Boeing Made a ‘Digital Twin’ of the B-52 Stratofortress

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Given the B-52’s advanced age and repeated overhauls, Boeing has gone to greater and greater lengths to keep the insides of the plane running.

The United States Air Force maintains a fleet of 76 Boeing B-52H Stratofortress long-range strategic bombers. Approximately 58 are in active “combat-ready” roles, with another 18 operated by the reserve forces. In addition, an undisclosed number—believed to be a couple of dozen—are kept in long-term storage under the watchful eye of the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona, also home to the notorious “boneyard” for retired aircraft.

The unit has previously refurbished older B-52s, including the bombers known as “Ghost Rider” and “Wise Guy,” and returned those aircraft to service, restoring Minot AFB’s fleet to full capacity.

However, restoring the aircraft presents numerous challenges, not just because of the bombers’ age. The updates made over the past seven decades mean that current B-52s may resemble the original........

© The National Interest