The last B-52G is cut up

[Pat Carry]

I dont think this has been mentioned here before. www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/articles ... izona.html An end of an era for sure.

[67N20]

Article also says A10s are fighter jets.

[fotobass]

...to comply with a treaty with Russia.

Well, it's a good thing that B-52s are being destroyed, then, because SURELY the US would reach to conventional bombers if a nuclear strike were necessary, as opposed to, say, an entire missile inventory.

Weird things these politicians do...

[sandiego89]

I dont think this has been mentioned here before. http://www.azcentral.com/news/arizona/a ... izona.html An end of an era for sure.

To clarify, the article describes that the B-52G tail section was cut to comply with START treaty limiting the number of operational heavy bombers. The thread title "the last B-52G is cut up" is a little miss leading. Around 10 G's remain on static display at other locations, and the G's with the severed tails should remain at Davis-Monthan for years to come. Although the article says destroyed, really cut to comply with the treaty is more correct. Earlier versions of the B-52 remained at Davis Monthan for decades with severed tails and wings. This showed to satellite verification that they were no longer capable of flight. IIRC the treaty requires the cut airframes to be left in place for a certian period (ie not totally destroyed right away)

Also the number of G's that have been cut mentioned in the article seems low to call this "the final G is cut up". Article claims this was the 39th and final G to be cut in such a way. With 193 produced, 10 on dispaly, losses and other already scrapped, I believe there may be more still intact G's at Davis-Monthan. Perhaps they only needed to cut 39 to comlpy with the treaty. You can zoom in pretty well with google maps and see numerous B-52's in several locations there. Many have the tails cut and wings cut and folded back, many do not.

[UC61K]

As a former B-52G engine mechanic based at Castle AFB back in the late 80's and early 90's its sad to see this happen, but good to know a couple are preserved in museums.
Jim C.
USAF Retired