Palmdale, Calif., officials are trying to buy a B-52 bomber that now sits on Oklahoma state fairgrounds for the city’s airpark, reports the LA Daily News. The airplane will serve as a tribute to that area’s contributions to aerospace. Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford said the city wants the aircraft because B-52 modifications and flight tests were conducted at Plant 42 at nearby Edwards AFB, Calif. The city is looking to sign a $248,000 contract with a company to disassemble, transport and reassemble the airplane.
A newly-released Air Force plan to replace the C-5 and C-17 airlifters with a single airplane type called the Next-Generation Air Lifter (NGAL) will keep those fleets in service another 20 and 50 years, respectively. The plan will likely require a service life extension for the C-17 fleet.
