Boeing B-52

Since entering service with the U.S. Air Force in 1955, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has become one of the longest-serving military aircraft in aviation history. Designed during the early years of the Cold War as a long-range strategic bomber, the B-52 was built to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons across intercontinental distances.Powered by eight jet engines and capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of ordnance, the aircraft has proven remarkably adaptable through decades of technological advancement. Beyond its original nuclear deterrence mission, the B-52 has supported operations during the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and numerous other military campaigns.
Although newer bombers have joined the U.S. Air Force inventory, the B-52 remains in active service thanks to continual upgrades to its avionics, communications, navigation systems, and weapons capabilities. Its combination of long range, heavy payload, and operational flexibility has earned it the nickname “BUFF”—an affectionate acronym for “Big Ugly Fat Fellow.”