are correct - I couldn't think of the term.
@@marklindsey1995 Interesting. I learned something new. Apparently the B-52s do have ailerons, but they're bolted in place because they put too much stress on the airframe when used for roll control. They use only the spoilers "spoilerons" instead for roll control.
@@adamant365 B-52 H models do not have ailerons. Never did. The roll control is accomplished by spoilers on the wing. And the concept of "bolted in place" is completely wrong. Airplanes do not have flight controls "bolted" in any way. Fun fact - B-1B also has no ailerons. Roll control is accomplished by spoilers and differential movement by the stabilators.
What is amazing is that the B-52 has been around for almost 70 years, albeit with countless updates and modifications. If the B-17 had that lifespan, it would have been around until 2005.
@@stuartdavis798 A - G models only. This is an H model, which has been the only model of B-52 in service since the G's retired in the '90s. The H models have had the low bypass fan TF-33 engines since they left the factory in the early '60s. The TF-33s never had or needed water injection, and were the quieter, less smoky, and somewhat more thrusty "new" engine, compared to the J57 turbojets on the A - G.
@@TS-ef2gv My comment was meant in general, not specifically to the plane in the video. While I’m sure you meant well in trying to “educate” me, it was neither necessary or appreciated. I don’t know if you’ve ever flown in a Buff but having barely missed objects at the end of the runway on more than one occasion in a KC-135 A model, water injected, and which I’m sure you could also write a dissertation about, I can assure you that the water injection comment was relevant and something you perhaps cannot comprehend, humorous. NKAWOTG!
@@richardroberts5668 There was an issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, I think it was a 1990s issue, featuring a photo of three generations of Buff pilots. Father, son, and grandson had all flown the same serial number.
I was stationed at Barksdale AFB from October 1965 until June 1967. I never got tired of watching the B-52's take off and land. When we would have an Operational Readiness Inspection all the B-52's would have to take off in a certain amount of time. All those planes taking off with full military power was something to behold. Amazing airplane that just keeps on improving with new platforms of service. Long live the BUFF.
I flew out of Barksdale in 1968, & 69, but 135s. The BUF's were G models and like the 135 were water wagons. The theme was "turning fuel and water to noise and smoke" and "135''s built when man thought he could burn water".
When we got to Mountain Home Air Force Base in 1973, there were 3 KC-135's and 3 B-52's based there. I saw B-52's in the air quite regularly for a long time. I miss those days.
From 1962 to 1964 I lived about 5 miles due north of the main north/south runway of a major SAC base. I remember seeing B-52s stacked up waiting to take off. I have seen as many as 16 take of in just a few minutes. They are truly awesome aircraft.
I was in Austin NW of Bergstrom AFB when it was still a SAC base same time. Col. Harry Lester was an AC on the B-52 and he had the red phone with the 100' cord so he could take it in the back yard when he was cooking hamburgers. He gave me his model of the F-86 he flew in Korea and have spent 50+ years in the cockpit because of that.
@@LoosMoose Ah, good ole Bergstrom! I was stationed there in the 23rd TASS (TAC) from August 1978 to August 1979, leaving 364 days after I arrived! My late wife & I were married in the chapel there.
@@stejer211 the sound that lets you make inane comments like that. Freedom is not free. You shouldn’t take the Freedoms and Liberties you enjoy for granted. They were paid for in blood.
As a kid back in 1960, my family lived under the glide slope to Tinker. My mother used to use some bad words when the dishes would shake in the kitchen cabinets as the B-52's went overhead. I also remember them at Blytheville AFB in '63 before they all deployed to Guam for the war. What a magnificent aircraft!
It’s nice to see a video shot by a professional instead of the usual iPhone vertical, out of focus, talking, and trying to control your dog and kids at the same time. Thank you, camera person.
Man! This reminds me of a time in the early sixties, when my dad used to take me to Philadelphia International Airport to watch early 707s take off. TWA anyone? The smoke and roar of the engines was spectacular, especially for a ten year old, plus or minus.
@@anderspedersen6750 I'm a 61 year old professional tandem paragliding pilot, here in Zermatt, Switzerland. I have zero doubt that Grandpa BUFF will continue long past me 😜
@@cabanford I'm 54, so I MIGHT, with some good DNA and advances in medicine, MAYBE outlive it. Although now that they are finally re-engining it, USAF will probably retire it a few years after they are done.
