#Barksdale AFB

[nocternalrandomness]

"Christmas Tree"

[usafphantom2]

Strike Eagles at Barksdale AFB

@kadonkey via X

[captain-price-unofficially]

An airman from the US Air Force Security Police guards a B-52G Stratofortress from the 2nd Bomber Wing as its being loaded with AGM-86 ALCM cruise missiles as part of a combat readiness review conducted by Strategic Air Command; Barksdale AFB, December 1986

[j-r-macready]

Barksdale AFB

[lonestarflight]

"At Barksdale Air Force Base (AFB), Louisiana, members of the Mishap Investigation Team (MIT) inspect and prepare debris from the Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-107) for shipment to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida."

Date: February 10, 2003

NARA: 6633277

[torlibram]

"Captain, they appear to be broadcasting a frequency modulated electromagnetic signal. The computer is decoding the patterns... It is audio only."

"Put it on speaker, Ensign."

"Sir."

There was a crackle of static, and then a voice said "-peating, this is Bravo Uniform Foxtrot Four Niner, requesting navigational update and bearing to Barksdale AFB, over."

The Captain looked at his bridge crew. They looked back at him, equally mystified. He looked at the Ensign seated at the Comms console.

"Mr Travis, can you reproduce their emission pattern and broadcast to them?"

Travis nodded and tapped at his console for a few seconds. "Channel is open, sir."

"Attention unidentified craft. This is Captain Bowie of the Imperial Texan Fleet. You are currently thirty-eight light minutes away from Barnard's Star and approximately five point nine six light years off course."

There was silence for several seconds. Then the voice came from the bridge speakers again.

"... Told you we should have turned left at Alberqueque."

“Captain, a human starship has shown up on scanners.” “What is it’s designation?” “They call it a B-52” “Isnt that a plane from 200 years ago?” “Yes”

[raven0276]

Sorry to hear of the loss today of ‘Texas Raiders’ and the P-63 and the irreplaceable souls on board the two aircraft.

This is a repost of a photo I posted a few years ago with the text below unaltered. Not sure what the occasion was back then of the “recent” TR images, but here it is:

————————

Seeing the recent posted images of Texas Raiders, every time I see that ship I’m reminded of her family connections that still exist ...

TR came from a block of ‘survivors’ as -95-DLs ... the last block built by Douglas. If I recall correctly all three of these were converted to PB-1Ws, thus a bit off the beaten path.

TR’s AAF serial is 44-83872, the Hendon RAF Museum’s Fort is 44-83868, and the one on static display at Barksdale AFB, La. is 44-83884.

The latter 17 (884) was the *second* to the last B-17 built by Douglas - rolled out in July 1945 - and was actually used as the “last one” in company photos with all the workers because the true last Douglas built (#3,000) had been hurriedly shipped off to USAAF service while 884 was earmarked and retained at Douglas for the Navy’s later conversion.

Remember all this next time you play trivial pursuit! 😂

PS: quick pic from my old-style photo albums: When 868 was on her way to England in the mid-1980s or so, she stopped by Barksdale for a quick family portrait with her “block sister” (and another Boeing antique 😂).

884 on left, RAF Museum’s 868 on right.

Credit: Wade Meyers Studios

[brainsafari2]

My guess would be that this B52 is on short final at Barksdale AFB, LA.

B-52

[nocternalrandomness]

View of the Barksdale Air Force Base flight line from inside a B-52

[usafphantom2]

Where are the SR 71’s today?

They are all on display in America with one exception. #962 is at Duxford, Great Britain. this SR-71 was the one that was the most frequently stationed in Great Britain It’s a permanent loan from the United States to Great Britain with our thanks.

Arizona

#17951 flew on March 5, 1965, and served as a test bird throughout its career. It is currently displayed at the Pima Air Museum, Tucson, AZ.

California

California is home to more SR-71 aircraft than any other state. It houses six of them, listed below:

•SR-71A #17955 - AFFTC Museum, Edwards AFB, CA.

•SR-71A #17960 - Castle Air Museum near Atwater, CA.

•SR-71A #17963 - Beale AFB, CA.

