Air & Space Museum

Boeing B-52B Stratofortress

Boeing B-52B Stratofortress

Few other military aircraft have been in service as long as the Boeing B-52. First flown in 1952, the B-52 is still active in the US Air Force and is expected to remain in service for at least another 20 years.

Boeing began designing the B-52 soon after the end of World War II to meet an Air Force request for a bomber that could operate at intercontinental ranges without the need for a forward base.
Becoming operational in 1955, the B-52 became one leg of the “nuclear triad” that included Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs), and missile-armed submarines. Together, they deterred any nuclear attacks on the US. Although intended to carry nuclear weapons, in actual combat the B-52 has only dropped conventional bombs and launched cruise missiles. During the Vietnam War, B-52s dropped tens of thousands of bombs on North Vietnam. In 1991’s Operation Desert Storm, B-52s from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, flew the longest combat mission in history, (35 hours in the air), to launch cruise missiles at targets in Iraq and return home.

The B-52B Stratofortress on display at Wings Over the Rockies was the seventh B-52 built and was originally created as an RB-52B for long-range reconnaissance operations. The Air Force used it for avionics testing before being converting it into a bomber. Then it served with the 93rd Bomb Wing, where it served during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1966, it came to Lowry Air Force Base as a training airframe for munitions loading instruction.

The B-52B is on loan from the National Museum of the US Air Force.

Aircraft specifications:
Wingspan: 185 ft (56.4 m)
Length: 159 ft 4 in (48.6 m)
Maximum speed: 630 mph ( kp/h)
Maximum weight: 420,000 lb (190,509 kg)
Maximum internal bomb load: 43,000 lb ( kg)
Crew: Six (in B-52B)
Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojets
Total thrust: 84,000 lbf (374 kN); 96,000 lbf (427 kN) with water injection

Air & Space Museum Air & Space Museum

Lowry - Denver

Air & Space Museum

Upcoming Events

Saturday Mar 30
9:30AM TO 5:15PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker

Navy Showcase + “Top Gun: Maverick” Movie & Speaker
Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 | 9:30AM to 5:15PM

Join Wings Over the Rockies Exploration of Flight at Centennial Airport for a full day showcase of Navy aircraft, along with an afternoon showing of “Top Gun: Maverick”!

Scott Kartvedt, a combat-decorated Blue Angel and stunt pilot for “Maverick” will be giving a special talk prior to the movie along with a Q&A session after the movie concludes. Aircraft on display will include an F-18, SNJ, T-34, SGS2-32 Navy Glider and more!

Food Truck*: 2 Salty Sarges
*Food is not included with admission.

Purchase Tickets

Limited seating available, pre-purchase tickets are required.

Ticket Pricing:
Adult: $20
Military/1st Responder/Senior: $15
Child: $10
Wings’ Member Adult: $15*
Wings’ Member Military/1st Responder/Senior: $10*
Wings’ Member Child: $5*
*Wings’ Members: Sign in to receive your discount. 

Photo above courtesy of Barbara Hoversten.

Saturday Mar 30
10:00AM TO 1:30PM
Exploration of Flight (Centennial Airport)

Private Pilot Ground School Begins

Saturday, Mar 30, 2024 | 10:00AM to 1:30PM

Saturdays 3/30/24 – 5/18/24
10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

This 8-week Ground School will cover the subject areas of the FAA Private Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Exam. 

This course is taught by Certified Instructors, and materials are included! Classroom ground instruction offers a great way to start training as efficiently and economically as possible, providing a significant cost savings versus one-on-one lessons.

This session is full with a waitlist. To join the waitlist, please click here.

Topics include:

  • Aircraft Systems
  • Aerodynamics
  • Airports and Airspace
  • Flight Physiology
  • Performance Calculations
  • Navigation
  • And More!

Pricing:

Non-Member | $350.00 per registrant

Member | $300.00 per registrant

 

Please Note:

Students should bring a notebook and/or a personal device for notetaking.

Participants must be 14 years or older.

Monday Apr 1
2:00PM TO 5:00PM
Air & Space Museum

Sensory Friendly Hours

Sensory Friendly Hours
Monday, Apr 1, 2024 | 2:00PM to 5:00PM

Join us to experience the museum turned down and participate in sensory friendly activities including a scavenger hunt, discovery carts, STEAM and sensory activities and more!

We are pleased to offer a more comfortable museum experience for our friends who have sensory processing sensitivities and their families. We welcome families with children, teenagers and adults on the autism spectrum, with sensory processing disorders and other cognitive disabilities to experience our museum in a lower sensory environment.

Admission is FREE for children or adults with sensory processing sensitivities and their families. Please pre-register at the link below.

Register Here

Click here to learn more about accessibility, amenities and view a social narrative and map for your visit to the Air & Space Museum.

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