I worked with a lot of SAC B-52 Crews from Vietnam, the baddest and the best! Never let you down, but man, you better stand back as they pass through. Thanks to your dad for his dedication and service. I served with SAC 11 years.
My father lived south of Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City during the 50’s. As a WW2 vet, he was asked to be a part of the Civil Air Patrol, and was given a specific task. Every day, he was to write down every plane that flew over his town. Every day, a squadron of B52s would fly over and making their turn for the great circle route to USSR. They were all loaded with bombs, so that in the event that Soviets attacked, we were already on the way. They were to deliver weapons, unless they received orders to turn around.
It amazes me that we have planes like this in our arsenal and little countries still try to pick fights with us. Long live the BUFF and all eight of it's beautiful smoking engines
Grew up in the '50's and '60's near Wright-Patterson AFB. Elementary school was frequently interrupted by B-52 and B-58 takeoffs and landings. Thrilling sounds still today.
Such a pleasure to see her at OSH this year. My Uncle flew BUFF's in the early 60's. Sadly, he's gone now... but he would be amazed, and maybe unsurprised to see them still in service.
that landing gear was top secret for a long time when it was first developed......it allows the plane to take off in a crosswind as it pivots and allows the aircraft to take flight in a direction other than the direction it is rolling
The first time I ever saw a BUFF in flight I was flying in a TH-55 (Army Hughes 300) at Ft Walter’s in Mineral Wells, TX at 500 feet AGL and it came up behind and BELOW me! Seeing that beast slide out from under me was “exciting “! Love the BUFF.
Grandkids of the original pilots were already flying this bird in the early 1990s, Hoss. I'm a *late* Gen Xer with a grandfather who stepped onto Omaha Beach on D-Day, and I'm more than old enough now to be a grandfather. So it's safe to say that some of the WWII vets who were still flying when the last H models came about in 1962 might now or soon have (and this would have BLOWN THEIR MINDS) great-great-granddaughters sitting in the cockpit of the plane that they flew. Google it. There's a story from the early 1990s where three generations of USAF SAC pilots had flown a B-52 with the same tail number before I even graduated high school in 1994.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I was SAC 1CEVG in the Nevada desert. They called us SAC TRAINED KILLER TRAINERS. Bomb runs to evaluate bomb, missile and refueling missions with KC135s from 1976-1982. Best job I ever had. We launched the B1-B as well.
@@caffeineninja4139 Thank you for your service as well. I got to fly as a passenger on KC-135's a couple times. I was at Barksdale from 80'-'81 after serving time as a crew chief on C-130's at Rhein Main. I marveled at the B-52's. I had great friends, and we had awesome officers. Your job sounds amazing there in NV. I would do it all over again.
Flew C-130's during the Gulf War and saw 3x B52's fly over us in a 1 mile spaced, line astern, formation. They were going in on a high altitude bombing run. Just an eerie, spooky look to them, that'll I'll never forget. I think those were the longest bombing missions in history as I recall. Crew bought lawn chair recliners it was reported so they could actually take a break without being in the "seat". Definitely an iconic aircraft and I'd hate to be on the receiving end of it's wrath.
I grew up about 9/10 of a mile from Michael McCoy SAC base, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, Those dudes were LOUD!!! Especially during an ORI alert. One crashed around 1971 or 2 about a half-mile from my parents' house. If I recall, the crew fought valiantly to keep it from crashing in the middle of a housing development. I believe the whole crew died but only 1 civilian, and that was from them dumping fuel I believe that dozens of lives were saved due to that valiant crews efforts. May God bless them.
This beautiful old girl, an H model, Call Sign Torch52, Tail 60-0036 sat in Boeing Plaza all week, I watched the Security Cam panning back and forth, everyone (young) flocked to the F22 Raptor (a great fighter) but kind of shunned the Buff, until Sunday when they tugged 0036 out in the middle of the plaza. People seemed put out that it was IN THEIR WAY, but baby when the rain came down in buckets, their butts ran to get under those wings, all 185 feet of wingspan. Most expensive Umbrella (94 million) in the world, that also doubles as the roughest toughest bomber that ever lived. It was my duty to evaluate her for my 11 years at SAC. My honor to have met her and still love her.
@@tuzu1758 The primary reason why the letter I is skipped is because it can be confused with the letter L in lowercase or the number 1. Also, the letter "O" is skipped because of the number "0".
