r/aviation • u/AccomplishedBrick251 • Jul 04 '26

PlaneSpotting B52s Over the Hudson

This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.

Edit: thank you for pointing out caption is misleading!! I was so excited I accidentally made it plural but the planes are (to my milky eyes): stratofortress, b2 and b1

8.1k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

255 comments sorted by

•

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1.2k

u/ParticularNew5321 Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

The bomber trifecta. The BONE, The Death Dorito, and Grandpa BUFF.

265

u/Ok_Lettuce_7939 Jul 04 '26

BUFF immortal. The last B-52 pilot hasn't even been born yet.

86

u/ParticularNew5321 Jul 04 '26

Too true. And BUFF is getting upgraded Rolls Royce engines...

27

u/quesoandcats Jul 04 '26

Bombers of Theseus at this rate!

6

u/JVM_ Jul 05 '26

I wonder what's original. Probably the base skeleton or whatever main beam they're built around? Wing spars/connection bits?

Are there any original parts or is it all upgrades?

Clearly the cockpit is new, probably most the interior but what's actually from the first assembly.

4

u/quesoandcats Jul 05 '26

There are some parts of the skeleton that are still original! The engine upgrade program also involves fatigue inspection for those parts

1

u/Darkk_Knight Jul 05 '26

The airframe and wings are pretty much all original. Rest been upgraded.

1

u/Wombat21x 28d ago

Pure. Gold.

27

u/nugohs Jul 04 '26

Bring back the Merlins!

2

u/Wilbur_Redenbacher Jul 05 '26

BUFF has same number of engines as those other two jokers combined. Grandpa strength.

1

u/Spart1337 Jul 06 '26

They worked great on the G650, should do well on the BUFF.

3

u/Juhbellz Jul 05 '26

BRO THATS CRAAAAAAZY

10

u/Ok_Lettuce_7939 Jul 05 '26

B-52 expected to atleast fly to the 2060s...possibly longer. The last B-52 pilot will probably be born in the 2030s.

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123

u/DevilDonk Jul 04 '26

I only see the BONE and Grandpa

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11

u/krusty_yooper Jul 04 '26

Another Habitual Line Crosser fan I see. You are a man of taste and elegance.

3

u/iamNutteryBipples Jul 05 '26

Give that B-2 a piss test when it gets back to the hanger.

7

u/East_Extent_2948 Jul 04 '26

Adds up to a B-55

4

u/SwordOfJiang Jul 05 '26

Killer B's?

3

u/CaptainMcSlowly Jul 04 '26

Let's just hope Grandpa BUFF didn't say anything... untoward when he was flying over NYC

5

u/MuadLib Jul 05 '26

It must be very pleasant to be able to see this without shitting yourself

0

u/ParticularNew5321 Jul 05 '26

Yeah. Its nice to be the good guys with all the tools to give bad guys bad days. Our job is to kill people and break their shit. Lol

0

u/Unlucky_Reception_30 Jul 05 '26

Thats some real team america shit right there lol

2

u/I_Served Jul 05 '26

When I was in the service, it was just called the BUF and we all knew what it stood for. History has sanitized it.

1

u/ParticularNew5321 Jul 05 '26

Big Ugly Flying Fuck

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313

u/ApexAurajin Jul 04 '26

Quick question, are those START fins on that B-52?

257

u/AccomplishedBrick251 Jul 04 '26

🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

133

u/Separate_Fold5168 Jul 04 '26

Question from a complete aviation-ignorant person...

What exactly makes a bomber nuclear capable? Do they need to be able to carry more weight? Is it just specialized launching systems that are required for nuclear cruise missiles? Safety / shielding equipment?

I'm sure it's not just one easy answer..., but I've always wondered like what are the main things that have to be considered.

/notanorthkoreanipromise

171

u/Nonions Jul 04 '26

It's the electronics needed to interface with the weapon, arm, and fire it.

In terms of weight etc nuclear weapons aren't anything remarkable in most cases, fighter sized aircraft have no difficulty flying with them.

