After nearly a half-century of dropping advanced flight research vehicles instead of bombs, NASA is retiring its B-52B “mothership.” The venerable airplane’s retirement ends an illustrious career for the rugged research aircraft.
The Air Force Flight Test Center and NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center held a formal retirement ceremony for the plane Dryden.
The ceremony included the formal transfer of the B-52B by Dryden Center Director Kevin Petersen to Brig. Gen. Curtis Bedke, commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center, for final disposition. Tentative plans call for placing the aircraft on permanent display at Edwards Air Force Base.