[Photo Gallery] A B-52 Stratofortress bomber on a Red Flag mission over Las Vegas

The following pictures were taken at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, on Jan. 31, 2013.

They show a B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 20th Bomb Squadron, from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, flying a Red Flag sortie from the famous airport located northeast of Sin City.

The B-52 has eight turbojet engines, each capable of producing 17,000 pounds of thrust, with a top speed of 650 miles per hour. They leave long white contrails over Nevada during the training mission.

The B-52 is entering its sixth decade of service. Nevertheless it remains the backbone of the Air Force bomber fleet.

Image credit: U.S. Air Force

Related articles

• [Photo] B-52 Stratofortress bomber banks on approach to Nellis Air Force Base
• Take a seat next to the B-52 heavy bomber’s Radar Navigator
• Another stunning video of a B-1 bomber night launch from Nellis Air Force Base during Red Flag
• U.S. Air Force to triple airspace for B-1, B-52 bomber training. Talks with FAA, American Indian tribes in progress