It’s been flying since the 1950s, but the B-52 Stratofortress is still the backbone of the US Air Force’s strategic bombing force. These jet-powered beasts can deliver up to 32,000kg of weapons to any target around the globe. That includes nuclear weapons, of course.
This video shows an entire training mission, from pre-flight checks to aerial refuelling. It even includes one of those crazy low-pass flybys.
This B-52 belongs to the 96th Bomb Squadron, taking off from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, on April 18, 2012.
Video: US Air Force/TSgt Rebecca Zannetti