Message posted by Peter Merlin on December 15, 2004 at 9:14:43 PST:
Boeing RB-52B (52-0008) was accepted by the U.S. Air Force on 28 February 1955. The airplane was the eighth production B-52 built (not counting the XB-52 and YB-52 prototypes). It made its first flight from the Boeing plant in Seattle, Washington, on 11 June 1955. In September it was transferred to the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards AFB, California for a series of defensive systems tests. After completing these tests, the RB-52B was assigned to the X-15 program as a mothership (launch aircraft).
It arrived at the North American Aviation facility in Palmdale on 13 December 1958 and modifications began on 6 January 1959. The airplane’s right wing structure was modified to accept a launch pylon for the X-15 and the wing flaps were permanently bolted closed. A notch was cut in the right wing flap to accommodate the vertical tail fin on the X-15. Military systems, such as the tail gun, were removed. The X-15 launch pylon was installed between the inboard right engine nacelles and the fuselage. Crew accommodations were provided for a launch Panel Operator (LPO).
Following completion of structural modifications the airplane, now designated NB-52B, was flown to Edwards Air Force Base on 8 June 1959. It joined the NB-52A (52-0003) already at Edwards. The NB-52B was first used to launch an X-15 on 23 January 1960, the fifth X-15 flight.
In 1960, each X-15 mothership had its own ground crew from the 6517th Flightline Maintenance Squadron (Bomber), commanded by Capt. Maynard N. Heth. The Flight Chief for the two B-52 aircraft was MSgt. Kenneth L. LaPean. The ground crew for NB-52B (52-0008) consisted of TSgt. Lester Schroyer, TSgt. Harweda Terrill, SSgt. Lawrence Maharrey, A1C Donald Kemmer, A1C Vernon Barr, A2C Norman Smith, and civilians Robert Swanson, William Wyant, and Albert “Pappy” Rice
In December 1960, the NB-52B was nicknamed “The Challenger” and decorated with nose art depicting an eagle carrying an X-15 in its talons. In its beak, the eagle carried a banner with the words “UT VIRI VOLENT” (“In Order That Men Might Fly”). The airplane bore variations of this nose art until May 1963. The NB-52B, later nicknamed “Balls Eight” because of its serial number, currently carries nose art that was applied in August 1964. It depicts a cartoon of an anthropomorphized B-52 preparing to “throw”(release) the X-15 from its “hand” (wing).
The NB-52B served as launch aircraft for 106 X-15 flights. It was also used as mothership for the lifting bodies (HL-10, M2-F2, M2-F3, X-24A, X-24B), F-15 Spin Research Vehicle (SRV), Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology (HiMAT) RPRV, Drones for Aerodynamic and Structural Testing (DAST), Shuttle solid rocket booster parachute test vehicle (SRB PTV), F-111 escape capsule recovery system PTV, Pegasus booster, X-38, and X-43A. It has been used for numerous other programs including Inertial Fligfht Data System (IFDS) pod tests, Space Shuttle drag chute tests, supersonic cruise emissions environmental studies, F-16 radar target studies, USAF strategic studies, and prototype interphone system tests.
The side of the airplane’s fuselage is decorated with mission markings denoting its history and accomplishments. The NB-52B made a total of 1,051 flights and logged 2,443.8 flight hours.
In Reply to: NASA's B-52B posted by Andre' M. Dall'au on December 15, 2004 at 4:38:22 PST:
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