Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range <a href="/facts/Subsonic_aircraft/j1bXtdCG">subsonic</a> <a href="/facts/Jet-powered/400rfjox">jet-powered</a> <a href="/facts/Strategic_bomber/g0PWamDC">strategic bomber</a>. The B-52 was designed and built by <a href="/facts/Boeing/tF5sMe9F">Boeing</a>, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a> (USAF) since 1955 and was flown by <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a> from 1959 to 2007. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons and has a typical <a href="/facts/Range_(aeronautics)/mgknAs6t">combat range</a> of around 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without <a href="/facts/Aerial_refueling/VMV3xXlW">aerial refueling</a>.
After Boeing won the initial contract in June 1946, the aircraft's design evolved from a <a href="/facts/Straight_wing/oB03eltD">straight-wing</a> aircraft powered by six <a href="/facts/Turboprop/t7c8rkCx">turboprop</a> engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight <a href="/facts/Turbojet/8FMD6dNg">turbojet</a> engines and <a href="/facts/Swept_wing/MTVsghhX">swept wings</a>. The B-52 took its <a href="/facts/Maiden_flight/LW569ILn">maiden flight</a> in April 1952. Built to carry <a href="/facts/Nuclear_weapons/QVdBcMdm">nuclear weapons</a> for <a href="/facts/Cold_War/spJdJQ3q">Cold War</a> <a href="/facts/Nuclear_strategy/osrg3g9G">deterrence</a> missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the <a href="/facts/Convair_B-36_Peacemaker/GUwVqxkc">Convair B-36 Peacemaker</a>. The bombers flew under the <a href="/facts/Strategic_Air_Command/Qp0Y5xpB">Strategic Air Command</a> (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the <a href="/facts/Air_Combat_Command/TIe3UPfs">Air Combat Command</a> (ACC); in 2010, all B-52s were transferred to the new <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Global_Strike_Command/jf3N29wD">Air Force Global Strike Command</a> (AFGSC).
The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft is commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat /Fella). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite the development of more advanced strategic bombers, such as the Mach-2+ <a href="/facts/Convair_B-58_Hustler/e7hJbwFh">Convair B-58 Hustler</a>, the canceled Mach-3 <a href="/facts/North_American_XB-70_Valkyrie/V0lIqFU6">North American XB-70 Valkyrie</a>, the <a href="/facts/Variable-sweep_wing/E3NH0oVz">variable-geometry</a> <a href="/facts/Rockwell_B-1_Lancer/K2I9IkJc">Rockwell B-1 Lancer</a>, and the stealthy <a href="/facts/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit/5xx6l0AN">Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit</a>. A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only <a href="/facts/Conventional_weapon/SnWAVdTT">conventional munitions</a> in combat.
As of 2024, the U.S. Air Force has 76 B-52s: 58 operated by active forces (<a href="/facts/2nd_Bomb_Wing/zFA6dbdA">2nd Bomb Wing</a> and <a href="/facts/5th_Bomb_Wing/jx79VK5q">5th Bomb Wing</a>), 18 by reserve forces (<a href="/facts/307th_Bomb_Wing/PT3jQ1zj">307th Bomb Wing</a>), and about 12 in long-term storage at the <a href="/facts/Davis%25E2%2580%2593Monthan_Air_Force_Base/AG8lNlvp">Davis-Monthan AFB Boneyard</a>. The operational aircraft received upgrades between 2013 and 2015 and are expected to serve into the 2050s.

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress open-in-new

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress