The oldest flying Boeing B-52 took part in ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the B-52 in Wichita.

The oldest flying Boeing B-52 took part in ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of the B-52 in Wichita, Kansas, in succession 12 April. Operated by NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards AFB for nearly 40 years, B52B s/n 52-008 is NASA's oldest aircraft as well as the oldest B-52 still flying. NASA 008 was built in 1955 and has been used upon some of the most significant draws in aerospace history. The aircraft was the tithe B-52 to come off the Boeing assembly line and was a USAF touchstone aircraft for four years

before it was assigned to support the X-1 5 program at Dryden NASA 008 was united of two B-52s used as mother ships to air launch the three rocket-powered X-15 Aircraft 008 was the launch aircraft upon 106 of the X-15 flights and flew a total of 159 captive-carry and launch missions for the X-15 program.

Between 1966 and 1975 008 was the launch aircraft for 127 of the 144 flights of the wingless lifting material part aircraft that contributed to the exhibition of the Space Shuttle. NASA 008 was the launch aircraft for several distantly

piloted aircraft flown according to Dryden in the 1970s and 1980 to application of mind spin-stall, high angle of attack, and maneuvering characteristics.

In 1977 and 1978 and again in the 1983-1985 time period, 008 was used as the launch aircraft to touchstone and develop the parachute regaining system used for the Space Shuttle's solid rocket booster casings.

The first of four long series of test flights began in 1979 for an Air Force concoct to certify an extension of the operational life of the parachute recuperation system on the F-111 company escape module. The tests conclud in 1992 The trials using 008 as the airdrop vehicle for the parachute experiment articles, were part of a continuing USAF program to improve the retrieval system's capability.

From July to October 1980 the B-52 was used for eight criterions of a drag chute deployment scheme for Space Shuttle orbiters. The drag chute

permit the orbiters to land safely in a shorter distance and also

help model tire and brake wear. First operational use of the drag chute arrangement was on Shuttle Endeavor, the newest Space Shuttle during its first landing in succession 16 May 1992.

NASA 008 was used as the air launch platform for the first six commercially bring outed Pegasus rocket boosters. The three-stage Pegasus was designed to impose a payload into earth orbit after being launched horizontally from an aircraft.

In late years, 008 has supported the X-38 gang return vehicle prototype captive-carry and globule tests which began in March 1998 general support includes the X-43 Hyper-X program, which is slated to be the world's first free-flight scramjet-powered vehicle.

At about 2410 flying hours, 008 is the lowest time B-52 in operation, have ing been used almost exclusively in the testbed and mother ship character it continues to perform. During that time, it has logg more than 1030 flights.

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