Boeing B-52 Stratofortress

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The B-52 was the U.S. Air Force’s main long-range heavy bomber during the Cold War, and continues to be an important part of the bomber force today. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. The B-52D on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force saw extensive service in Southeast Asia and was severely damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile in 1972. It flew four more missions over North Vietnam after being repaired, then was transferred to Blytheville Air Force Base in Arkansas before being flown to the museum in November 1978.

Source/ more information: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Photographer Lyle Jansma started creating 360º views of cockpits in 2005, and has documented historic aircraft in several collections, including the Heritage Flight Museum, Museum of Flight, Erickson Aircraft Collection, Evergreen Air & Space Museum, and the National Museum of the Air Force. A full set of his cockpit views is available on the ACI Cockpit360º App for iPads and iPhones. Keep visiting this site (airspacemag.com/cockpits) as we add to the gallery below.