File:B-52H Flying over the Mojave Desert in California.webm

English: This 34 second movie clip shows the B-52H flying over the Mojave Desert in California.

NASA obtained a B-52H bomber from the U.S. Air Force in 2001, intending to use the aircraft as an air-launch and testbed aircraft to support NASA, Air Force and industry flight research and advanced technology demonstration efforts at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center (then Dryden), Edwards AFB, Calif.

The B-52H replaced Armstrong's famous B-52B "008" following that aircraft's retirement on Dec. 17, 2004. However, with no research projects requiring its capabilities on the horizon under NASA's restructured aeronautics research programs, the decision was made to return the aircraft to the Air Force.

NASA's venerable B-52B launch aircraft, operated by the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center (then Dryden), participated in some of the most significant projects in aerospace history. At retirement in December 2004, the air launch and research aircraft held the distinction of being NASA's oldest aircraft, as well as being the oldest B-52 on flying status. At the same time, it had the lowest number of flying hours (2443.8) of any B-52 in operation, having been used exclusively in the role it continued to perform so reliably for nearly 50 years. (2003)