Dear Rolls: I sincerely hope you treat those incredible aircraft with the reverence they deserve when you build the new engines for them. (regards from this USAF brat whose late dad spent 7 years as senior nav on the G model in the hottest years of the cold war)
When I was a little kid, my grandparents lived in proximity of O hare airport. I can remember watching aircraft taking off and gaining altitude with the black contrails of jet fuel exhaust from all 4 engines on the 747’s.
The smoke trail is the 1200 gallons of water used for added thrust during hot weather take off. During hot weather the air molecules are further apart.
Years ago, I was driving on I-70 west of Manhattan, KS when three B-52s went over headed south towards Wichita at about 1000 ft. AGL. Almost had to pull over to change my Huggies.
I once took the opportunity to crawl up into a display Buff at the SAC museum north of Offutt, before they moved. I was amazed at how small the flight deck was and how many cubic feet of equipment took up space behind. I was in my teens just outside of Wichita when they were being built there and watched them fly overhead many times.
@@mkaestn IIRC, the smoke is because of the required water injection during take off. My father was stationed at Travis AFB, CA from 1955-58 where he worked on B-36s and then B-52s as a Line Chief. When the USAF decided to disperse the BUFFs to more bases, he was transferred to Mather AFB, CA and retired in 1962.
The engine replacement program is finally underway, decades after Boeing recommended it. The new engines will reduce noise, pollution, fuel usage, and maintenance. In fact the new engines are expected to not even need a major overhaul for the life of the plane!
In the 70's and early 80's I worked near Loring AFB in northern Maine. B-52's did touch and goes regularly along with tankers. Flying at higher altitudes, they would practice refueling. I miss those years before bases were decommissioned. Sad times for America's defense capabilities
While driving from Show Low AZ to Winslow with my new wife and her 6yr old son I looked in my rear view mirror and saw B52 about a mile off the highway. It was 1977. I learned later that they used that stretch of road for low level practice to bomb Russia. He was under 1000 ft above the ground.
Major T. J. Kong Quotes Commander of the B-52 Leper Colony “Well, boys, I reckon this is it. New-q-lure combat, toe-to-toe with the Rooskies.” “Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones. You sure you got today's codes?” “Goldie, how many times have I told you guys that I don't want no horsing around on the airplane?” “Stay on the bomb run, boys! I'm gonna get them doors open if it harelips ever'body on Bear Creek!”
One of my favorite memes shows "The retirement ceremony of the last active-duty B-2 bomber interrupted by a B-52 conducting routine touch and goes." Like a handful of other great aircraft, the only replacement for a BUFF is another BUFF.
Remember a sketch of that circulating at the alert facility
"In the year 3000, it'll be me, Ozzy Osbourne, Keith Richards, the 1911, and the Browning .50." - BUFF voiced by @habitual_linecrosser
Never imaginied when I was an 8-10 year old kid watching them and the KC-135s doing touch and gos at Carswell I'd still be seeing them in 2024.
@@clarkgriswold-zr5sb Right! I go back to the B-36's at the same place,,,,,,, It was unreal to see and hear the Peacemaker!
In the mid 70's, I was in the active duty USAF at Whiteman AFB. I lived off base and my house was just off the north end of the runway. We had 9 B-52's and three KC 135's at that time. They flew over my house at a very low altitude at all hours of the day and night. My house would literally shake. I loved it. :-)
What a beauty proudly kept us safe for many years
I first heard this comment years ago. "When the last B-2 is retired the crew will catch a ride home on a B-52." I worked on fighters and attack aircraft during my Air Force career, but I always had great respect for the buffs, their aircrew, and their mantainers.
Actually it was, and will be for MANY years , "When the "B ANYTHING" goes to the Boneyard a KC135 will fly in and take the crew home.!"
I particularly enjoyed seeing the engine smoke deflection when the ailerons were used. What a magnificent bird.
The aircraft does not have ailerons.
@@marklindsey1995 : I lack the technical term for the equipment used to affect the horizontal component of lift. You are correct - I couldn't think of the term.
@@marklindsey1995 Interesting. I learned something new. Apparently the B-52s do have ailerons, but they're bolted in place because they put too much stress on the airframe when used for roll control. They use only the spoilers "spoilerons" instead for roll control.
@@adamant365, this is an H-model, which never had ailerons to begin with. They were only on A-F.
@@adamant365 B-52 H models do not have ailerons. Never did. The roll control is accomplished by spoilers on the wing. And the concept of "bolted in place" is completely wrong. Airplanes do not have flight controls "bolted" in any way. Fun fact - B-1B also has no ailerons. Roll control is accomplished by spoilers and differential movement by the stabilators.
