Since you politely asked, your wish is granted
Posted on 05/21/2010 6:27:58 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The B-52 entered into service in 1955 and was referred as one of the most powerful bombers. While that was true when the war plane first hit the skies, nearly 55 years later, it’s still true.
Partly due to the testing B-52 Radar Navigator Christopher Rudd does at Edwards Air Force Base.
“We’re an independent organization that plans, executes, analyzes, the new systems that’s coming on board for in this case the B-52,” said Rudd.
From testing new software to new weaponry, they do it all to make sure despite its age, the B-52 is still top notch.
“We are the ones who get a first look at these new capabilities that are coming online to make sure it’s suitable and effective for the war fighter,” said Rudd.
Even though it’s Rudd’s job to now conduct tests for the B-52, he has plenty of experience flying inside as a radar navigator, most recently during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
“We’re the ones in charge of targeting the weapons, and making sure the targets have the right effects, we’re using the right amount of weapons,” said Rudd.
From the most current wars all the way back to the Vietnam war, the B-52 has been an integral part.
And while the outside of the B-52 hasn’t seen many changes throughout the decades, don’t let that fool you.
“It’s the internal avionics, the targeting systems, the data links systems, stuff like that, that they’re constantly upgrading so they can stay plugged in to the new type of war,” said Rudd
(Excerpt) Read more at turnto23.com ...
Just like carriers; the internals and payloads are what really count.
...and the BUFFS remain...
People shouldn’t take my comments to be an attempt to trash the B-52, but to the lay person outside the military, the B-52 seems like it would be a sitting duck to foreign aircraft.
Perhaps it’s only intended to be brought out to play once the U.S. has cleansed the air space and the ground based air defenses of our enemies.
If that’s the case, it could certainly still be a massive tool. Just thinking about the tonnage of smart bombs it could release on one run causes my eyebrows to rise and me to lick my lips.
I’d still like to see them build just one Super Fortress, ala Dale Brown...
How long has it been since the Old Dog last flew...??
Photos, please.)
I think we need a couple of weeks of “Rolling Thunder” in Afghanistan to put the “fear of God” into those evil bastards. You want to stop Poppy cultivation? Just “draw circles” around all the poppy fields and NO NONE will get anywhere near the fields.
Perhaps it’s only intended to be brought out to play once the U.S. has cleansed the air space and the ground based air defenses of our enemies.
If that’s the case, it could certainly still be a massive tool. Just thinking about the tonnage of smart bombs it could release on one run causes my eyebrows to rise and me to lick my lips.
That’s why the F-22 is so damn important to maintain Air Superiority.Something the Boy president knows nothing about.
BUFFs usually flew high level; going for the deck to drop their load and head back up. BUFFs have gone up against alot of aircraft since joining the inventory. And when they are in the air they look like sharks; how cool is that?
As a guy who wants at a minimum 800 of the F-22s, you and I are on the exact same page.
I found out within the last month that my deceased Dad who died to early was an original operator of SAGE. look it up.as a side note...damn Dad you could have said something in your late years but he was tight lipped till the end.
Great photo, thanks for posting!
Gets my vote. ;-)
Ah, the seldom seen until now, carrier version.
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