B-52 Stratofortress The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, nicknamed BUFF, has been in operational service since 1955 (across several models) and could be in service beyond 2040. It provides the United States with a nuclear and conventional global strike capability. Boeing built 744 B-52s between 1952 and 1962 with over 70 still in service. It’s capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds of weapons with a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles without aerial refueling. This image was captured at the Oshkosh air show last week.
