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B-52
B-52H
NASA obtained a B-52H bomber from the U.S. Air Force in 2001, intending to use the aircraft as an air-launch and testbed aircraft to support NASA, Air Force and industry flight research and advanced technology demonstration efforts at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, Calif.
The B-52H replaced Dryden's famous B-52B "008" following that aircraft's retirement on Dec. 17, 2004. However, with no research projects requiring its capabilities on the horizon under NASA's restructured aeronautics research programs, the decision was made to return the aircraft to the Air Force. B-52H Fact Sheet
B-52B
NASA's venerable B-52B launch aircraft, operated by the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, participated in some of the most significant projects in aerospace history. At retirement in December 2004, the air launch and research aircraft held the distinction of being NASA's oldest aircraft, as well as being the oldest B-52 on flying status. At the same time, it had the lowest number of flying hours (2443.8) of any B-52 in operation, having been used exclusively in the role it continued to perform so reliably for nearly 50 years. B-52B Fact Sheet
B-52 Project Home Page
| DFRC Photo # |
Photo Date |
Image Description |
| |
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B-52 Photo Collection Contact Sheet |
| ED04-0362-08 |
December 17, 2004 |
Dryden Center director Kevin Petersen shakes hands with AFFTC commander, Brig. Gen. Curtis Bedke, at the retirement ceremony for NASA's B-52B. |
| ED04-0362-07 |
December 17, 2004 |
DFRC director Kevin Petersen speaks to an audience of NASA and Air Force visitors, employees and special guests at the retirement ceremony for NASA's B-52B. |
| ED04-0362-02 |
December 17, 2004 |
NASA's venerable B-52B mothership launch aircraft served as the backdrop at its retirement ceremony on Dec. 17, 2004. |
| EC04-0197-4 |
June 15, 2004 |
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's workhorse B-52B launch aircraft, known as NASA 008, displays markings. |
| ED04-0362-01 |
December 17, 2004 |
Retired NASA Dryden research pilot Ed Schneider served as master of ceremonies at the retirement ceremony for NASA's B-52B, on Dec. 17, 2004. |
| EC04-0327-39 |
November 16, 2004 |
Shadowed by two F/A-18s, NASA Dryden's venerable NB-52B is saluted by employees as it makes its final flyover after the last X-43A launch in November 2004. |
| EC04-0194-19 |
June 15, 2004 |
A newly constructed pylon (green) for carrying aerospace vehicles aloft flies attached to the wing of NASA Dryden Flight Research Center's B-52H aircraft. |
| EC04-0092-43 |
March 27, 2004 |
NASA's B-52B aircraft over the Dryden Flight Research Center after the successful launch of the second X-43A hypersonic research vehicle. |
| EC03-0258-04 |
October 7, 2003 |
NASA's B-52H is seen here on the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. |
| EC03-0258-12 |
October 7, 2003 |
Ready to go, NASA's B-52H waits as NASA B-52B 008 taxis back from flight. |
| EC03-0258-16 |
October 7, 2003 |
NASA's B-52H mothership at the ready, with renowned NASA B-52B 008 poised beside. |
| EC03-0258-19 |
October 7, 2003 |
NASA's B-52H is seen here on the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. |
| EC02-0083-1 |
April 16, 2002 |
NASA Dryden's B-52H lands at Edwards Air Force Base, California. |
| EC02-0083-2 |
April 16, 2002 |
B-52H over NASA Dryden Flight Research Center. |
| EC02-0083-3 |
April 16, 2002 |
NASA Dryden's B-52H in flight. |
| EC02-0083-12 |
April 16, 2002 |
NASA Dryden's B-52H in flight. |
| EC02-0080-38 |
April 12, 2002 |
NASA's veteran silver B-52B, foreground, joined the B-52H in NASA markings for a ceremony in Wichita, Kansas, April 12, 2002, marking the 50th anniversary of the B-52 aircraft. |
| EC02-0080-63 |