•SR-71A #17973 - Blackbird Airpark, Palmdale, CA.

•SR-71A #17975 - March Field Museum, March AFB, CA.

•SR-71A #17980 - NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center as #844.

Florida

In Florida, specifically at the USAF Armament Museum, Eglin AFB, FL, the SR-71A #61-7959, also known as the "Big Tail," is on display. This nickname dates to 1975, when it was chosen as the platform for a new series of sensors placed in an extension towards the rear of the aircraft . The last flight of this aircraft took place on October 29, 1976

Georgia

At the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, GA, the Blackbird SR-71A #17958 is on display. According to various records, on July 28, 1976, this example facilitated a human being (pilot captain Eldon W. Joersz and major RSO George T. Morgan Jr.) to reach the highest speed ever aboard an aircraft.

Kansas

SR-71A #17961 accumulated 1601 flight hours until February 2, 1977, the date of its last flight. It is currently on display between a Northrop T-38 Talon advanced trainer and a life-size replica of the Space Shuttle at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson, KS

Louisiana

At the 8th Air Force Museum, Barksdale AFB, LA, the SR-71A #17967 is on display, one of two examples reactivated in 1995 for USAF service before the program was canceled in 1998. Over the years, this aircraft accumulated more than 2700 flight hours.

Texas

At the USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX, is SR-71A #17979, which was used as a reconnaissance aircraft during Operation Giant Reach in the Egyptian-Israeli war.

Michigan

Two trainer variants were built, denoted SR-71Bs. One crashed on approach to Beale AFB on January 11, 1968, while the other, SR-71B #17956, is displayed at the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum in Kalamazoo, MI. This SR-71 has more flight hours than any other Blackbird, nearly 4000, and is believed to have been photographed more times than any other.

Nebraska

At the Strategic Air and Space Museum near Ashland, NE, SR-71A #17964 is on display. Its first flight took place in 1966, and the last in 1990, when it was delivered to Offutt AFB, NE, to be permanently exhibited

Ohio

The first operational ( Jerry O’Malley and Ed Payne) mission of an SR-71 was carried out by SR-71A #17976 before concluding its career with about 3000 flight hours. It is among the first SR-71s to be permanently exhibited and best preserved. It is displayed at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH.

Oregon

Below the right wing of Howard Hughes' H-4 Hercules at the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, OR, is the most complete and accurate SR-71, SR-71A #17971, which has accumulated over 3500 flight hours.

Utah

As mentioned, after January 11, 1968, when half of the SR-71 trainer fleet was lost due to the crash of #17957, a replacement trainer was built, designated SR-71C #17981. This aircraft is currently on display at the Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, UT. Irregular maintenance procedures and aftermarket construction caused constant yaw of the aircraft; therefore, the SR-71C was used on a limited basis between 1969-1976.

Virginia

The state of Virginia hosts two SR-71s:

•SR-71A #17968 is displayed at the Science Museum in Richmond, VA. 2. The #972 at Udvar-Hazy

Chantilly,

Linda Sheffield

@Habubrats71 via X

[jasdafposts]

F15 E fighters Seymour Johnson and B52 Bombers Barksdale AFB. Full flightline.

[unclesamsmisguidedclub]

USAF May Put B-52 Bombers on Full 24 Hour Alert

USAF May Put B-52 Bombers on Full 24 Hour Alert

In a move not seen since the Cold War, the USAF may put their B-52 Bombers on 24 hour alert status, according to Defense One. NO alert order has yet been given, but preparations are currently underway just in case it comes. “This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared. I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find…

[j-r-macready]

Returned to USAF service - B-52H 60-0034 Wise Guy by Duncan Monk Via Flickr: Seven B-52's sit awaiting their fate at the Boneyard, AKA AMARC at Davis-Monthan, Tucson, Arizona. Of note the top right ex Minot AFB B-52H 60-0034 'Wise Guy' was returned to service and flown to Barksdale in May of 2019, some 15 months after this image was taken.

