Boeing B-52H Stratofortress - USA

Among the aircraft joining us this summer as the Air Tattoo to celebrate 75 years of the USAF is one of their most iconic heavy bomber aircraft.

The B-52 'Stratofortress' is an aircraft that has become synonymous with RAF Fairford having been based here during the first Gulf War in 1991, the Kosovo conflict in 1999 and the 'second' Gulf War in 2003. First flying in 1952, the type itself is 70 years old this year and is anticipated to have been in service for over a century before it is eventually retired.

This year we are lucky enough to have a pair of B-52s at the Air Tattoo, one in the static and one in the flying display. We are expecting the static example to the from the 5th Bomber Wing, Air Force Global Strike Command based at Minot Air Force Base and the flying example from the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base.