B-52 Walkaround Stratofortress

The most detailed and thorough video of the B-52 Stratofortress ever made. Lt Col Bohl and his crew, give us an access all areas to the most iconic bomber ever flown!! It's amazing the size of this aircraft!!!

[lawrencegore]

Excellent video. I learned a lot. The airframes of these remaining 76 operational B-52H's are 60 years old. We designed the B-52G/H in 1956 for high-altitude bombing. But in 1961, in the middle of the Cold War, we redesigned the structure to meet SAC's new more severe usage and service life requirments. These notably included low level terrain avoidance training, often under extreme gust and maneuver conditions. The main reason for the continuing structural longevity is that the usage has not been as severe as was projected. As Chief of Structures Technology at Boeing-Wichita at the time of the redesign. I am honored to say I chose the materials, the analysis methods, and the limiting stress levels for the redesicn. I am now 95 and I am thrilled to see these planes still flying, and projected to do so for many more years.

[NettAirLa]

I was a B-52 Crew Chief from 96 to 00. Watching this made me realize how many little things I forgot about. Thank you for posting this!

[bassmithbassist]

This man is a real stick and rudder pilot. I loved it when he said that the last B-52 pilot hasn't been born yet.

[Captain_Coleslaw]

"If you've ever flown a B-52" Not ever have i heard something so casual yet so abseloutely mad

[toniferreira]

Father was one of the first Gunners on B52. In 63 trained at Castle AFB and directly shipped to Limestone AFB in 1964. Gave 28 years of service and was involved in many raids over N Vietnam in the late 60's. From Northern tier bases Limestone, Plattsburgh, Fairchild and back to Castle as an instructor. He never set foot in Vietnam. He flew out of Thailand and Guam. Eventually became a Gunner Instructor back at Castle and then Warner Robins AFB. This job was not talked about in our home as he did not bring his work home. But provided us with a proper upbringing and all that kids would ever need, an education and a safe place to grow up. Peace is our Profession. He was very proud of his profession.

[myusername]

I didn't know this was going to happen, I would have loved to be present. I entered SAC in June 61. Initial training B47 Amarillo till Nov 61. Assigned to my home state at Wurtsmith AFB, Oscoda, Mich. When I arrived for duty the very first thing I touched when I got on the flight line was one brand spanking new B52H, tail number 60001. I was proud to be there for the first one when it still had the new car smell all over her. I was 18 then and am 78 now and can't believe that these fellows as you put it are going to outlive me by many a years. I am also happy with the engine change and can't wait to hear em run. I am very tired right now and have to go to bed but I will be back tomorrow to see what you have put together and I am excited to see what you have to say. Would you believe we washed and waxed those babies back then? lol. They glistened when came to us and not a scratch on them anywhere. I have a million stories about this plane and the relationships we had with the crews back then. I loved LeMay and the way he handled this extraordinary gift we gave to the USA. I have already met a pilot of one that was the son of our A/C on the original planes and I wouldn't be surprised if there won't be some great grand kids soon. To this very day I am so proud of seeing 001 shining on the line with "The State of Michigan" written on her side. I wish you could have seen her when she came to be as these first 15 we got don't look anything like they do today. And when my son who is a Hawg pilot first set in one that came to Tucson for storage called me and said "Dad, I sat in this thing and it really smelled." LOL And of course he commented on the glass cockpit, you know, the instruments all had the little glass plates on them. I see you have a nav member in this and in our days we had green screens not like the Garmin stuff. 😂 Anyway thanks for doing this and I can't wait for the update tomorrow when I see what you have put together. Oh by the way, the H my son sat in down in AMARG was 023 do you know if it was removed back to service. I was really upset they decided to move that bird into storage as it was a very famous made headlines when Walter Kronkite was following back and forth across the US trying to find a place to put it down. This was the one that Chuck Fisher took up trying to find heavy winds to see what the vertical stabilizer would take and he found it. Ripped that baby right off but eventually got her on the ground. That guy was hard on aircraft which he should be with his job. We sent one of the planes I worked on down to Boeing for a wing change and the Cuban crises hit then so Chuck brought it back to us right away. As I watched him touch down it was great to see her again but all of a sudden fire was coming out of the front gear and bottom line is the circuit breaker for the anti skid was off and you know the rest of that story. I miss him too. Good night

[trevorbodnar]

The videos get better and better. At this rate we'll have to fundraise so that Erik can go to space and film "International Space Station Walkaround".

