(Download a higher resolution picture by clicking on any
picture below.) 
B-52D 55-0104 on approach to March AFB on March 26, 1980.
Photographer: Brian Lockett.
It is possible to get quite close to the
approach to March AFB, so I was able to use a short focal length
lens for this shot of B-52D 55-0104 on March 26, 1980. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
>B-52D 55-0104 about to touch down on the runway. Note the upward flex
of the wings compared to the following picture of a B-52D sitting
on its landing gear. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52D, Serial
55-0071, runs up prior to takeoff from March AFB on March 27,
1980. Its wings are bent downward by the weight of the fuel that
they contain. The extended fowler flaps reveal an expanse of
green zinc chromate. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52G,
Serial 58-0204, appeared again at the 1980 Edwards AFB Open House
hooked up to the boom of NKC-135A, Serial 55-3135, with F-4E,
Serial 66-0291, flying chase. 58-0204 has had its cruise missile
pylons removed. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
The last operational B-52D I ever saw was this one
departing March AFB on November 3, 1980, the day after the Open
House that year. I was not able to read its serial number.
Photographer: Brian Lockett.
By December 31, 1981 B-52F 57-0177 was
retired along with all other B-52E and B-52F model
Stratofortresses. This Stratofortress had been painted aluminum
over gloss white by the end of its career. Photographer: Brian
Lockett.
Parts of over two dozen B-52E and B-52F Stratofortresses can
be seen in this picture of the reclamation area of the Military
Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center (MASDC) on December 30,
1981. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52H 60-0050 hasn't quite made contact with NKC-135A 55-3128 at the November 9, 1986 Edwards AFB Open House. It still sports the classic SIOP camouflage and a single AGM-86 cruise missile pylon on the left wing.
Boeing B-52H Stratofortress 60-0050 at the Edwards Air Force Base open house on November 9, 1986.
B-52E 57-0132 and over a dozen Stratofortesses in storage in AMARC on November 24, 1986. B-52E, 57-0132. Over a dozen Stratofortesses can be seen in this view of the AMARC on November 24, 1996.
B-52F 57-0039 is seen here in November 24, 1986. It had been joined by
the black-tailed B-52D fleet, which had also been relegated to
AMARC at that time. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52H 60-0050 made its fly-by of the November 8, 1987 Edwards AFB Open House wearing its cruise missile pylon on the right side.
B-52H 60-0025 sits on static display at the September 18, 1988
Vandenberg AFB Open House. This Stratofortress' nose has been
overpainted with gray (FS-36081) and the green areas wrap aound
the underside of the forward fuselage to tone down the appearance
of the bomber from the front. It has had its inboard engine cowl
replaced with one from a Stratofortress with a different paint
scheme. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52G flys past the October 15, 1988 March AFB Open House with its
bomb-bay doors open. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52H 60-0050 trails behind NKC-135A 55-3128 at the October 23, 1988 Edwards AFB Open House.
Water is sprayed onto B-52H 60-0050 as it trails behind NKC-135A 55-3128 at the October 23, 1988 Edwards AFB Open House. An international orange external fuel tank on the right wing of 60-0050 complements the SIOP camouflage. On 55-3128 the boom normally used for refuelling was equipped with a spray nozzle for icing research. At high altitudes, the water would freeze and ice would accumulate on the trailing aircraft. 55-3128 was retired, citing costs of operation versus the low number of icing research tests conducted each year, although there is no
alternative aircraft equipped for the purpose. The spray nozzle system was removed and placed into storage at Edwards AFB and the Stratotanker went to the Aircraft Management and Regeneration Center (AMARC) at Davis-Monthan AFB. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52H 60-0050 makes a "bomb pass" at the Edwards
AFB Open House on October 23, 1988.
Boeing B-52G 
from the 320th Bomb Wing out of 
Mather AFB flies by Palm Spring on
a low level mission through the Saline
Valley on October 25, 1988.
A moment after the B-52G above had flown past, B-52G 58-0189 "Midnight Madness", also from the 320 BW at Mather AFB flew almost
directly overhead. Rack adapters for the carriage of conventional
iron bombs can be seen on the weapons pylons. The small pylon
between the engine pylons is for ALE-25 forward firing chaff
rockets. It has a california black bear squadron insignia painted
on the vertical stabilizer. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
One of the most colorful of the
Stratofortresses was the NB-52E
Control Configured Vehicle (CCV) 56-0632, which had been
operated by the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory. It was
already retired to AMARC on September 9, 1989, when this picture
was taken. Photographer: Brian Lockett.
B-52G,
Serial 57-6519, makes the tanker pass at the October 29, 1989
Edwards AFB Open House with the re-engined NKC-135E, Serial
55-3135. The low visiblity camouflage pattern wraps green
(FS-34086) around the wings and fuselage, with the lighter gray
shade (FS-36118) used on the lower surfaces and the darker gray
shade (FS-36081) used on the upper surfaces. The ED on the tail
of 57-6519 identifies the 6512 TS based at Edwards AFB.
Photographer: Brian Lockett.
An unidentified B-52G
makes a dirty pass at the November 11, 1989 March AFB Open House.
Photographer: Brian Lockett.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses displays.