“Grey bomber 1 mile out ..rock your wings…. Nice rock! “ I would like to hear that 😂
No airshow is complete without a BUFF. Always ready to re-arrange real-estate anywhere in the world
Yes! There is real estate that needs moving at this very moment too!!
What is amazing is that the B-52 has been around for almost 70 years, albeit with countless updates and modifications. If the B-17 had that lifespan, it would have been around until 2005.
Tower: hey B52 how much runway are you going to need?
B52: yes
That's why they invented water injection!
@@stuartdavis798 Not on the “H”
@@stuartdavis798 A - G models only. This is an H model, which has been the only model of B-52 in service since the G's retired in the '90s. The H models have had the low bypass fan TF-33 engines since they left the factory in the early '60s. The TF-33s never had or needed water injection, and were the quieter, less smoky, and somewhat more thrusty "new" engine, compared to the J57 turbojets on the A - G.
@@TS-ef2gv My comment was meant in general, not specifically to the plane in the video. While I’m sure you meant well in trying to “educate” me, it was neither necessary or appreciated. I don’t know if you’ve ever flown in a Buff but having barely missed objects at the end of the runway on more than one occasion in a KC-135 A model, water injected, and which I’m sure you could also write a dissertation about, I can assure you that the water injection comment was relevant and something you perhaps cannot comprehend, humorous. NKAWOTG!
What an awesome bunch of angles you got! Great video work!
At 69-years of service, and how many more years to go, the BUFF has to be the longest serving military aircraft in history.
I don't think the last BUFF crew chief's grandmother has been born yet.
Second longest serving actually. First is the Antonov AN-2 Colt, which has been in service since 1947.
@@zachboyd4749 Thanks for that!
@@richardroberts5668 There was an issue of Aviation Week & Space Technology, I think it was a 1990s issue, featuring a photo of three generations of Buff pilots. Father, son, and grandson had all flown the same serial number.
If we’re counting cargo planes used as military planes, then the DC-3/C-47 is probably the longest in service.
I was stationed at Barksdale AFB from October 1965 until June 1967. I never got tired of watching the B-52's take off and land. When we would have an Operational Readiness Inspection all the B-52's would have to take off in a certain amount of time. All those planes taking off with full military power was something to behold. Amazing airplane that just keeps on improving with new platforms of service. Long live the BUFF.
I flew out of Barksdale in 1968, & 69, but 135s. The BUF's were G models and like the 135 were water wagons. The theme was "turning fuel and water to noise and smoke" and "135''s built when man thought he could burn water".
Barksdale is less than 100 miles from here. My parents lived in Bossier during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
When we got to Mountain Home Air Force Base in 1973, there were 3 KC-135's and 3 B-52's based there. I saw B-52's in the air quite regularly for a long time. I miss those days.
From 1962 to 1964 I lived about 5 miles due north of the main north/south runway of a major SAC base. I remember seeing B-52s stacked up waiting to take off. I have seen as many as 16 take of in just a few minutes. They are truly awesome aircraft.
I was in Austin NW of Bergstrom AFB when it was still a SAC base same time. Col. Harry Lester was an AC on the B-52 and he had the red phone with the 100' cord so he could take it in the back yard when he was cooking hamburgers. He gave me his model of the F-86 he flew in Korea and have spent 50+ years in the cockpit because of that.
@@LoosMoose Ah, good ole Bergstrom! I was stationed there in the 23rd TASS (TAC) from August 1978 to August 1979, leaving 364 days after I arrived! My late wife & I were married in the chapel there.
The sound of FREEDOM! Music to my ears.
The sound of the military industrial complex.
@@stejer211 the sound that lets you make inane comments like that. Freedom is not free. You shouldn’t take the Freedoms and Liberties you enjoy for granted. They were paid for in blood.
Why do Americans make this stupid claim?
Absolutely awesome aircraft, thank you for having it front and center all week. was great to see up close again after nearly 25 years.
Lived under the flight line of Tinker Afb for 35years. These big boys are amazing
You lived under the fight line? I guess you got to see a lot of maintenance, repairs and preflights done.
I was stationed at Tinker from late 1981 to ‘83.
Saw lots of different aircraft coming and going.
