The pictures below link to displays
with more B-52 photos.Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Displays |
The pictures below link to displays
with more B-52 photos.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses of the sixties and seventies.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses of the eighties.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses of the nineties.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses in the 21st Century.
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0050 has existed for more than half of the history of airplanes. It has been assigned to the 412th Test Wing based a Edwards Air Force Base for decades. It has performed at the Edwards Air Force Base Open House on many occasions. A couple of decades ago it was named Dragons Inferno.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses in the Boneyard.
The fastest airplanes ever flown, the X-15s,
were launched from a pair of B-52 Stratofortresses.
For a more detailed history of the X-15
program, check out the X-15 - Forty
Years Ago displays.
One
of these B-52s, the NB-52B, 52-0008 went
on to launch the HL-10, M2-F2/F3 and X-24A/B lifting bodies.
After the last flight of the X-24B in 1975, the NB-52B launched 3/8 scale F-15 remotely
piloted research vehicles, Highly Maneuverable Aircraft
Technology drones, Drones for Aeroelastic Structures Testing, the
parachute recovery system for the Space Shuttle solid fuel
boosters, the parachute recovery system for the F-111 crew escape
module, and satellites into orbit on Orbital Sciences' Pegasus
boosters.
The
NB-52B is still operating at the NASA Dryden Flight Research
Center at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert of
California. It is currently used to launch the X-38, a lifting body test vehicle
for the International Space Station Crew Return Vehicle (CRV).
The CRV will be used to provide a means of returning from the
space station to Earth without the need for a Space Shuttle
launch.
The NB-52B launched the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle on its sixth free flight on November 2,
2000
You can buy framed prints or greeting cards of this photograph.
The NB-52B carried the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle
aloft on Friday, June 29 in an attempt to launch the seventh
mission of the test program.
The NB-52B launched the X-38 Crew Return Vehicle
on its seventh mission on Tuesday, July 10, 2001.
The NB-52B is
currently launching a series of tests of the 6,000 mile per hour
supersonic combustion ramjet test drone called the X-43A Hyper-X.
The X-43A Hyper-X
supersonic combustion ramjet testbed was launched on its first
free flight on Saturday, June 2, 2001.
The second X-43A Hyper-X mission was launched from NASA's NB-52B
mothership on Saturday, March 27. It was dropped from the NB-52B about
fifty miles from the coast of Southern California. The mission
demonstrated the feasibility of air-breathing powered flight at mach-7.
The third X-43A Hyper-X demonstrated that an air-breathing engine can
propel a vehicle at Mach-10 on the afternoon of November 16, 2004.
The Hyper-X flight was conducted out of the NASA Dryden Flight
Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California's Mojave Desert.
You can buy framed prints or greeting cards of this photograph.
The third X-43A Hyper-X mission did not go off
without a hitch. Problems with the GPS or inertial navigation system of the X-43A resulted
in a mission abort on Monday. Here is the story of two days at Edwards Air Force Base
covering the final X-43A mission.
Take a detailed look at the NB-52B as it appeared at its retirement ceremony. Read the history of the airplane as revealed by the mission marks running along the side of its fuselage. Illustrations are provided to assist in the construction of a model of the NB-52B.
You can buy framed prints of this photograph.
The NB-52A 52-0003 and NB-52B 52-0008 that launched the North American X-15 rocket planes carrried mission marks commemorating each flight. This display illustrates the changes to the mission marks on both of the Stratofortress motherships over the course of their careers.
NASA's Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership was retired in a ceremony at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base on Friday December 17, 2004. The NB-52B has been a fixture at Edwards AFB for forty-nine years.
The Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress mothership 52-0008 has been placed on display outside the north gate of Edwards Air Force Base, off Highway 58 between Mojave and Boron. It is accessible to the public. There is a turn around just before the security post and a parking area adjacent to the NB-52B.
You can buy framed prints and greeting cardds of this photograph.
eBook edition of Balls Eight: History of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership |
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My book Balls Eight: History of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership is now available as an eBook for just $10.99, a considerably reduced price compared to the print edition. It has been asserted that the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress, carrying Air Force serial 52-0008, can lay claim to being the airplane that has seen and participated in more history than any other single airplane. For forty-five years, the NB-52B was a fixture at Edwards Air Force Base. While the NB-52B is most famous for launching the three North American X-15 rocket planes, it continued to serve in the role of launch platform for a multitude of programs until its final mission, launching the Mach-10 X-43A Hyper-X, on November 16, 2004. It was the oldest flying B-52 by nearly ten years. The eBook edition is profusely illustrated with vintage photographs and diagrams and has more pictures than the print edition. It can be dowloaded directly from Lulu.com. It will soon be available from Apple iBookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. | ||
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Balls Eight: History of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership |
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It has been asserted that the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress, carrying Air Force serial 52-0008, can lay claim to being the airplane that has seen and participated in more history than any other single airplane. For forty-five years, the NB-52B was a fixture at Edwards Air Force Base. While the NB-52B is most famous for launching the three North American X-15 rocket planes, it continued to serve in the role of launch platform for a multitude of programs until its final mission on November 16, 2004. It was the oldest flying B-52 by nearly ten years.The NB-52B launched the three X-15 hypersonic rocket planes.