Giant Jet Airplanes |
||||||
| First Flight | Wing Span | Length | Wing Area (ft2) | Gross Weight (lbs) | Engines | |
| Boeing 777-9 | 2018 |
235ft 5in |
251ft 9in |
5,025 |
775,000 |
2 × 105,000 lb General Electric GE9X-105B1A |
| Scaled Composites Model 351 Stratolaunch | 2018 |
385ft |
238ft |
? |
1,300,000 |
6 × 56,750 lb Pratt & Whitney PW4056 |
| Boeing 747-8 Jumbo Jet | 2010 |
224ft,07in |
250ft,02in |
5,960 |
975,000 |
4 x 66,500 GEnx-2B67 |
| Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner | 2009 |
197ft, 03in |
206ft |
3,501 |
545,000 |
2 x 71,000 lb General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 |
| Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner | 2009 |
197ft, 03in |
186ft |
3,501 |
502,500 |
2 x 64,000 lb General Electric GEnx or Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 |
| Airbus A380 | 2005 |
261ft,10in |
239ft,06in |
9,100 |
1,235,000 |
4 x 84,000 lb RR Trent 900 or Engine Alliance GP-7200 |
| Boeing 777-300ER | 2003 |
212ft,07in |
242ft,04in |
4,700 |
775,000 |
2 x 115,300 lb GE90-115B |
| Airbus A340-600 | 2001 |
208ft,02in |
247ft,01in |
4,729 |
811,300 |
4 x 56,000 lb RR Trent 556 |
| Boeing 777-200 | 1994 |
209ft,01in |
199ft,11in |
4,605 |
545,000 |
2 x 74,000 lb PW4074, GE90-75B, or RR Trent 875 |
| Airbus A330-300 | 1992 |
197ft,10in |
208ft,10in |
3,892 |
507,000 |
2 x 51,590 lb GE CF6-80E, PW4000, or RR Trent 700 |
| Boeing 747-400 Jumbo Jet | 1988 |
211ft,05in |
231ft,10in |
5,650 |
833,000 |
4 x 45,000 PW4062 or GE CF6-80C2B1F |
| Antonov An-225 Mryia | 1988 |
290ft,00in |
275ft,07in |
10,280 |
1,300,000 |
6 x 51,590 lb DT-18T |
| Antonov An-124 Ruslan | 1984 |
240ft,00in |
227ft,00in |
6,760 |
890,000 |
4 x 51,590 lb DT-18T |
| Tupolev 160 Blackjack | 1981 | 182ft, 09in | 177ft, 06in | 3,660 | 606,000 | 4 x 50,900 lb NK-321 |
| Lockheed C-5A Galaxy | 1968 |
222ft,08in |
247ft,10in |
6,200 |
769,000 |
4 x 50,000 lb GE TF-39 |
| Boeing 747-100 Jumbo Jet | 1968 |
195ft,08in |
231ft,04in |
5,500 |
850,000 |
4 x 50,000 lb P&W JT9D |
| Antonov An-22 Antheus | 1965 |
211ft,04in |
189ft,07in |
3,713 |
550,000 |
4 x 15,000 shp Kuznetsov NK-12MV |
| North American XB-70A Valkyrie | 1964 |
105ft,00in |
189ft,00in |
6,297 |
530,000 |
6 x 33,000,lb J-93 |
| Boeing B-52 Stratofortress | 1952 |
185ft,00in |
157ft,07in |
4,000 |
450,000 |
8 x 8,000 lb J-57 |
| Convair YB-60 | 1952 |
206ft,05in |
175ft,02in |
5,239 |
410,000 |
8 x 8,000 lb J-57 |
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.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress by Tony Thornborough
B-52 Stratofortress : Boeing's Cold War Warrior
by Robert F. Dorr, Lindsay Peacock
B-52 Stratofortress in Action by Larry Davis
B-52 Walk Around by Lou Drendel
Boeing B-47, B-52 and the Avro Vulcan by Stewart Wilson (Legends of the Air Series Vol 5)
Boeing B-52 : A Documentary History by Walter J. Boyne
Usaf Plus Fifteen : A Photo History 1947-62 by
Menard. Full color photos of Air Force aircraft from 1947 to
1962.
Books about
the Strategic Air Command available from 
America's Shield : The Story of the Strategic Air
Command and Its People
Big Bombers : Strategic Air Command's B-52S, Swingwings, and Stealth by Robert F. Dorr, Jim Benson
Peace Was Their Profession : SAC : A Tribute by
Mike Hill, John M. Campbell, Donna Campbell
SAC, the Strategic Air Command by Richard Gibson Hubler
B-52 tail gunners should make a point of
visiting 
Gunner's
Web Site.
Check out some stories
that convey the feel of
being a crew member on a B-52 in a way that only someone who has
been there can. Phil
Rowe was a D-model crewman and he has assembled some of his
personal stories on his web site. He has also flown on B-58
Hustlers and RF-4C Phantoms.
The B-52 Stratofortress Association is dedicated
to preserving the history and heritage of this magnificent
airplane and the men and women who designed, tested, built,
maintained and flew her in three wars - two hot, one cold.
Joe Baugher has an on-line history of the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
Send a message to Brian.
Go to home page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.
