• SomeAmateur@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      The B-52 is very old and there is no real replacment. The newest one was made in 1962

      The C-130 was designed at about the same time and they’re still making new ones right now

    • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      The b-52 is a US long range strategic heavy bomber. It’s been in service for a very long time, and the reference seems to be that we’ll just keep updating it until it’s eventually also “new” and refreshed when the enterprise is being decommissioned.

      • Monument@lemmy.sdf.org
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        2 months ago

        Someone else pointed out it’s now not a bomber so much as a cargo hauler, but the phrase “Bomber of Theseus” came to mind and gave me a good chuckle.

        • ricecake@sh.itjust.works
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          2 months ago

          Heh, I like that.

          It can definitely haul cargo, and we have much less use for the type of bombing that it does in modern times. It was still built as a strategic bomber.

    • ephrin@sh.itjust.works
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      2 months ago

      B52 has been in service for forever, it’s a pinnacle of modern (and far future, evidently) engineering.