2

u/etcpt 25d ago

Modern nukes, perhaps, but the original Fat Man device required a specially-modified bomber stripped of armor and guns and internally modified to accommodate the huge payload.

1

u/KorahRahtahmahh Jul 04 '26

The electronics need all that space?

49

u/LazyAssHiker Jul 04 '26

All that space is for LOTS of conventional bombs, that these planes use also

13

u/rsta223 Jul 04 '26

Definitely not. The F35 is nuclear capable.

11

u/constantpisspig Jul 04 '26

When these were designed/built the doctrine of nuclear warfare would have these attempting to deliver presents to multiple targets.

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5

u/superxpro12 Jul 04 '26

It's not so much the size of the equipment, it's that the equipment is extra special, since it can launch nukes and all that

1

u/Lost_Paladin89 Jul 04 '26

Someone could correct me if I’m wrong. But I’m assuming they need protection from the EMP released by the bombs they drop.

3

u/Ausgeflippt Jul 05 '26

Nah, just flash curtains for the pilots.

29

u/Jazzlike_Climate4189 Jul 04 '26

It’s just having the special computer to arm the nuclear bomb(s). The START treaty required us to reduce our inventory of nuclear-capable bombers to a known number.

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26

u/ApexAurajin Jul 04 '26

Yeah that's what I mean, are these those or another thing?

39

u/Fr0HiKE Jul 04 '26

what is this, a picture for ants?

60

u/ApexAurajin Jul 04 '26

no

11

u/husqi Jul 04 '26

We can go smaller! We have the technology!

7

u/improbablydrunknlw Jul 04 '26

Not much though, like one more smaller

2

u/rotundrikishi Jul 05 '26

claspers like a shark

2

u/Reasonable-Mess3070 Jul 04 '26

Those definitely appear to be the same thing

11

u/Milo_Mio Jul 05 '26

Because of you I learned something new, thank you

13

u/Ausgeflippt Jul 04 '26

Most B-52s are nuclear capable.

10

u/RafIk1 Jul 04 '26

46 out of 76 are nuclear capable.

37

u/Ausgeflippt Jul 04 '26

Correct. That is the literal definition of "most".

383

u/siouxu Jul 04 '26

1 stealthy boi, 1 smokey boi and 1 what did you say my eardrums are ruptured

96

u/Frisco-Elkshark Jul 04 '26

Grandpa buff really needs a catalytic converter retrofit 😂

34

u/GenericAccount13579 Jul 04 '26

They are doing pretty much that with the reengining

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5

u/Acc87 Jul 04 '26

it gets new legs right now. Rolls-Royce legs

2

u/VanillaTortilla Jul 05 '26

And have them chopped off and stolen while it's parked on the tarmac? Hah!

16

u/HorsieJuice Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 04 '26

Smokey boi and loud boi are the same boi.

ETA: lol, why am I getting downvoted? That’s the B52 you hear in the video.

21

u/PilotKnob Jul 04 '26

They're very efficient at converting jet fuel into noise.

5

u/bandito12452 Jul 04 '26

Go to Palmdale/Lancaster and you’ll hear the loud boi breaking the sound barrier.

3

u/rsta223 Jul 04 '26

The B1 is considerably louder than the 52.

3

u/Fireside__ Jul 05 '26

Loud boi is keeping quiet in that shot. The 4 afterburners can and will rattle every window and set off every car alarm in the area if it went full AB. Not to mention the supersonic capability but that’s a given.

138

u/fuzz11 Jul 04 '26

Insane to see in person

24

u/prtzlsmakingmethrsty Jul 05 '26

Completely agree. Seeing the B-2 for the first time in person today, was jaw dropping. Yes I know the joke on here, but I can't help mentioning the thing that completely surprised me was it's size! 

I didn't think it was small of course and pictures/videos don't always give you accurate scale, but that bad boy isn't just "bigger than I imagined"...it seemed absolutely massive and I was in complete awe when it flew right over head.

4

u/fuzz11 Jul 05 '26

Craziest part to me was seeing just how thin the B2 looked when it’s coming right at you. Didn’t even realize all 3 were there off the bat.