[thishandlecrapisstupid]

Stuff like this is why TV and Hollywood is failing. I just spent almost two hours looking at aircraft parts. Like This Old House, but aircraft. People I know freaking love it. Grateful to all involved.

[trainsplanes]

The best B-52 walkaround I've seen! I was in BUFs in the 70s as nav, radar nav, copilot, and pilot. Many changes since then in the weapon systems but the plane remains essentially the same. We carried 500 and 750 pounders. The D model could carry up to 108 internally and externally although more common was 84. The G could only carry 27 internally. Nukes included internal gravity bombs then later internal and external SRAM missiles. Also the AGM-28 Hounddog, one under each wing. It was powered by a jet engine which made the B-52 a 10 engine airplane. We also had the Quail decoy missiles -- 4 internal.

This is a great airplane and it never let me down in 5000 hours flying it.

[spencervalenzuela]

I currently work on the b-52 in the Air Force in Louisiana as E/E and the video doesn’t do this aircraft justice, its absolutely an amazing aircraft.

[kevinweinberger]

I was a crew cheif on a B-52g model at first then on the H model at Castle AFB in California. I think the base was closed in 96. I served between 1978-1983. This video brings back many memories of years past. I’m very proud of my service and of the Buff itself. It truly seems to be a durable platform protecting our country and our Allie’s. I’m amazed by your ability to video the aircraft, because I would have been in jail if we did it back then. Thank you guys for this great presentation and your service to this great country!

[wewd]

The Civil War veteran the LtCol was talking about was Albert Woolson, who was born in 1850 and died in 1956, after the B-52 entered service. He lived to see the early days of the space age.

[b-hnukesr]

I was a Crew Chief on B-52H 1017 at Ellsworth AFB 1981-1985. What an awesome experience, she is a beautiful weapons delivery system which is still an excellent platform.

[johnirwin]

Sir, thank you very much for this tour. I am a retired B-52H CC/ supervisor. I spent the my last 7 1/2 years of my 20 year career on the B-52H at Ellsworth in several supervisory positions to include NCIOC of the Alert Pads and Line Chief. I have not been on or near a B- 52H since late September of 1985 when I started out processing and terminal leave to retirement at midnight on Dec. 31, 1985. Keep up the good work Sir.

[jetsgardner]

I was a child when father was in the air force and he often took me to the base. The C119 was the first aircraft I was introduced to. A vivid memory was him walking me under the fuselage and being terrified it was going to crush beneath its own weight with me under it. I got over that quickly and loved crawling around in any aircraft and dreaming of flying them. Often he'd bring home empty instrument panels from crashed ones and my pretending to fly them. You brought back a lot of memories, and I thank you for it. Great presentation.

[dshow]

I liked how he said “ it’s their jet we just take it out”

[io]

Thanks for the great video guys!! Excellent tour. Not much has changed on the old Buff in all these years!
I was a B-52 G/H Crew Chief 1985 - 1995. Wurtsmith AFB, MI and Fairchild AFB, WA. Deployed to Saudi with the G models in 1991 for Desert Storm; 1708th Bomb Wing. We bombed
non stop for many many days and nights and our mission capable rate of flyable aircraft was around 98-99%. Amazing aircraft, but you gotta keep it flying or it gets stubborn.
When the last modern bomber the Air Force has goes to the bone yard for retirement, the B-52 will do the fly over!
Proud to have served, and I'm very proud of todays B-52 aircrews and maintainers! Keep em flying boys and girls!!

[aaronlopez]

The B-52 is one aircraft that caused many MIG-21/23 pilots and crews to sleep in
place waiting for the "Yankees" to attack.
Thank you so much Erick for this great video.

[dontfukwiththissenator]

These are some of the most in-depth videos on aircraft I have ever seen, thanks for uploading Erik!

[russvoight]

I was assigned to the 28th FMS welding shop from August 1976 to December 1979. Would be great to hear from anyone there at the same time I was. My wife and I were out there last month. Went to the museum at EAFB, so many good memories. Proud to have been a part of SAC.