Post by Antonio on Jan 24, 2022 17:59:38 GMT 12
www.koco.com/article/decommissioned-b-52-bomber-makes-its-way-to-okc-to-serve-as-prototype-for-fleet-upgrades/38849970
A B52 Bomber has made its trip from Tuscon, Arizona to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The bomber is on the last day of a three-week trip to Oklahoma City’s Boeing facility.
The Boeing B-52 fuselage arrived in Oklahoma on Thursday.
The fuselage has been flying since 1955 and is known as "Damage Inc. II." The vessel is currently making its way to the Boeing facility in Oklahoma City, where it will be assembled and serve as a test prototype for modernization efforts. The modernization of Boeing B-52 was contracted from the United States Air Force (USAF), which include letting Boeing upgrade the engines on the B-52.
The iconic aircraft began its journey at Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ on Jan. 3, making its way through southern Arizona and New Mexico. The fuselage is scheduled to make its way through the southwest portion of Oklahoma before it will arrive in the OKC Metro area, where it is expected to arrive on Jan. 22.
When the bomber arrives in OKC, crews will then manoeuvre the aircraft into the Boeing facility for engineers to begin the process of integrating new F130 engines recently selected by the USAF. These new engines will give the 60-year-old aircraft the power, range and speed necessary to remain mission ready through 2050 and beyond.
"The B-52 remains a critical part of our nation's nuclear deterrent," said Jennifer Wong, the director for the Bombers Program. "We are so excited to partner with the U.S. Air Force and Rolls Royce as the Commercial Engine Replace Program (CERP) carries the B-52 into the future."
CERP is the latest development in a series of enhancements to the B-52. The program will replace each of the fuselage's eight engines before the current engines in the aircraft reach the end of their life cycle. The modern, fuel-efficient engines being installed in the B-52 will enhance the bomber's operational capabilities while improving its environmental impact.
In order to re-engine the legacy aircraft, the Boeing team is relying upon digital engineering to design, build and test the new engines in a digital environment.
"We appreciate Boeing's partnership to revive Damage Inc II in support of the B-52 modernization effort," said Col. Louis Ruscetta, Senior Material Leader, B-52 System Program Office at Tinker Air Force Base. "This is a great opportunity to reduce risk to some of our development efforts and opens doors to bring other innovative capabilities to the fleet and keep this platform flying into 2050."
A B52 Bomber has made its trip from Tuscon, Arizona to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The bomber is on the last day of a three-week trip to Oklahoma City’s Boeing facility.
The Boeing B-52 fuselage arrived in Oklahoma on Thursday.
The fuselage has been flying since 1955 and is known as "Damage Inc. II." The vessel is currently making its way to the Boeing facility in Oklahoma City, where it will be assembled and serve as a test prototype for modernization efforts. The modernization of Boeing B-52 was contracted from the United States Air Force (USAF), which include letting Boeing upgrade the engines on the B-52.
The iconic aircraft began its journey at Davis-Montham Air Force Base in Tucson, AZ on Jan. 3, making its way through southern Arizona and New Mexico. The fuselage is scheduled to make its way through the southwest portion of Oklahoma before it will arrive in the OKC Metro area, where it is expected to arrive on Jan. 22.
When the bomber arrives in OKC, crews will then manoeuvre the aircraft into the Boeing facility for engineers to begin the process of integrating new F130 engines recently selected by the USAF. These new engines will give the 60-year-old aircraft the power, range and speed necessary to remain mission ready through 2050 and beyond.
"The B-52 remains a critical part of our nation's nuclear deterrent," said Jennifer Wong, the director for the Bombers Program. "We are so excited to partner with the U.S. Air Force and Rolls Royce as the Commercial Engine Replace Program (CERP) carries the B-52 into the future."
CERP is the latest development in a series of enhancements to the B-52. The program will replace each of the fuselage's eight engines before the current engines in the aircraft reach the end of their life cycle. The modern, fuel-efficient engines being installed in the B-52 will enhance the bomber's operational capabilities while improving its environmental impact.
In order to re-engine the legacy aircraft, the Boeing team is relying upon digital engineering to design, build and test the new engines in a digital environment.
"We appreciate Boeing's partnership to revive Damage Inc II in support of the B-52 modernization effort," said Col. Louis Ruscetta, Senior Material Leader, B-52 System Program Office at Tinker Air Force Base. "This is a great opportunity to reduce risk to some of our development efforts and opens doors to bring other innovative capabilities to the fleet and keep this platform flying into 2050."