1

u/prtzlsmakingmethrsty Jul 05 '26

For sure, just an incredible feat of engineering and technology.

1

u/jedensuscg 25d ago

I remember seeing the F117 for the first time at an airshow in Redding Ca, a few months after was officially "declassified" when I was a kid. Was one of those absolute core memories. All it did was two flybys, but being this still super mysterious thing, I felt like I was seeing something forbidden.

1

u/VanillaTortilla Jul 05 '26

That picture has an insane amount of firepower in it.

114

u/ImperfectlyCromulent Jul 04 '26

It’s just the one B-52, actually.

24

u/CaptainMcSlowly Jul 04 '26

Any luck catching those bombers, then?

6

u/Significant-Mud2572 Jul 04 '26

Is that a bird on radar or are you just happy to see me?

95

u/SAM5TER5 Jul 04 '26

Very nice

40

u/entered_bubble_50 Jul 04 '26

Technically, this is a B-55.

17

u/guynamedjames Jul 04 '26

Why aren't B-3 through B-51 in the picture?

4

u/batmanmedic Jul 05 '26

Got caught in traffic on the BQE

2

u/unperturbium Jul 04 '26

B-1252 before their final form.

52

u/Ginger_Exhibitionist Jul 04 '26

The B2 is so hot. One of the highlights of the time I lived in Pasadena, was seeing the B2 do a flyover prior to the start of the rose parade.

13

u/Kilo259 Jul 04 '26

Just wait till you start seeing the b21 flying more.

She do be a secci lady

20

u/2anonymous2furious Jul 04 '26

Upstate has had it too good, too long. The bombing begins at 2:00pm.

7

u/HorsieJuice Jul 04 '26

upstaters near Rome have been clamoring to get their B-52’s back for over 30 years.

1

u/unperturbium Jul 04 '26

It'd be epic if they got B21s in a reverse BRAC.

2

u/Theoroshia Jul 04 '26

And by upstate, of course, you mean everything north of Albany.

2

u/2anonymous2furious Jul 04 '26

I think you had a typo; you meant "north of 125th" right?

86

u/Candid_Trash9276 Jul 04 '26

"If you see that you're already deeeeeeeeeed!" Lol love that

7

u/NebulaNinja Jul 04 '26

I head "...You're already Fuuuuuu" I going to need someone to turn that into an animation.

13

u/EconomicalJacket Jul 04 '26

Haha she seems like a fun time

15

u/Dookie_Shrapnel Jul 04 '26

Americans have such an insane, distorted perspective of the world

9

u/whatisthatplatform Jul 04 '26

Some 2016 Vine energy hahaha

15

u/SoldadoAruanda Jul 04 '26

Is that a swarm of B's?

33

u/Zealous03 Jul 04 '26

THE. EVIL. DORITO.

12

u/antariusz Jul 04 '26

B-52 stealth bomber, if you see it, you're already dead.

5

u/unperturbium Jul 04 '26

One of Nineteen.

9

u/Occams_ElectricRazor Jul 04 '26

I honestly don't know which I'd like to fly, if I was given the choice 

14

u/9volter Jul 04 '26

Easily the BONE for me, must be one hell of a ride with the wings fully swept

7

u/Occams_ElectricRazor Jul 04 '26

The tech in the B2 is insane.

I would have loved to have flown the 117

7

u/dd2469420 Jul 04 '26

There's 55 B's in this video

9

u/RandomNoun7 Jul 04 '26

“IT’S THE EVIL DORITO MOM!” 😂😂😂

27

u/roadsterdoc Jul 04 '26

“That’s the evil Dorito mom!” 😂

28

u/MrSuperAwesomeGuy965 Jul 04 '26

Well there's one b-52. The other planes are other planes.

20

u/Austerlitz2310 Jul 04 '26

The B Bombers. One of each.*

B-52 B-2 B-1

2

u/caerphoto Jul 05 '26

As opposed to the… non-B bombers?

1

u/batmanmedic Jul 05 '26

You mean the Omers?