[jeskawoodwriter]

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[nocternalrandomness]

A B-52 from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana seen flying out of Nellis AFB, Nevada

[usafphantom2]

A U.S. B-52H Bomber Has Received An Incredible Throwback Color Scheme

The B-52H 61-0028 has the forward fuselage, wings near the wingtips, engine nacelles, and vertical stabilizer painted in dayglo orange, contrasting the typical dark gray paint of the Stratofortress.

David CenciottiLast updated: October 1, 2024 4:44 PM

B-52 orange

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber has been spotted sporting an amazing retro color scheme recently. The BUFF (Big Ugly Fat Fellow) was photographed taking off from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, home of the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex, by our friend Rob Stephens at Redhome Aviation, on Sept. 30, 2024.

The B-52H 61-0028 has the forward fuselage, wings near the wingtips, engine nacelles, and vertical stabilizer painted in dayglo orange, contrasting the typical dark gray paint of the Stratofortress.The NB-52sThe Oklahoma City ALC

We reached out to Rob who provided us a lot of additional details about this cool paint job.

“Somewhere around the middle of September 2023, B-52H 61-0028 arrived at Tinker AFB after a training sortie,” he told us in an email. “I don’t have the full details and the damage appears far below what would necessitate an Accident Investigation Board, but I understand the flaps were over sped sometime before the landing at Tinker. Scuffs and dents are visible on the side of the aircraft, as if the flaps made physical contact with the fuselage. Crews from Barksdale were dispatched to Tinker to inspect the aircraft and prepare her for the flight home”.

On Sept. 22, 2023 the B-52 was flown back to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, “with her flaps-up, making quite the stunning departure”, says Stephens.

Flaps up departure.

“One of the greatest things about living where I do is being able to photograph the fantastic work of the 565th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as the B-52s go through programmed depot maintenance. While a rare occurrence, there are times where the aircraft will fly “naked” without paint between completion of PDM (Programmed Depot Maintenance) and their appointment for paint.”

PDM is a very complex process that each B-52 undergo every four years, made of heavy checks, during which the aircraft is almost completely disassembled and each part is inspected and all defects are fixed before they are rebuilt and sent back to their home stations as they were (almost) brand new. Even the paint is stripped off the entire airframe so that technicians can analyze every part of the aircraft and make repairs where needed.

B-52H 61-0028 “Wolfpack” flew on Aug. 26, 2024 mostly without paint and an orange rudder, that showed she was headed towards a special paint job.

B-52H 61-0028 “Wolfpack” on Aug. 26, 2024. Only the rudder is pained in orange.

“The final paint scheme on 61-0028 is a heritage back to the early days of the [NASA] B-52 testing campaigns, such as NB-52A 52-0003, which carried the North American X-15 in 1959. This paint is similar to the famous NB-52B 52-0008, but more closely resembles 52-0003. Her forward fuselage, wings near the wingtips, engine nacelles, and vertical stabilizer are painted in dayglo orange, contrasting the typical dark gray paint of the Stratofortress. Her “OT” and “49 TES” tail markings, black arrow point on the tail, and “U.S. Air Force” on the fuselage will be applied while she is at Barksdale AFB, LA.”

Close up on the B-52H 61-0028 taking off from Tinker AFB on Sept. 30, 2024.

The NB-52s

In mid-1957, NASA decided to switch the launch aircraft (or “mothership”) for the X-15 hypersonic research project from the B-36 Peacemaker to the B-52 Stratofortress. The B-36 was nearing the end of its service life, and it was anticipated that maintaining a single B-36 after its retirement would be difficult due to the lack of spare parts. As the X-15 program moved forward, the NB-52A and NB-52B Stratofortresses were selected to serve as the launch platforms, with the NB-52B 52-0008 continuing in this role until its final mission in November 2004, while the NB-52A 52-0003 was retired earlier in 1969.

NB-52A 52-0003 with X-15

The NB-52B essentially functioned as a flying launch pad, operating at altitudes of nine miles to provide the necessary propellants, gases, and electrical power to the rocket planes it carried. To enable this, the aircraft’s right wing was reinforced and fitted with a pylon capable of supporting payloads exceeding 50,000 pounds—about a fifth of the aircraft’s own weight. This capacity made the Stratofortress an invaluable tool for numerous aeronautical research projects, including those that eventually influenced the Space Shuttle program.

