B-52 bomber crash came as Air Force was upgrading legendary workhorse

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The U.S.Air Force at Edwards Air Force Base was in the process of tests to upgrade the aging fleet of B-52 bombers with new engines and radar systems when one of the planes crashed Monday, killing eight people, officials said.The tests, and planned upgrades for the bomber, are just the latest in what has been long history for the plane that has undergone more than half a dozen transformations and has remained in the U.S.

arsenal for more than 70 years.The B-52 is considered a legendary workhorse, remaining a key part of the military’s fleet for decades thanks to constant improvements to the planes.It’s still unclear what caused the deadly crash at Edwards Air Force Base just after 11 a.m., sending a huge plume of smoke from the base.In a press conference, Col.

James Hayes said the B-52 that crashed was supporting a “radar modernization program.”Edwards Air Force Base officials confirmed the plane crashed shortly after take-off of a “routine test mission.” They declined to identify the victims until the next of kin had been notified.The airfield remained closed Tuesday after a night of crews fighting small start-up fires in the area.Air Force officials announced in May and December that B-52s would be undergoing testing at Edwards Air Force Base as the Department of Defense looked to upgrade the plane’s engines and radar.Efforts to upgrade and create a new version of the iconic B-52 bomber have been ongoing for decades, making it a constant presence in the country’s armed conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Gulf and Iraq wars.“Some of these airplanes are literally twice the age of the pilots who fly them,” said Ross Aimer, a retired United Airlines pilot and CEO of Aero Consulting Experts.

But, he added, “if you take care of an airplane, you can fly them forever, basically.”In December, Air Force officials announced a B-52 Stratofortress was ferried from...