It launched the Northrop HL-10, Northrop M2-F2/F3, Martin Marietta X-24A and Martin Marietta X-24B lifting bodies.
It simulated the steep, power off approach to landing used by the Space Shuttles.
It assisted in the collection of data about wake turbulence from large aircraft.
It served as an air-to-air gunnery target.
It launched 3/8-scale F-15 Remotely Piloted Research Vehicles (RPRV) and Spin Research Vehicles (SRV).
It launched a Ryan Firebee II drone and the Ryan Firebee based Drones for Aeroelastic Structures Testing (DAST).
It launched the Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) RPRVs.
It dropped the 48,000-pound Space Shuttle Reusable Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB/DTV).
It released a simulated F-111 crew module from its bomb bay to evaluate new parachute recovery systems.
It was the first airplane to launch a satellite into orbit on the Orbital Sciences Pegasus booster.
It tested the drag chute used to decelerate space shuttle orbiters.
It tested pollution reducing fuel additives with a pair of jet engines mounted under its bomb bay.
It launched the X-38 Space Station Crew Return Vehicles.
It launched the X-43A Hyper-X Supersonic Combustion Ramjets.
The book is 200 pages long. It contains 246 color photographs, 89 black and white photographs, and 2 other illustrations.
You can preview the first several pages of the book.
Books are printed on demand by Lulu.com. When you order one, it is placed in your Lulu.com shopping cart. Lulu.com prints, packages, and ships the book direct to you.
Put a copy of the softcover edition of Balls Eight: History of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $74.95.
Put a copy of the hardcover edition of Balls Eight: History of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $79.95.
Revell has re-released Monogram's 1/72-scale Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress with X-15A-2 kit. You need this book to help you establish the appropriate paint scheme for any particular NB-52B mission that you want to model.
The book is 96 pages long.
You can preview the first several pages of the book.
Books are printed on demand by Lulu.com. When you order one, it is placed in your Lulu.com shopping cart. Lulu.com prints, packages, and ships the book direct to you.
Put a copy of the softcover edition of Painting Guide for the Boeing Stratofortress Motherships in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $44.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses.
A dozen photos of Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses in flight.
Stratofortresses pictured include:
B-52D 56-0612, March Air Force Base, February 23, 1978;
B-52H 60-0050, Edwards Air Force Base, November 9, 1986, October 9, 1999, September 16, 2009;
B-52G 58-0183, Saline Valley, October 25, 1989;
B-52G 57-6519, Edwards Air Force Base, October 29, 1989;
B-52G 59-2565, Castle Air Force Base, September 17, 1992;
B-52H 60-0008, Nellis Air Force Base, April 25, 1997;
B-52H 61-0023, Nellis Air Force Base, February 1, 2002;
NASA NB-52B 52-0008/X-43A Hyper-X, Edwards Air Force Base, November 16, 2004;
B-52H 60-0026, Naval Air Station Pt Mugu, March 29, 2007;
and Rockwell B-1B Lancer 85-0068, Edwards Air Force Base, October 9, 1999
Put a copy of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring my photographs of Boeing B-52G Stratofortresses of the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle Air Force Base.
A dozen photos of Boeing B-52G Stratofortresses of the 93rd Bomb Wing flying at Castle Air Force Base in 1992 and 1993. Stratofortresses pictured include:
B-52G 57-6473
B-52G 58-0214
B-52G 58-0258
B-52G 59-2565
B-52G 59-5888
Put a copy of the Boeing B-52G Stratofortresses of the 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle Air Force Base: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring photographs of the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership that launched the X-15s in the 1960s and continued launching research vehicles until 2004.
It has been asserted that the Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress, carrying Air Force serial 52-0008, can lay claim to being the airplane that has seen and participated in more history than any other single airplane. This calendar features a dozen pictures of the NB-52B carrying some of the research vehicles that it launched over the years. Photo sources: Air Force, NASA, Richard Lockett, Brian Lockett:
North American X-15-1, 1960
North American X-15-3, 1963
North American X-15A-2, 1967
Northrop HL-10, 1969
Martin-Mariettta X-24A, 1970
Northrop M2-F3, 1972
Martin-Mariettta X-24B, 1973
Orbital Sciences Pegasus, 1989
Supersonic Supercruise, 1995
X-38 V-131R, 2000
X-43A Hyper-X, 2004
Put a copy of the Balls Eight: Boeing NB-52B Stratofortress Mothership: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.
Send a message to Brian.
Go to home page of the Goleta Air and
Space Museum.
