Had this from a friend at NASA (not Dave Cibley the author here). Their B-52B is 51 years old so it’s Historic I reckon. :rolleyes:
Subject: An old gal retires
Questions abounded at the post flight media briefing. The press wanted to know how fast the X-43 had gone, how high, how long it would be until we could fly on a scramjet powered airplane. These people had no idea what they had just witnessed. While the mainstream media chattered about the X-43, a few aviation photographers sat quietly in the corner reflecting on the day. X-43A had the media spotlight, but we knew the true story belonged to the supporting cast.
For the launch platform, NASA 0008, the B-52B testbed that has been a fixture at Edwards since the 1950s, it would be her last mission.
“Balls Eight” first flew in 1955 and served virtually all her days in the flight test community. She was the launch platform for the X-15 and the lifting bodies. Her starboard side is plastered with mission markings for HiMat, Pegasus, X-38, X- this, X-that…! She may well be the single most famous airframe since the “Spirit of St. Louis” and the “Enola Gay”.
After nearly two decades with the Air Force, she was transferred to NASA where she has served faithfully. Though she still has the lowest airframe hours of any B-52 in service, parts for the old B model are hard to come by. B-52H models were filling the boneyards and NASA decided to make a change. Her final mission was a huge success.
After all the questions were answered, the NASA public affairs officer was about to end the press conference when he was interrupted by one of the NASA panelists that had been assembled to answer reporters questions. The panelist said there was one more thing he wanted to say. He told the room that they had just witnessed a great airplane, 0008, fly her last mission.
The room was quiet, not because everyone felt that sweet sorrow I did, but because they didn’t understand that a huge era in aviation history had ended before their eyes.
So I broke the silence with a slow clap of my hands, and then the others who understood began to clap, and slowly the whole room caught on and “Balls Eight got a well deserved round of applause.
As I left, the sun was setting on the X-15, long ago stuck on a pole relegated to the job of “Gate Guard”. The sun had set on 0008 as well, and she will soon join her old partner on guard duty.
Dave Cibley
By: J Boyle - 18th February 2006 at 01:34
Could you tell us what this is then?
A piece of fiberglass in the shape of an X-15?:rolleyes:
At most it could be an engineering mockup….but it is not an air/spacecraft that went aloft with the B-52B mentioned in the article.
NAA only made three X-15s. One was lost in a fatal accident.
And I accounted for the other two in my first post.
By: GASML - 17th February 2006 at 13:35
A great old aeroplane. Apparently though for the past year or so, her maintenance crew have been scouring aviation museums across the USA for sufficient parts to keep her flying!
By: LesB - 17th February 2006 at 08:09
I hate to be too literal..but there are no X-15 “Gate Guards” stuck on poles! The two survivors are on display at the NMUSAF and the NASM.
Could you tell us what this is then?
By: ZRX61 - 17th February 2006 at 01:18
There’s part of an X15 hanging on the wall of a local bar. It’s about the size of a trash can lid.
By: J Boyle - 17th February 2006 at 01:12
I hate to be too literal..but there are no X-15 “Gate Guards” stuck on poles!
The two survivors are on display at the NMUSAF and the NASM.
By: Seafuryfan - 16th February 2006 at 23:41
A great post, Les, thanks for the story.
Sign In
February 16, 2006 at 4:58 pm