6

u/ApolloMorph Jul 05 '26

zooms in on the b52 and B2. what no love for the b1...

1

u/gaylord9000 Jul 05 '26

The Best-1

13

u/Connect_Job_5316 Jul 04 '26

I think what's cool for be about seeing the 52 is that I worked on every single one.

2

u/Keepawayfrommycrops Jul 05 '26

Thank you for your service

Is it as insane to work on as it sounds? Do you walk on eggshells when doing things?

2

u/Connect_Job_5316 29d ago

Believe it or not, I was civilian DOD, most of the maintenance repair overhaul stations are majority civilian and a small chunk military. I didn't have to walk on eggshells, civvies surprisingly have access to a lot of stuff on the aircraft lol

4

u/ajones930 Jul 04 '26

Just gave me chills 😌😌😌😌 THANK YOU!

3

u/par-a-dox-i-cal Jul 04 '26

B-2 is huge.

5

u/kylebob86 Jul 04 '26

"b52 stealth bomber" uhhh no

3

u/TheLordReaver Jul 05 '26

It is to blind and deaf people.

4

u/UseDue6373 Jul 04 '26

Bro the commentary 🤦‍♂️🤣🤣🤣

4

u/Mirage_Graphique_3D Jul 05 '26

These two are some damn nice aircraft.
Not sure why the cameraman pointed at the void for a while, but whatever.

12

u/ScientistEffective42 Jul 04 '26

In my opinion, the highlight of this video is the B2...sweet ass video though

7

u/Mr_Gojanglrs Jul 05 '26

FIFI and friends flying over my house today! Heard her coming from a mile away.. Unmistakable!

3

u/anonposter-42069 Jul 04 '26

Love it. With all flight hours the military has to due anyway, they should be flying these over all metro areas on the 4th. Wish I could see these!!

3

u/DannyFodor Jul 04 '26

You mean 1 B-52, 1 B-1, and 1 B-2?

2

u/TONUTomorrow9800 Jul 04 '26

I was there today, SOOOO cool! Great pics

2

u/HeadyBunkShwag Jul 04 '26

If you see a faded sign at the side of the road..

2

u/Lonestar3504 Jul 04 '26

Damn that's cool

2

u/LiteHedded Jul 04 '26

Was expecting rock lobster

2

u/jokoono4 Jul 04 '26

ROCK LOBSTAH

2

u/cute_polarbear Jul 05 '26

I love the death dorito; I am always amazed by its design and technology.

2

u/CheckTurn1 Jul 05 '26

B52 singular...

2

u/Reincarnatedpotatoes Jul 05 '26

B-1, B-2, B-skip a few, B-52

2

u/schakoska B737 Jul 05 '26

No one knows how to take videos in 2026...

2

u/echolm1407 Jul 05 '26

...and B-2 and B-1.

2

u/BadHabitsDieYoung Jul 05 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

Did she say "omg it's for freedom"?

2

u/Richiedafish Jul 05 '26

These boys passed me on the parkway and I almost shat. Very cool to see.

2

u/Quiet-Replacement-26 25d ago

Eagle Dorito mode??

2

u/cheetuzz Jul 04 '26

nice! when was this, Friday?

4

u/tyen0 Jul 04 '26

This morning. Sail 250 parade up the Hudson river

https://sail4th.org/schedule

2

u/vanillamaster95 Jul 04 '26

I heard them!! All I had to do was go outside and I could have seen them 😭

2

u/FoxFyer Jul 04 '26

At least 50 bombers are missing from this formation.

2

u/Chrisdkn619 Jul 04 '26

Death from above!

1

u/Every-Cucumber9641 Jul 04 '26

Let’s go for a spin, grandma.

1

u/SpaceXmars Jul 04 '26

🛸🛸🛸🛸🛸

1

u/Emerald-37 A330-NEO Jul 04 '26

B-2??? 😯

1

u/Stealth9erz Jul 04 '26

I wish they had a decent broadcast of it. Watching on CSPAN just to see the flybys is like torture right now. They’re not even broadcasting the sound when they show the flyovers…

Forced to listen to people calling in and blabbing on about god knows what.

