Hey! (Also B52 Question)

[Wolven0ne]

Hey guys! I'm new here... I am still in high school but wanna be in the Air Force after going to college (AFA preferred, but a college with an Air Force related major/minor at least)

I also want to fly B52s....

so I heard recently the B52 is no longer being used as a bomber, is this true? Is it mainly a carrier aircraft now? Or is it staying a bomber until it retires sometime in the 2040s?

 

[lucinator]

not sure what you mean by carrier aircraft, but no it's still used as a bomber, oh and I recommend you also keep in mind that they select your plane not you(though you do have input), and that's assuming you make it into pilot school and pass. most people in the air-force are maintenance and stuff other than actually flying the planes.

Hey guys! I'm new here... I am still in high school but wanna be in the Air Force after going to college (AFA preferred, but a college with an Air Force related major/minor at least)

I also want to fly B52s....

so I heard recently the B52 is no longer being used as a bomber, is this true? Is it mainly a carrier aircraft now? Or is it staying a bomber until it retires sometime in the 2040s?

 

[Wolven0ne]

hah yeah I know... by carrier I mean transport (C-130, C-17 etc)

Flying is in my blood... like I love to fly and have technically landed a 737 (I say technically b/c it was in a highly realistic simulator)

 

[lucinator]

no. turning a B-52 into a transport would be
a)expensive, requiring major modification to the airframe
b)not really that useful, c-17 and c-5 can carry much more for less.

good luck with your career.

hah yeah I know... by carrier I mean transport (C-130, C-17 etc)

Flying is in my blood... like I love to fly and have technically landed a 737 (I say technically b/c it was in a highly realistic simulator)

 

[Kilo 2-3]

The BUFF is very much still a bomber. Sure, it's doing other things now (acting as a mothership for NASA test drones, etc.); but dropping dumb and precision ordnance is still a major part of its mission. C-17s, C-130s, C-5s, KC-10s, and KC-135s are simply better suited for the transport mission, so it doesn't really make economic sense to use B-52s in that role.

But keep in mind that the fleet is shrinking. Different platforms are starting to get in on the game, requirements are being revised, and defense cuts are being made. B-52s aren't going to disappear; but there's going to be fewer and fewer of them in coming years.

That means there's going to fewer and fewer billets for bombers for rising USAF pilots. Bottom line, you aren't guaranteed to get B-52s. Hard work, and good grades in the classroom and cockpit will improve the odds; but ultimately where you end up is subject to the demands of the service.

Best of luck as you pursue a career in the Air Force.

 

[lucinator]

The BUFF is very much still a bomber. Sure, it's doing other things now (acting as a mothership for NASA test drones, etc.); but dropping dumb and precision ordnance is still a major part of its mission. C-17s, C-130s, C-5s, KC-10s, and KC-135s are simply better suited for the transport mission, so it doesn't really make economic sense to use B-52s in that role.

But keep in mind that the fleet is shrinking. Different platforms are starting to get in on the game, requirements are being revised, and defense cuts are being made. B-52s aren't going to disappear; but there's going to be fewer and fewer of them in coming years.

That means there's going to fewer and fewer billets for bombers for rising USAF pilots. Bottom line, you aren't guaranteed to get B-52s. Hard work, and good grades in the classroom and cockpit will improve the odds; but ultimately where you end up is subject to the demands of the service.

Best of luck as you pursue a career in the Air Force.

didn't I just say that