The B-52 Never Gets Old: A Video Tribute

The B-52 Stratofortress has shouldered the USAF’s heavy bomber load for the past 50-plus years, and with continual updates and retrofits, it looks to be carrying the mail well into this century. It is truly one of our most badass assets and almost makes that April 15th tax payment palatable. Enjoy these videos of BUFF (Big Ugly Fat…uh, Friend):

Meet the B-52.

It makes nightmares…

All the great aircraft have their own unique sounds that we can identify amidst any other sounds. Check out the B-52′s song on a low altitude, high speed fly-by.

B-52 were first used in a tactical bomber role (quite apart from their original nuclear payload delivery mission) in Vietnam.

The B-52 participated in the first round of carpet bombing Iraq in 1991. Amazing story of how fortress-like the aircraft really is. Also, you gotta think Al Gore’s blood pressure jumps through the roof on the take-off footage…

A cockpit-eye view of a B-52 buzzing the Air Force Academy. That is quite a sight at 4,000 feet off the deck.

This Nellis footage give you a sense of the immense bomb load carried by each aircraft.

Ever wonder what 5,000 lbs. of B-52 ordinance dropped on the Taliban looks like? Check out :41 into this video. Footage from a Predator UAV.

Unfortunately, one of the most popular videos of the B-52 is from the practice for the 1994 Fairchild AFB Air Show. You see what the B-52 is capable of, but then it all goes wrong.