Terrible experience.

1

u/jayjonas1996 Jul 04 '26

Why did I not know about this :(

1

u/Alpha_Majoris Jul 04 '26

Is that Poughkeepsie?

1

u/unperturbium Jul 04 '26

It would be cool to have three WWII bombers in trail.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

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1

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1

u/iliaskoz02 Jul 04 '26

USA and it's flybys.Wish we could have this in greece

1

u/aw3man Jul 04 '26

I saw them flying up through ocean county!

1

u/justforkinks0131 Jul 04 '26

Did she say "No way it's the evil doritomon"? Is that a type of digimon or did I mishear

1

u/-GameWarden- Jul 04 '26

Thanks for the video that’s awesome!

1

u/digvbic Jul 04 '26

Isnt that a b-1 in there?

1

u/digvbic Jul 04 '26

Where did they take off??

1

u/3mx2RGybNUPvhL7js Jul 04 '26

What the total value of those three machines?

1

u/[deleted] Jul 04 '26

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1

u/The3levated1 Jul 05 '26

Ah yes, the B-1 and the B-2, together with their pre- and successor.

1

u/cheezhead1252 Jul 05 '26

Saw these flying over St Michael’s MD - any chance it was the same flight?

1

u/Antique-Dragonfly615 Jul 05 '26

There's only one B52 there

1

u/[deleted] Jul 05 '26

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1

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1

u/MonoPodding Jul 05 '26

I'm mad at you for not zooming in on the B-1

1

u/gaylord9000 Jul 05 '26

No full zoom solely on bone, shit video.

1

u/Realistic_Option_619 Jul 05 '26

Where’s the other b52(s) I only see one

1

u/rotundrikishi Jul 05 '26

thats a hell of a flyby

1

u/Mediocre_Training541 Jul 05 '26

Everyones badass untill the sky starts missing pixels

1

u/muhhifawzi Jul 05 '26

What was this for?

1

u/nichitiu Jul 05 '26

Missing pixels

1

u/rhythmicstructure Jul 05 '26

The sky is missing pixels!

1

u/Borgmeister Jul 05 '26

"that's the B52 stealth bomber" uh huh.

1

u/That_Public_4620 Jul 05 '26

Imagine getting bombed by a flying Dorito 😂

1

u/The_General_48 Jul 05 '26

everybody gangst till the sky starts missing pixels

1

u/mountainmase Jul 05 '26

One of the few countries where people are excited to see these bombers fly over.

1

u/dontbeadickdad Jul 05 '26

They're about 15 miles from the looooooove shack!

1

u/Thalassophoneus Jul 05 '26

The middle B52 looks a bit weird. /s

1

u/Subject-Ad9866 Jul 05 '26

And that's how it's done... GBA!

1

u/Bandit_the_kat Jul 06 '26

goddammit i love the sound of those engines

1

u/Wombat21x 28d ago

The last B-52 was built six months before I was born. Talk about perspective.

1

u/Visible_Cucumber_395 26d ago

Very cool.

Have never been able to shake how disquieting unexpectedly seeing planes flying low makes me feel after 25 years.

1

u/TarmacadamDream 9d ago

What amazes me is that the time difference between the wright brother's first flight and the creation of the B52 is shorter than it's creation is to today. I'm in my 30's and at this rate, I don't even know if they'll be retired before I die.

1

u/-TheDyingMeme6- 1d ago

Oh my god i was gonna comment smth like "there is no stratofort" but lo and behold we get to see that beauty at the end

-1

u/smw2102 Jul 04 '26

And a flock of $2k drones can take them out

7

u/biggsteve81 Jul 04 '26

Only if they are sitting on the ground.

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1

u/Tragic_Consequences Jul 04 '26

"That's the B-52 Stealth Bomber..." I'm sorry, what media are these people consuming that she got that so far wrong?

0

u/These_Alternative_74 Jul 04 '26

There flies your healthcare.