The B-52 is one of those veteran airframes that seems to have a very long life. Though the aircraft still in service are the last variant built, even the newest of those aircraft are over forty years old and getting very near fifty. Fortunately, the aircraft is strong and constant attention to maintenance and replacement has enabled these aircraft to remain in service. Since the airframes are so limited, currently, only four bomb wings operate the aircraft.

Since the book is limited to just the two variants, the format is somewhat different that what you would find with something like a P-40 or Merlin powered Spitfire. The book offers a very short introductory history of the B-52 in general, then goes into a short look at the two variants being covered. It then goes into a brief look at its operation during Vietnam and during Desert Storm before providing several pages of nose art. This is followed by a look at its avionics systems, including images of the various control stations.

The bulk of the book seems to be on the various weapons that the B-52H carries. At least a third of the book goes over the bombs and cruise missiles and targets that can be loaded into the Stratofortress' cavernous bomb bays. It moves into a section on flying the aircraft that is chock full of jargon as one might expect from any book on current aircraft. This is then followed by a look at B-52H operations following Desert Storm including missions against Afghanistan and Iraq. The book ends with the B-52H that was provided to NASA to replace its old NB-52B and a few of the various things that the aircraft has carried.

In all, it makes for an interesting book on these two aircraft and is chock full of images, most of them in color. There are also a few large, full color profiles included.  It is a book that those interested in this still viable antique will find to be an interesting read and one I can easily recommend.

May 2012

Thanks to Squadron Products for the review book. Get yours at your local shop today.

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