See This B-52 Bomber? It's 55 Years Old and Has Been on 201 Missions
Dario Leone
Security, Americas
How can that be?
Early in the morning of Jan. 5, the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS) and the 96th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Unit (EAMU) launched their 201st sortie, breaking the record for the highest B-52H Stratofortress “sortie streak” during a flight supporting Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR).
The first U.S. Air Force (USAF) B-52H was introduced to the Strategic Air Command (SAC) fleet in May of 1961.
The B-52H is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
With over 55 years under their wings, BUFFs (Big Ugly Fat Fucker, as the B-52 is nicknamed by her aircrews) must be maintained and looked after diligently.
An indicator of how well these aircraft are maintained is a sortie streak, or the number of consecutive sorties that a unit flies without having a mission cancellation due to maintenance.
“There are many maintenance performance indicators, but sortie streak is the culmination of our effort,” said Chief Master Sgt. Jacob Larsen, superintendent of the 96th EAMU. “Ultimately we are charged with providing safe aircraft for the production of combat sorties. Producing sorties is where the rubber meets the road. All the other indicators mean nothing if you’re not putting good aircraft in the air.”