In any other case of a crash of an aircraft over 70 years old, everyone would agree that they are "old horses" and would demand its withdrawal.
In the case of B-52 Stratofortress, however, Who crashed Monday in the Mojave Desert, in California, dragging 8 people to death, investigations begin with the new radar and new engines tested on the plane that fell.
I wonder, was it a pilot's mistake, a mechanical failure, or was the citizen on the controls unable to control the cranky anyway, but hard-rail bomber;
BREAKING: A U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff at Edwards Air Force Base, triggering an Emergency response.
Emergency Crews Rushed To The Scene As Thing Black Smoke Billowed From The Wreckage Scattered Across The Desert Airfield.
More details, including... pic.twitter. Com/JRx3R4ElJW— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 15, 2026
Whatever is proven by the investigation into the fatal accident, one thing is certain: B-52 will keep flying for sure until 2050. When it closes a century in the skies.
UPDATE: 8 crew members killed in B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base in California pic.twitter. com/xgOdSwA70n— BNO News (@BNONews) June 15, 2026
B-52 is the flying proof of what they say ‘they don't make them like they used to’, as the American Air Force is unable to build a structurally as even and operationally capable bomber as this.
That is why The tragedy of Monday also occurred., when one of the existing B-52 crashed immediately after taking off from the historic Edwards base of the American Air Force. There, in the dried lake of the base, where the sound barrier from an airplane was first broken in history and flew the first U.S. jet, in 1942, the eight-member crew carried out test flight for the last upgrade made by the U.S. Air Force in B-52.
Replace with new Rolls-Royce engines
The bomber "wears" new, modern radar and avionics, while all eight TF33 engines of the '60s are replaced, with new F130s of Rolls-Royce. B-52 is Boeing's response to the American warship's call to create a bomber, in 1946.
The giant aircraft, which pilots call unofficial BUFF ( ), is called the BUFF.Big Fat Ugly Fat Fellow / Fucker - Big, Fat, Ugly Press), due to its huge and imposing volume, was presented in 1954 and immediately entered service.
His original purpose, for which he was designed, was to be able to carry and discard nuclear bombs deep in the Soviet Union, but it was used for... almost everything.
Besides, this plane has a huge range, since it can fly for more than 14,000 km without refuelling, a distance that can be doubled after having the ability to refuel in flight. It can also carry a load of 31.5 tons, of course among them bombs, mines, missiles.
Just because it had been built for nuclear deterrence, Boeing had made it an extreme hard drive. Its skeleton was and is so durable that today, 70 years later, it does not show material fatigue despite being used as a "workhorse", carrying (even on it) extreme loads, such as NASA missiles and spacecraft (which has one of its own for transport and experimental flights).
Even the fuel it takes is so much that engineers were forced to place wheels (and) on the wing tips (there are the tanks) which were bent by the weight of fuel and leaned on the ground on landing/lifting. Not by chance, except BUFF, they call them and "flying vans" for his usability.
Their pilots - who often have half the years of flying aircraft- recognize that B-52 may be very difficult and demanding in handlingBut they have the unique ability to carry huge and very heavy loads, at huge distances, like no other plane. And that is why, as for bombings, of course, it is used, with the pilots of the state-of-the-art fighters telling stories in which they suddenly saw above them the spectacular, terrifying shadows of the B-52 that were preparing to level areas.
Today, the U.S. Air Force operates 58 B-52H (the guy that crashed) with 18 others in long storage. A total of 744 aircraft were built in various variants (from A to H). The last B-52 was delivered in October 1962.
The long-lived aircraft is evidence of its importance to the U.S. Air Force, with pilots pointing out that "from the very first day it worked for the mission for which it was designed and doing fantastic work. It carries so much ammunition cargo, so many bombs, we could never replace it." However, other aviation experts reported that the continued efforts to amend B-52 indicate the need for more stable and consistent military funding.
Either way, the pilots recognize that they fly planes with which the fathers and possibly their grandparents flew! Consider, for example, that B-52 Stratofortress They delivered 40% of all weapons used by allied forces during Operation "The Desert Storm" in 1991.
They were also used to strike concentration of troops in broad areas and forts.
Two B-52H were also used to hit Baghdad's power stations and communications facilities in 1996, during Operation ‘Desert Strike’, using cruise missiles launched from the air.
This mission, according to the Air Force, was the battle mission with the longest flight distance at the time. To fulfill the mission, aircraft crews flew with B-52 on a 16,000-mile round trip from Barksdale Air Force Base to Louisiana, flying for 34 hours in a row!
Why replace 8 engines that have this performance and reliability, one will wonder. In addition to age, modern engines will reduce (in addition to) its maintenance costs anyway very economic in maintenance B-52, increasing speed, autonomy and improving its consumption.
But there are gold parchments in battle. B-52 was again used for the "Operation Enduring Freedom" in 2001, providing close air support as it flew over the battlefield, according to the U.S. Air Force. During the "Operation Iraqi Freedom" in 2003, it launched about 100 missiles during a single night mission.
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is not only the longest and most recognizable strategic bomber in the world. Having closed over 70 years of continuous service in the U.S. Air Force, up to the Mojave Desert tragedy, B-52 maintained an impressive safety record.
The most recent incident there was, was the Guam crash in 2016. Earlier, in 2008, another B-52 crashed near Guam, with six dead, while in 1982, another B-52 fell off Sacramento's Mather base, killing the nine occupants on it. Few incidents for a type of aircraft that flies over 70 years and is expected to exceed 100.
In the United States, in military circles there is a saying that: "When an F-16 appears, it's an important event. But when a B-52 appears, opponents start singing other purposes“ It’s just that I’ve been thinking. ”
The huge size of the bomber (with a wingspan of 56.5 meters) and the characteristic roaring of its eight engines create an intimidating presence. Their abilities, carrying a huge number of bombs - capable of leveling entire large cities - and theoretically flying nonstop, are something else that causes fear to those who see the enormous shadow of B-52 over them..