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The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF ( Big Ugly Fat Fucker/ Fella). A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only conventional munitions in combat. Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept them in service despite more advanced strategic bombers, such as the Mach 2+ Convair B-58 Hustler, the canceled Mach 3 North American XB-70 Valkyrie, the variable-geometry Rockwell B-1 Lancer, and the stealth Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War–era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. The B-52 has been in service with the USAF since 1955, and NASA from 1959 to 2007. The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952. īeginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without aerial refueling. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s, and NASA for over 40 years. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber.