Planes!

[GDS_Starfury]

this:


plus this:


is how Warthogs are made!

[Steelgrave]

A B-52, appropriately named "Ghost Rider", is resurrected from the Arizona desert to fly again.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/21/us/arizona-b-52-restored/index.html

[GDS_Starfury]

the flip side is that its not cool to be dipping into that part of the reserve pool for operational use as a complete airframe.

[Steelgrave]

My understanding was that the planes at Davis-Monthan were intended both for parts and for possible re-constitution in emergencies. No?

[GDS_Starfury]

yeah, but..... a B-52.....

[mirth]

Yeah turns out we need to keep 60 year old bombers in service for the foreseeable future.

[mirth]

Our aircraft procurement in the past 30 years has not been great :(

[GDS_Starfury]

I dont mind the use of parts.  But a whole airframe that needs to be brought up to current spec....

[GDS_Starfury]

oddly it will probably have the fewest flight hours in the fleet.  :P

[republic]

Just saw this:  http://www.airforcetimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/02/19/b52-comes-back-from-the-boneyard/23675305/

A B-52H bomber named "Ghost Rider" is back from the dead.

The bomber was sitting in the "boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, when it was selected to replace another B-52 that was damaged in a fire, said Maj. Phillip Ventura, spokesman for the 2nd Bomb Wing.



The Air Force is such an odd animal.  Bringing back an old Buff to replace a damaged one is a common sense thing.  Then on the other hand you have them wanting to cut the A-10 and spending billions on stealth planes we don't use...

[mirth]

[GDS_Starfury]

its like Bawbs moustache flying off into the sunset.

if his stach' didnt fly for the Luftwaffe.

[bob48]

I always maintained an airworthy spare.

[mirth]

I always maintained an airworthy spare.

Just like the Mrs. and her frying pans.

[bob48]

Those would be 'hairworthy' rather than 'airworthy'.