I want to share a birthday with you. Not a person, but a thing. On this date in 1954, Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle flew for the first time the XB-52. The little brother B-47 was already in service but the Air Force was wanting a long range jet bomber for it;s fledging nuclear response force amply referred to as SAC or the Strategic Air Command. With 8 engines it was hoped that the B-52 would impress the air force enough get the contract. Well that was 60 years ago to day and the B-52 is still the mainstay in our nuclear bomber arsenal. Undergoing many upgrades and changes the BUFF or Big Ugly Fat FU@&%# :-) as it is affectionally called by the men and women who fly and maintain them. They are now used not only as bombers but as launching platforms for the Cruise missile. If you have never seen a B-52 take off or in flight, believe me it is truly something to see. 60 years old this date. Happy Birthday BUFF
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 03:01:29 +0000