Boeing gets option to modernize B-52s
Published 11:23 am Saturday, February 26, 2011
BENTON, La. — The Air Force has exercised a $21.7 million option to retain Boeing support for the B-52 Stratofortress bomber, which is based at Barksdale Air Force Base and Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota.
The Bossier Press-Tribune reported Friday that Boeing will provide engineering to upgrade aircraft in service.
Boeing began making the B-52 in the 1950s. The last new aircraft — the B-52H model — came off production lines in the early 1960s though they have been upgraded over the years to keep them in service.
The B-52 was widely used in the Vietnam War and in the Gulf wars.
Mike Houk, manager of B-52 fleet support for Boeing, says the work will be done at Barksdale as well as in Wichita, Kan., Oklahoma City and at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Information from: The Bossier Press-Tribune, http://www.bossierpress.com