The re-engineered NB-52B helped prove the viability of the Space Shuttle’s steep gliding landings by launching several wingless lifting bodies, which demonstrated the feasibility of such an approach. Additionally, the NB-52B played a critical role in testing parachutes that recovered the Space Shuttle’s solid rocket boosters and the drag chute used during Shuttle landings. Despite the aircraft’s age and rising maintenance costs, it continued to be used for various advanced research programs, including launching remotely piloted vehicles, drones, and experimental payloads in the 1970s and 1980s.

Beyond its role in launching aircraft, the NB-52B also contributed to research on wake turbulence, served as a gunnery target, and tested pollution-reducing fuel additives, once flying as a ten-engine jet with additional engines mounted beneath the bomb bay. Notably, during the X-38 program, it deployed the largest parafoil in history, which had a surface area larger than a Boeing 747’s wing.

A NASA Lockheed TF-104G Starfighter (serial N824NA) flies chase on the NASA Boeing NB-52B sporting a silver paint scheme during a DAST ARW-1 captive flight on 14 September 1979. The TF-104G was produced for Germany with the USAF s/n 63-3065, Luftwaffe serials 27+37. It was transferred to NASA in 1975 as N824NA. After retirement it went to the California Polytechnic Institute and is today on display at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, Paso Robles, California (USA). The Boeing RB-52B-10-BO Stratofortress (USAF s/n 52-0008) was converted to the NB-52B and retired on 17 December 2004. since then it is on permanent display at the west gate of Edwards Air Force Base, California. (NASA photo by Bob Rhine)

The NB-52B’s final mission was in 2004 when it launched the X-43A, which achieved Mach 9.6 with the world’s most powerful air-breathing engine. After decades of service and a vital contribution to aviation and space research, the aircraft was officially retired on December 17, 2004, at a ceremony at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center.

At the time of its retirement, “Balls 8” (from its NASA tail number, 52-008, where the leading zeroes and the final digit are commonly referred to as “Balls” in military slang) was the oldest B-52 still in active service and the only one not of the H model. It also had the fewest total flight hours of any operational B-52.

The aircraft is now on permanent public display near the north gate of Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The Oklahoma City ALC

As mentioned earlier, Rob Stephens lives near Tinker AFB, allowing him to photograph the aircraft undergoing PDM at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex. The Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex is a key unit within the Air Force Materiel Command and the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma, with over 9,000 military and civilian personnel delivering combat power for the nation. This massive complex is responsible for programmed depot maintenance and modifications on aircraft like the KC-46, KC-135, B-1B, B-52, E-3, and Navy E-6. It also handles maintenance, repair, and overhaul of engines including the F100, F101, F108, F110, F117, F118, F119, F135, and TF33, supporting not only the Air Force but also the Navy, Marine Corps, and foreign military sales. In addition to its maintenance and repair work, the complex develops and sustains mission-critical software for the Air Force and other customers, and it provides worldwide aircraft battle damage repair for multiple weapon systems.

The complex is comprised of four groups working together to provide top-tier maintenance and support. The 76th Aircraft Maintenance Group specializes in depot maintenance for B-1, B-52, KC-135, E-3, E-6, and special mission fleets, offering full overhaul services, FAA-certified repairs, modifications, and flight testing. The 76th Commodities Maintenance Group manages depot-level maintenance of aircraft and engine parts for a wide range of systems, including the A-10, B-1, B-52, C-17, F-15, F-16, and more, and serves as the Air Force Technology Repair Center for air and fuel accessories. The 76th Maintenance Support Group ensures the continuous operation of one of the Department of Defense’s largest industrial complexes, maintaining facilities, tools, and equipment needed for the depot’s mission. Lastly, the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group is the leading DoD engine repair and overhaul center, responsible for maintaining engines used in bombers, tankers, fighters, and special mission aircraft.

Originally redesignated as the 76th Maintenance Wing in 2005, the organization was inactivated in 2012 when the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center was restructured as the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex. The complex now operates under the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker AFB, one of three key sustainment centers in the Air Force.

@TheAviationist.com