How Many Crew Members Does It Take To Fly A B-52 Stratofortress?

Few aircraft spark as much curiosity as the BoeingB-52 Stratofortress , a bomber that first flew in 1952 and still serves on the front line of American airpower. With a wingspan of 185 feet (56.4 meters), eight engines, and a range that spans continents, it is easy to assume that an aircraft this large needs a small army to keep it airborne. So how many people actually fly it? The answer reveals a lot about how the bomber was designed, how it has been modernized, and how the United States Air Force plans to keep it flying for decades.