The Boeing B-52 is the longest serving aircraft in USAF history and will continue to serve well into the 21st century. Current plans are to keep it in the active inventory until 2140.  The Stratofortress was the first jet aircraft to fly around the world non-stop. This feat was accomplished in 1956.

 

The B-52 was conceived and designed in the late 1940's as an intercontinental bomber for the Strategic Air Command (SAC) to deliver nuclear payloads to targets deep within the Soviet Union. Later models were modified to carry up to 60,000 pounds of conventional weapons and were widely use in Vietnam and in Operation Desert Storm.

 

Of the almost 750 B-52s manufactured over the years, 170 of them were D models. The B-52D was the first model to be used extensively for nuclear deterrance.  As the E-H models were built, there were over 30 bases with B-52's, of which one-third were always on alert.  The F-H models were equiped to carry the McDonnell GAM-72 Quail decoy missle as well as the AGM-28 Hound Dog  air to ground missle.  (The AGM-28 is also on display at the Chanute Air Museum.)