April 12, 2002 |
NASA's white B-52H, destined to join a veteran B-52B mother ship at Dryden Flight Research Center, was exhibited at the Boeing plant in Wichita, Kansas, April 12, 2002 during the 50th anniversary commemoration of the B-52 series of aircraft. |
| EC02-0080-93 |
April 12, 2002 |
NASA's white B-52H, shared ramp space with the veteran NASA B-52B mother ship in Wichita, Kansas, April 12, 2002 during the 50th anniversary of the B-52 aircraft. |
| EC01-0223-1 |
August 1, 2001 |
A newly arrived B-52H is seen here alongside NASA Dryden's venerable B-52 "B" model during its arrival ceremony on August 1, 2001. |
| EC01-0220-1 |
July 30, 2001 |
A B-52H, on loan to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, makes a pass down the runway prior to landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. |
| EC01-0220-3 |
July 30, 2001 |
A B-52 "H" model, on loan to NASA Dryden from the U.S. Air Force, touches down at Edwards Air Force Base, California, July 30, 2001. |
| EC01-0220-6 |
July 30, 2001 |
A B-52H, tail number 61-0025, arrives at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center after landing July 30, 2001. |
| EC01-0220-8 |
July 30, 2001 |
A B-52H, tail number 61-0025, arrives at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center after landing July 30, 2001. |
| EC01-0084-2 |
March 30, 2001 |
B-52 Launch Aircraft in Flight |
| EC01-0084-5 |
March 30, 2001 |
B-52 Launch Aircraft in Flight |
| EC01-0084-9 |
March 30, 2001 |
B-52 Launch Aircraft in Flight |
| EC00-0198-1 |
June 22, 2000 |
Aerospace industry representatives view actual and mock-up versions of 'X-Planes' intended to enhance access to space. L-R: NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, Boeing's X-37, and the Boeing X-40A behind the MicroCraft X-43 mock-up. |
| EC00-0198-2 |
June 22, 2000 |
On display during a technical exposition at Dryden are NASA's B-52 launch aircraft, Boeing's X-37, Boeing's X-40A behind the MicroCraft X-43 mock-up, Orbital Science's X-34 and the modified Lockheed L-1011 airliner that will launch the X-34. |
| EC96-43808-1 |
November 1996 |
Dryden B-52 Launch Aircraft in flight over Dryden |
| EC96-43808-2 |
November 1996 |
Dryden B-52 Launch Aircraft on Dryden ramp |
| EC96-43808-4 |
November 1996 |
Dryden B-52 Launch Aircraft on Edwards AFB runway |
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| EC93-01211-2 |
January 2, 1993 |
B-52 flight mission symbology on side of craft |
| EC93-03081 |
March 8, 1993 |
B-52 flight mission symbology - close up |
| EC96-43814-1 |
November 14, 1996 |
B-52B cockpit instrumentation panel |
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| B-52 STS Drag Chute Tests |
| EC90-225-1 |
1990 |
B-52 testing developmental Space Shuttle drag chute |
| EC90-225-28 |
August 2, 1990 |
B-52 testing developmental Space Shuttle drag chute |
| EC90-225-30 |
August 2, 1990 |
B-52 testing developmental Space Shuttle drag chute |
| EC90-257-32 |
August 2, 1990 |
B-52 testing developmental Space Shuttle drag chute |
| EC90-262-27 |
September 12, 1990 |
B-52 testing developmental Space Shuttle drag chute |
|
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| B-52 with F-111 Chute Drop Test |
| EC88-0032-03 |
February 19, 1988 |
B-52 testing F-111 drag chute |
| EC89-0126-03 |
May 16, 1989 |
B-52 testing F-111 drag chute - chute deploy |
|
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| X-15 and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC88-0180-4 |
mid 1960s |
X-15 mated to B-52 captive flight |
| E-4935 |
1959 |
X-15 mated to B-52 captive flight |
| E-4942 |
1959 |
X-15 launch from B-52 mothership |
| EC61-0034 |
September 1961 |
X-15 on lakebed after landing with B-52 mothership flyover |
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| M2-F2 Lifting Body and the B-52 Mothership |
| E-13865 |
