It’s amazing, and it’s lucky that old planes can be reused, improved, and maintained. And also, “maintenance-friendly” if that is the case is enormously cost-effective – but only if the design is done with maintenance in mind.

I worked on those old B-52H model aircraft at my first duty station and it was cold in Minot, North Dakota and the weather was too cold in Winter and too hot in Summer. Later on I worked on the D and G models at U-tapao TNAS, Thailand, and Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. I am surprised that they have flown so long and still kept up. The older models was destroyed leaving just enough to complete the missions assigned to them.

I read about this event that happened in the 1980’s. A group of officials were driven to somewhere in a North African desert. A B-52 had left its Texas base 10(?) hours earlier, flew to near where the officials were located, dropped its bomb load and flew back to Texas non-stop. One of the observers said that they did not hear or see the bomber. Only the explosions keyed them that something happened.

When I see a B52 and a KC 135 and many passenger jets I am very proud to be American and even more fortunate as I am in the Pacific Northwest home to Boeing aircraft company. My neighbors, fathers, mother’s, grandmother’s and grandfather’s built these aircraft and thousands of other types. The hard work and dedication of these men and women saved the world 78 years ago. Their contribution today keeps our nation secure and brings families together. Thanks to all Boeing employee’s past and present. We can never repay you for you contribution to society.