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Earlier quoted context omitted.
Came here to say something similar. My comment being "The word 'designed' is being used very generously here. I would suggest 'conceptualized' as a better word"
“I want all my music to fit in the palm of my hand.” Steve Jobs created the iPod in just one day
The first prototype of the B-52 may have been designed in a weekend. The B-52 of today was iteratively designed over decades and the current H models are entirely different planes than earlier models (although structurally very close to the G model). Another HN commenter mentioned GPS being designed over a holiday. But we spent years and years in the military debugging GPS and making it functional. Claiming that some…
GPS/Navstar also wasn't the first system:
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_(satellite)
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Positioning_System#Pred...
* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigation#History
The first prototype of the B-52 may have been designed in a weekend. The B-52 of today was iteratively designed over decades and the current H models are entirely different planes than earlier models (although structurally very close to the G model). Another HN commenter mentioned GPS being designed over a holiday. But we spent years and years in the military debugging GPS and making it functional. Claiming that some…
Great article, despite the painful spelling of "bona fide" as "bonified". I guess they don't have a copy editor.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's honestly a fantastic case for incremental improvements over time. There's practically no single part on a modern B-52 that's original to the 1960s since everything has been overhauled and modernized decade by decade. Every attempt to replace it has been (or will be) retired before its EOL.
Platonic question: is it still a B-52 then? cf. the Ship of Theseus
Most of the H models were manufactured in 1960 and 1961, but they have undergone significant airframe improvements, several engine improvements, and of course, avionics improvements.
It's still a B-52, but it's a "B-52H Block $whatever_design_block_they_are_on_these_days" model.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Platonic question: is it still a B-52 then? cf. the Ship of Theseus
I mean in this case yes. Since it is a brand and not a single B-52 physical plane which is being improved all these years.
They have undergone significant upgrades over the years, on all systems, including the airframe itself, since then.
Some of the most successful programs are designed either by one person or a small group of designers who were given the autonomy to do their job. This story reminds me of the origin story of the American GPS system which was designed over a holiday weekend by three engineers. If you want projects to work then give a small, qualified group the room to make decisions and turn them loose. If you want to give the appeara…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's honestly a fantastic case for incremental improvements over time. There's practically no single part on a modern B-52 that's original to the 1960s since everything has been overhauled and modernized decade by decade. Every attempt to replace it has been (or will be) retired before its EOL.
How long have the B-52 jet engines had monocrystalline fan blades? That must have an enormous impact on efficiency and performance. They became available in the late 60s. https://www.americanscientist.org/article/each-blade-a-singl...
There's a plan to replace all the engines with a modern turbofan (RR F130).
The first prototype of the B-52 may have been designed in a weekend. The B-52 of today was iteratively designed over decades and the current H models are entirely different planes than earlier models (although structurally very close to the G model). Another HN commenter mentioned GPS being designed over a holiday. But we spent years and years in the military debugging GPS and making it functional. Claiming that some…
It's honestly a fantastic case for incremental improvements over time. There's practically no single part on a modern B-52 that's original to the 1960s since everything has been overhauled and modernized decade by decade. Every attempt to replace it has been (or will be) retired before its EOL.
Though that's probably because it's design is basically "big, boxy, utilitarian sky truck," which is so flexible you can always find something to use it for. Everything else seems to make tradeoffs for some flashy capability, which don't age as well.