As a kid back in 1960, my family lived under the glide slope to Tinker. My mother used to use some bad words when the dishes would shake in the kitchen cabinets as the B-52's went overhead. I also remember them at Blytheville AFB in '63 before they all deployed to Guam for the war. What a magnificent aircraft!
What a glorious beast! Thanks to all that maintain and fly her!
Rocking wings on a BUFF is a an affair that requires patience 😂
Yeah, you make a suggestion and it decides to do it after a thought.
Takes 3 passes.
"Don't rush me! I'll get around to it."
....and a bit of adverse yaw 🙂
It is dang near a MIRACLE 185 Foot wingspan of ROCK!
It’s nice to see a video shot by a professional instead of the usual iPhone vertical, out of focus, talking, and trying to control your dog and kids at the same time. Thank you, camera person.
Most TH-cam videos aren’t shot in vertical or out of focus. It’s UNUSUAL to see that these days.
You couldn't do any better, 100% you would definitely film the ground.
What TH-cam channel do you you run again? I forgot...
@@16-BITFPV difficulty recognizing a compliment?
Man! This reminds me of a time in the early sixties, when my dad used to take me to Philadelphia International Airport to watch early 707s take off. TWA anyone? The smoke and roar of the engines was spectacular, especially for a ten year old, plus or minus.
My wife and I both worked on B52 models for about a decade. Some of our best memories from the Air Force were formed by our B52 careers.
Stunning. The sound of freedom
Impressive!! Always loved it when I could watch one flying out of Wurtsmith in Oscoda.
This is the Aircraft with the highest sound both the darkest smoke behind the engines I've ever seen. Your video is amazing.
Nice shots! thanks, thats a lot of plane to be waving!
My 87 year old dad was a B-52 navigator in Vietnam. 15'000+ hours. His planes will outlive him.
And most likely you (and me) as well.
@@anderspedersen6750 I'm a 61 year old professional tandem paragliding pilot, here in Zermatt, Switzerland. I have zero doubt that Grandpa BUFF will continue long past me 😜
@@cabanford I'm 54, so I MIGHT, with some good DNA and advances in medicine, MAYBE outlive it.
Although now that they are finally re-engining it, USAF will probably retire it a few years after they are done.
I worked with a lot of SAC B-52 Crews from Vietnam, the baddest and the best! Never let you down, but man, you better stand back as they pass through. Thanks to your dad for his dedication and service. I served with SAC 11 years.
My father lived south of Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City during the 50’s. As a WW2 vet, he was asked to be a part of the Civil Air Patrol, and was given a specific task. Every day, he was to write down every plane that flew over his town. Every day, a squadron of B52s would fly over and making their turn for the great circle route to USSR. They were all loaded with bombs, so that in the event that Soviets attacked, we were already on the way. They were to deliver weapons, unless they received orders to turn around.
It amazes me that we have planes like this in our arsenal and little countries still try to pick fights with us. Long live the BUFF and all eight of it's beautiful smoking engines
Lol you attack every country first
Hard to believe something so huge and appearing lumbering at first is so graceful in flight.
Those smoking exhaust plumes are beautiful.
Grew up in the '50's and '60's near Wright-Patterson AFB. Elementary school was frequently interrupted by B-52 and B-58 takeoffs and landings. Thrilling sounds still today.
That sound. It's like hearing a song from my youth.
Ok BUFF..Good Rock Good Rock... pink dot cleared to land...
As a kid growing up,
we lived close to McDonnell-Douglass.
In Tulsa, OK.
Say no more.
Such a pleasure to see her at OSH this year. My Uncle flew BUFF's in the early 60's. Sadly, he's gone now... but he would be amazed, and maybe unsurprised to see them still in service.
The landing gear looks so goofy, but I love it.
that landing gear was top secret for a long time when it was first developed......it allows the plane to take off in a crosswind as it pivots and allows the aircraft to take flight in a direction other than the direction it is rolling
@projekt6_official
I like how they can twist the landing gear to line up for a crosswind landing. (or take off)
@@grahammonk8013 or for destroying 18 runway lights
I think a part of that was due to lack of rudder authority which seems silly since why couldn't they just design a better tail from the start?
@@ttank1994 It is too large and slow and heavy for the rudder to be useful at slow speeds.
Love seeing that exhaust trail from the head on shot.
That was awesome - literally gave me chills
Damn...what a beautiful plane!!!
