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DhiaDuit · August 23rd 13, 08:06 PM posted to rec.radio.shortwave

On Friday, August 23, 2013 11:48:19 AM UTC-5, D. Peter Maus wrote:
On 8/18/13 12:34 , wrote:

On Sunday, August 18, 2013 10:42:04 AM UTC-4, Jim Haynes wrote:

On 2013-08-17, extra class wrote:

try 60+

The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952.

Yes, but the ones currently still flying are the B-52H models that

went into service 50 years ago.

jhhaynes at earthlink dot net

Just how safe is a 50 year old flying machine?

You'd be surprised.

Unlike automobiles, often underbuilt and subjected to a variety of

environmental and chemical abuses, and human inflicted abuses, including

ignored maintenance, harsh treatment by operators, poorly maintained

roads, and spotty repairs, aircraft are operated in a much less harsh

and/or hostile environment.

While mechanical stresses in aircraft are significantly more intense

than in automotive applications, aircraft systems are more robustly

built at points of stress, regularly more aggressively maintained, and

are not subjected to the horrors of salt, and environmental abuse.

Cars are usually run hard and put up wet. Aircraft are operated in

more circumspect manners. All major subsystems, and points of stress are

inspected prior to every flight. Shock cooling doesn't happen with

aircraft operated by competent pilots. Engines are cool-down run to

prevent cracking. Maintenance is much more aggressive. Inspections are

frequent and regular. Repairs are more carefully monitored, recorded and

logged.

In the event of spar rust, as on civilan Beechcraft Bonanzas,

recently revealed, military aircraft are either grounded, or the parts

replaced. And for the record the rust on the wing spars of Bonanzas,

many of which date to the 40's, was revealed by annual and 100 hour

inspections.

So, a 50 year old military aircraft, while not maintained to the

obscene and often punitive levels of civilian aircraft, are better

maintained better than any civilian automobile, inspected at regular

intervals for mechanical and structural insufficiencies, and are

accompanied by records that go back to the first stringers being laid in

the airframe.

Myself, I drive a 60 year old car.

I've gone up in much older aircraft many times with complete confidence.

Some Countries have what they call MOT, or versions of MOT thereof. If that MOT was around here, Buku, Buku cars would be grounded.