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Flying The B-52 Through To 2050 Entails Some Risks

With eight engines located forward of the wings, the B-52 bomber presents an unusual reengining challenge. U.S. Air Force

Forbes: Hanging New Engines On 60-Year-Old B-52 Bombers Will Raise Some Serious Risks

The U.S. Air Force wants to continue operating the venerable B-52 bomber through 2050. As I have written recently, that would make it the longest continuously operating jet in history.

In order to accomplish this, Air Force leaders plan to make major upgrades to the 76 B-52H bombers in their fleet, including the installation of new engines.

Today’s commercial turbofans are so much more advanced than the TF33 engines currently powering the bombers—there are eight on each plane—that the Air Force believes it can get a 30% gain in fuel efficiency and (given less weight) a 40% gain in range.

A request for proposals issued to industry in May also specified big gains in engine reliability, so that the new engines would never need to be removed from wings during the bombers’ remaining time in service.

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WNU Editor: It is amazing that these bombers are still flying.

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