Photo: Master Sgt. Lance Cheung (U.S. Air Force)
Jalopnik: General Electric Wants To Keep America's B-52s In The Air Until 2097 (At Least)
The B-52 Stratofortress ain’t new. The first one flew nearly seventy years ago in 1952. The last ones were built ten years later. But just because it’s already been around for decades doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a lot more fight left in it. At least General Electric seems to think so.
General Electric is trying to convince the Air Force and congressional bean counters that its re-engining program could extend the lifespan of the B-52 platform more than seventy years into the future. The Air Force has already planned to keep the planes in the air through the 2040s even as the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber comes into service as well, but General Electric thinks the B-52 has a little more life left in it to give. Nearly sixty more years worth, to be exact.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: I will be surprised if they will be flying 20 years from now let alone 77 years.
3 comments:
It's already baffling, how can we think to let this venerable plane not being retired? In fact we are lucky for not keeping the B-29 still working now. We have a philosophic choice: are we willing to be the leader of the world or not? If not, keep the B-52 for the next century, if yes we have, yes, to spend the money for the right weapon we need.
I wouldn't be surprised. There is that notion things were made to last, with maintenance you can extend their lifespan. With further upgrades and updates they could fly 50-80 years id say. It really depends if you let them fall into disrepair and loss the people full of expertise.
GE, we bring good things to death
Post a Comment