September 23, 1965 |
M2-F2 mated to B-52 mothership on ramp |
| ECN-1436 |
1966 |
M2-F2 lifting body being carried aloft by B-52 mothership |
| EC66-1154 |
February 28, 1966 |
Jay L. King, Joseph D. Huxman, and Orion D. Billeter assist pilot Milt Thompson into the M2-F2 attached to B-52 Mothership |
| ECN-1146 |
1966 |
Research pilot Milt Thompson in M2-F2 aircraft attached to B-52 Mothership |
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| M2-F3 Lifting Body and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC71-2774 |
1971 |
M2-F3 in-flight launch from B-52 |
|
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| X-24 Lifting Body and the B-52 Mothership |
| ECN-2511 |
1970 |
X-24A in powered flight after drop from B-52 mothership |
|
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| Spin Research Vehicle (SRV) and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC81-15480 |
1981 |
Spin Research Vehicle (SRV) in B-52 captive flight |
| ECN-3804 |
1973 |
F-15A RPRV attached under the wing of the B-52 mothership in flight |
|
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| DAST and the B-52 Mothership |
| ECN-8113 |
1977 |
DAST mated to B-52 in flight - close-up from below |
| ECN-10247 |
1979 |
DAST mated to B-52 on ramp - close-up |
|
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| HiMAT and the B-52 Mothership |
| ECN-14283 |
1980 |
HiMAT subscale research vehicle mated to B-52 mothership in flight |
| ECN-14284 |
1980 |
HiMAT subscale research vehicle mated to B-52 mothership in flight, closeup view |
|
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| Pegasus and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC94-42690-7 |
1994 |
Pegasus mated under wing of B-52 mothership - closeup |
| EC89-0309-3 |
November 1989 |
Pegasus mated to B-52 - First flight |
| EC91-348-3 |
July 1991 |
Pegasus mated to B-52 mothership - front view |
| Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC84-30263-FR10 |
July 19, 1984 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) release from NB-52B |
| EC84-32107 |
December 17, 1984 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) mated to NB-52B in snow |
| EC79-10168 |
January 29, 1979 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) with chutes open after release from NB-52B |
| EC78-9874 |
September 8, 1978 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) mated to NB-52B |
| EC77-8184 |
August 13, 1977 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) first release from NB-52B |
| EC77-7428 |
June 10, 1977 |
Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Drop Test Vehicle (SRB-DTV) captive flight on NB-52B |
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| X-38 and the B-52 Mothership |
| EC00-0318-1 |
November 2, 2000 |
B-52 008 landing on runway 04 at Edwards Air Force Base after first free flight of X-38 vehicle #131R |
| EC99-45080-12 |
July 9, 1999 |
X-38 Ship #2 mated to B-52 Mothership in flight |
| EC99-45080-25 |
July 9, 1999 |
X-38 Ship #2 in free flight after release from B-52 Mothership |
| EC97-44319-8 |
November 19, 1997 |
X-38 on B-52 wing pylon - view from observation window |
| EC97-44163-16 |
July 30, 1997 |
X-38 - First captive carry flight on B-52 |
| EC97-44163-17 |
July 30, 1997 |
X-38 - First captive carry flight on B-52 |
| EC97-44105-29 |
July 6, 1997 |
X-38 mounted on pylon of B-52 mothership |
| EC97-43910-1 |
1997 |
Closeup of wing fit check of pylon to carry the X-38 on B-52 launch aircraft |
| EC97-43910-2 |
1997 |
Closeup of wing fit check of pylon to carry the X-38 on B-52 launch aircraft |
| EC97-43910-3 |
1997 |
Closeup of wing fit check of pylon to carry the X-38 on B-52 launch aircraft |
| EC97-43910-4 |
1997 |
Closeup of wing fit check of pylon to carry the X-38 on B-52 launch aircraft |
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