# Why are B-52 bombers still in service? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 23, 2001, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353 "2001-09-23T16:51:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353/41 "2001-09-24T15:04:09Z")
From [this site](http://www.labiker.org/xb70.html): > [@](#): > > - Cruise Speed of Mach 3 (2,000mph) > - Cruise Altitude of 70,000 feet > - A “shirtsleeve” environment for the crew. > - 50,000 pound payload > - A range of 7,500 miles and: > [@](#): > > Along with the wingtips, the six J93 engines, bomb bay, and landing gear were all contained in a conical shape designed to enhance shockwave management. Thanks folks, for the correction on the cause of the crash. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353/42 "2001-09-24T16:45:29Z")
B-52’s become very cost-effective when you consider the rest of the bomber fleet - we only have a few squadrons worth of B-1B’s, and the B-2 (which BTW did fly combat missions in the Balkans) has only been approved for limited production run - maybe a couple of dozen. Meanwhile, we’ve got hundreds of B-52’s which are a proven workhorse with enough spare parts/enignes/airframes in desert storage to keep the current fleet flying for the forseeable future. Hell, if they had to, they could probably build a whole new fleet of “FrankenBUFFs” from the decomissioned airframes in the AMARC facility at Davis-Monthan AFB… As for Gulf War use, the bomb racks for delivery of conventional bombs from a B-1B were still considered “experimental” and hadn’t been fitted to the whole fleet. This isn’t the only reason they weren’t used, but it is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353/43 "2001-09-24T20:51:38Z")
I happen to be working on a B-52 program right now. A few tidbits… As many others have already noted, the primary reasons for the B-52’s continuing success are **low cost** and **simplicity**. The former is extremely important for obvious reasons. (Believe me, every penny is being pinched right now in the USAF.) The latter is also important; compared to new bombers, the B-52 is a piece of cake to maintain and troubleshoot. Another thing: there are only about 75 active B-52’s. There are another 10 that are activated/deactivated as needed to keep the number of active B-52’s at 75. (Note to gov snoopers: this info is not classified, and readily available). I also believe NASA has one, though I’m not sure what they use it for. The lifecycle of the B-52 is expected to last until 2040. This means that the pilots who will be flying the B-52 during this time _aren’t even born yet_. Wow. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353/44 "2001-09-24T21:39:24Z")
> [@](#): > > I also believe NASA has one, though I’m not sure what they use it for. NASA uses the B-52 to launch test aircraft, such as the X-15 and so forth. They still use it for that purpose. (I’ve touched that B-52! 🙂 ) ---
**Author:** ![Padeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353/45 "2001-09-24T22:39:03Z")
Smithsonian Air and Space magazine just ran a feature aricle on NASA’s B-52, one of the earliest ones built. They are stil l using it for air dropped vehicles. The other NASA buff that carried X-15s is retired to the Pima Air and Space museum in Tucson, Arizona. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-b-52-bombers-still-in-service/83353.md?page=2)