The first time I ever saw a BUFF in flight I was flying in a TH-55 (Army Hughes 300) at Ft Walter’s in Mineral Wells, TX at 500 feet AGL and it came up behind and BELOW me! Seeing that beast slide out from under me was “exciting “! Love the BUFF.
Big, beautiful, Boeing bird.
AWESOME! I could watch B-52 videos all day and not get bored.
Beautiful! Brings back many memories of SAC days.
The BUFF lives forever
Man oh man! Watching that bird fly makes an Americans heart soar with it!! Proud to be an American! Can I get an AMEN?
God bless the BUFF, her drivers, crew chiefs and weapons loaders, indeed an icon of the skies! (and I'm a 33 year Viper crew chief!)
❤. Thanks to the CREW of the 52 ❤
Great video. Hope you all had fun in my city. See you all next year. ✈️🛩️🛬🛫👍🏽👍🏽🇺🇸❤️
Nice shot at the beginning with the sign at the gate and taxi.
Amazing that the grandkids of the original B-52 crews are now crew members!
Grandkids of the original pilots were already flying this bird in the early 1990s, Hoss. I'm a *late* Gen Xer with a grandfather who stepped onto Omaha Beach on D-Day, and I'm more than old enough now to be a grandfather. So it's safe to say that some of the WWII vets who were still flying when the last H models came about in 1962 might now or soon have (and this would have BLOWN THEIR MINDS) great-great-granddaughters sitting in the cockpit of the plane that they flew.
Google it. There's a story from the early 1990s where three generations of USAF SAC pilots had flown a B-52 with the same tail number before I even graduated high school in 1994.
I still think the B-52 is the most feared aircraft that we have.
AND YOU WOULD BE RIGHT. In Vietnam if you heard its engines you were already toast.
the GREATEST plane ever built!
B-52 crew chief here. Goodness gracious, has been so many years since then, I forgot we called them Buff's. LOL
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I was SAC 1CEVG in the Nevada desert. They called us SAC TRAINED KILLER TRAINERS. Bomb runs to evaluate bomb, missile and refueling missions with KC135s from 1976-1982. Best job I ever had. We launched the B1-B as well.
@@caffeineninja4139 Thank you for your service as well. I got to fly as a passenger on KC-135's a couple times. I was at Barksdale from 80'-'81 after serving time as a crew chief on C-130's at Rhein Main. I marveled at the B-52's. I had great friends, and we had awesome officers. Your job sounds amazing there in NV. I would do it all over again.
Love that smoke, smells like FREEDOM👍🇺🇸
Flew C-130's during the Gulf War and saw 3x B52's fly over us in a 1 mile spaced, line astern, formation. They were going in on a high altitude bombing run. Just an eerie, spooky look to them, that'll I'll never forget. I think those were the longest bombing missions in history as I recall. Crew bought lawn chair recliners it was reported so they could actually take a break without being in the "seat". Definitely an iconic aircraft and I'd hate to be on the receiving end of it's wrath.
The B - 52 has always been a ICON my whole life .
After all these years, still such an impressive sight
The B-52...❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
I grew up about 9/10 of a mile from Michael McCoy SAC base, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, Those dudes were LOUD!!! Especially during an ORI alert.
One crashed around 1971 or 2 about a half-mile from my parents' house. If I recall, the crew fought valiantly to keep it from crashing in the middle of a housing development. I believe the whole crew died but only 1 civilian, and that was from them dumping fuel I believe that dozens of lives were saved due to that valiant crews efforts. May God bless them.
WOW. awesome. So cool seeing the smoke from the outboard engines being disrupted by the spoilers in the last shot. Cool upload 😎
This beautiful old girl, an H model, Call Sign Torch52, Tail 60-0036 sat in Boeing Plaza all week, I watched the Security Cam panning back and forth, everyone (young) flocked to the F22 Raptor (a great fighter) but kind of shunned the Buff, until Sunday when they tugged 0036 out in the middle of the plaza. People seemed put out that it was IN THEIR WAY, but baby when the rain came down in buckets, their butts ran to get under those wings, all 185 feet of wingspan. Most expensive Umbrella (94 million) in the world, that also doubles as the roughest toughest bomber that ever lived. It was my duty to evaluate her for my 11 years at SAC. My honor to have met her and still love her.
Due to the incidence angle of the wing, the BUIFF just seems to levitate on takeoff.
It'll be intresting to see a B-52 H. Nice to see what a BUFF looks like not trailing four lanes of smoke.
J
@@txkflier TY for the correction. By chance do you the reason there was no "I?"
@@tuzu1758 The primary reason why the letter I is skipped is because it can be confused with the letter L in lowercase or the number 1. Also, the letter "O" is skipped because of the number "0".
@@txkflier Brilliant TYVM
Soon to be refitted with new engines and fly for an additional 40 years. Thank you for sharing this with us.
Balls to the wall. Beautiful.
Grew up watching these fly over my house on low level training missions
Where at
goosebumps watching that.
Awesome camera work! Also, awesome B-52!!!
"Its not your father's Air Force but it might be his plane"
Everybody grab a throttle ... we're goin' around
Back when Boeing made really durable planes. Used to see them from the freeway, on alert, all black, at March AFB, CA.
Awesome video, thank you!
Outstanding video!
Dear Rolls: I sincerely hope you treat those incredible aircraft with the reverence they deserve when you build the new engines for them. (regards from this USAF brat whose late dad spent 7 years as senior nav on the G model in the hottest years of the cold war)
Hardly Epic. Gracefully Relaxed.
I was lucky enough to be assigned to SAC during my enlistment in the AF and loved working on those legendary birds! 👍😎
When I was a little kid, my grandparents lived in proximity of O hare airport. I can remember watching aircraft taking off and gaining altitude with the black contrails of jet fuel exhaust from all 4 engines on the 747’s.
Great variety of shots & nicely edited! +1
The BUFF is forever
WOW!..... and thanks. 🤩
Fisk to B-52, rock your wings
The smoke trail is the 1200 gallons of water used for added thrust during hot weather take off. During hot weather the air molecules are further apart.
This is a B-52H and they have turbo-fan engines and no water injection. All previous versions of the B-52 had turbojet engines with water injection.
That will all BUFF out nicely
Years ago, I was driving on I-70 west of Manhattan, KS when three B-52s went over headed south towards Wichita at about 1000 ft. AGL. Almost had to pull over to change my Huggies.
Old school cool. Love it.
I used to work on B52s in the 70's awesome machines! Sat in the pilot seat for a full power engine test. Felt the earth shake!
I once took the opportunity to crawl up into a display Buff at the SAC museum north of Offutt, before they moved. I was amazed at how small the flight deck was and how many cubic feet of equipment took up space behind. I was in my teens just outside of Wichita when they were being built there and watched them fly overhead many times.
Really going to miss the scream of those TF33's when they're gone...
They sound good, but the RRs will smoke less.
Maybe, but those new engines will keep her flying for ever.
why do they have that high pitched scream?
@@mkaestn IIRC, the smoke is because of the required water injection during take off. My father was stationed at Travis AFB, CA from 1955-58 where he worked on B-36s and then B-52s as a Line Chief. When the USAF decided to disperse the BUFFs to more bases, he was transferred to Mather AFB, CA and retired in 1962.
The engine replacement program is finally underway, decades after Boeing recommended it. The new engines will reduce noise, pollution, fuel usage, and maintenance. In fact the new engines are expected to not even need a major overhaul for the life of the plane!
In the 70's and early 80's I worked near Loring AFB in northern Maine. B-52's did touch and goes regularly along with tankers. Flying at higher altitudes, they would practice refueling. I miss those years before bases were decommissioned. Sad times for America's defense capabilities
While driving from Show Low AZ to Winslow with my new wife and her 6yr old son I looked in my rear view mirror and saw B52 about a mile off the highway. It was 1977. I learned later that they used that stretch of road for low level practice to bomb Russia. He was under 1000 ft above the ground.
So fricking cool. Gonna miss the trademark tf 33s.
Grandpa Buff makes a memorable exit!
Love the wing rock
Major T. J. Kong Quotes
Commander of the B-52 Leper Colony
“Well, boys, I reckon this is it. New-q-lure combat, toe-to-toe with the Rooskies.”
“Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones. You sure you got today's codes?”
“Goldie, how many times have I told you guys that I don't want no horsing around on the airplane?”
“Stay on the bomb run, boys! I'm gonna get them doors open if it harelips ever'body on Bear Creek!”
A B-52 just won't be a B-52 without all that black smoke. Those new engines coming are going to ruin everything.
It’s gonna be strange when the new engines go in and there’s no more smoke!
BUFF is eternal.
"Grandpa BUFF" rolling coal as an exit, big flex.
Amazing engineering.....
I like how the fuselage will rotate into the wind while the main gear stay locked on the centerline.