4 ms·

The B-2 is ancient, doesn't seem very surprising.

Jtsummers 6y ago
I had to check, it's not as ancient as some other bombers with B-2 first flight occurring in 1989. I met a pilot who flew on the same B-52 as his father, and his grandfather had flown some of the first B-52s. This was in the 00s, about 15-18 years ago.
- aphextron 6y ago
  It's impossible to overstate how long these things have been in service. The oldest B-52 airframes still in active service were built longer ago than the first flight of the Wright brothers was when they were built.
  - rstupek 6y ago
    And likely to be in service for another 30 years. A 100 year airframe
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
    - koalahedron 6y ago
      I worked at Boeing Wichita (which is no more), and an engineer told me that the B-52 was getting heavier over time because the old wires weren't removed for avionics upgrades. Of course, they were always trying to put one over on me as a newbie (I worked on avionics S/W in Ada for the tankers). He also said a big problem was the expense of doing a modern engine upgrade. Anyone know if they ever re-engined it? Was he joking again? Having one of these fly over my apartment on Rock Rd. was a dish rattler--I used to see B-2s every once in a while too (fairly loud too, IIRC).
      - koalahedron 6y ago
        20 years later, looks like they are taking RFPs for re-engining: [PDF] https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11413 https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11413 I guess he was right about the engines.
Voloskaya 6y ago
It is by no mean ancient. The introduction of the B-2 in service was ~24 years ago, this is one of the most recent jet in the US air force. By military standard it's definitely young. There are only 2 planes in service in the US more recent than that, the F-22 and F-35 (not counting transport aircrafts). Those planes are designed for lifespans of 50-100 years.
- whalesalad 6y ago
  My dad was at the Skunk Works for 20 years. He then went on to work at Northrop for a good chunk of time as well. The B-2 was started in the 70s and the maiden flight occurred while I was still baking in the womb. I realize aircraft can live a long time and can be retrofitted and upgraded with modern technology - but all things considered it is old. Not saying ancient is bad, either, but as far as organizations go, org knowledge, handoffs of info and books and writing etc... I am not surprised to see the need for reverse engineering.
- redis_mlc 6y ago
  > Those planes are designed for lifespans of 50-100 years. No, they weren't "designed" for a century. Think about it for a minute - would a military contractor even admit it if they did? There would be no new programs. :) The reason the B-52, F-16 (and T-38 for training, F-5 for aggressor training, etc.) are still around is because they were made in quantity. By contrast, the F-22 had a run of about 190 airframes, and the B-1/B-2's dozens each, with only a handful (like 3 - 5) of each model operational at any given time - it's really that bad. All they had to do for the B-52 was to update the avionics and add a cruise missile rotary launcher in the bomb hold. (Believe it or not, that is the main thing that keeps the B-52 in operations.) B-52 Rotary Launcher Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCjO43k-1Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCjO43k-1Y
Daho0n 6y ago
It first flew 31 years ago. If that is ancient what is the F-16 that first flew 49 years ago?

I had to check, it's not as ancient as some other bombers with B-2 first flight occurring in 1989. I met a pilot who flew on the same B-52 as his father, and his grandfather had flown some of the first B-52s. This was in the 00s, about 15-18 years ago.

aphextron 6y ago
It's impossible to overstate how long these things have been in service. The oldest B-52 airframes still in active service were built longer ago than the first flight of the Wright brothers was when they were built.
- rstupek 6y ago
  And likely to be in service for another 30 years. A 100 year airframe
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - koalahedron 6y ago
    I worked at Boeing Wichita (which is no more), and an engineer told me that the B-52 was getting heavier over time because the old wires weren't removed for avionics upgrades. Of course, they were always trying to put one over on me as a newbie (I worked on avionics S/W in Ada for the tankers). He also said a big problem was the expense of doing a modern engine upgrade. Anyone know if they ever re-engined it? Was he joking again? Having one of these fly over my apartment on Rock Rd. was a dish rattler--I used to see B-2s every once in a while too (fairly loud too, IIRC).
    - koalahedron 6y ago
      20 years later, looks like they are taking RFPs for re-engining: [PDF] https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11413 https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IN/IN11413 I guess he was right about the engines.

Voloskaya 6y ago

It is by no mean ancient. The introduction of the B-2 in service was ~24 years ago, this is one of the most recent jet in the US air force. By military standard it's definitely young. There are only 2 planes in service in the US more recent than that, the F-22 and F-35 (not counting transport aircrafts). Those planes are designed for lifespans of 50-100 years.

whalesalad 6y ago
My dad was at the Skunk Works for 20 years. He then went on to work at Northrop for a good chunk of time as well. The B-2 was started in the 70s and the maiden flight occurred while I was still baking in the womb. I realize aircraft can live a long time and can be retrofitted and upgraded with modern technology - but all things considered it is old. Not saying ancient is bad, either, but as far as organizations go, org knowledge, handoffs of info and books and writing etc... I am not surprised to see the need for reverse engineering.
redis_mlc 6y ago
> Those planes are designed for lifespans of 50-100 years. No, they weren't "designed" for a century. Think about it for a minute - would a military contractor even admit it if they did? There would be no new programs. :) The reason the B-52, F-16 (and T-38 for training, F-5 for aggressor training, etc.) are still around is because they were made in quantity. By contrast, the F-22 had a run of about 190 airframes, and the B-1/B-2's dozens each, with only a handful (like 3 - 5) of each model operational at any given time - it's really that bad. All they had to do for the B-52 was to update the avionics and add a cruise missile rotary launcher in the bomb hold. (Believe it or not, that is the main thing that keeps the B-52 in operations.) B-52 Rotary Launcher Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCjO43k-1Y https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hCjO43k-1Y

Daho0n 6y ago

It first flew 31 years ago. If that is ancient what is the F-16 that first flew 49 years ago?