B-52 Breaking The Sound Barrier

I flew B-52s for 6 years back in the 80s so I can ahead some light on this. The picture is I treating and would seem to look like a supersonic shock wave but, something about the picture seems wrong (not sure if it is photoshopped).

As to the bigger question, could a B-52 break the sound barrier, here is some data. 1. The max mach number allowed was 0.88. This doesn't mean the plane couldn't go faster, it could, but the test pilots and engineers determined that flying faster than that might be bad (structural or flight control issues, or both). Almost certainly the plane could go at least a few hundredth mach faster. 2. The G and H models had enough power to exceed Vne at low altitude and max mach at high altitude at most weights. Still I would expect exceeding mach in level flight would be unlikely, they would need some dive. 3. Vne was 390knots, though the plane could easily exceed that in level flight (just not a good idea). I have seen 460 knots calibrated (indicated) while flying low level, when we misread the airspeed (at least that was our story), and there was still plenty excess power. These airspeed limits are not hard limits, the wings don't fall off as soon as you pass 390k or 0.88 mach, but you risk problems. 4. A Convair880 airliner did slightly exceed mach 1 in a dive (at high altitude), with no major issues, and I suspect a B-52 could do the same. Attempting this at low altitude would require an indicated airspeed of around 650kn which would probably put really excessive stress on at least some of the airframe (maybe a windshield implosion, maybe a fairing falling off, maybe more major damage).

We did a lot of unauthorized stuff back then, flying over fl500 without pressure suits, flying below 200agl, touch and goes in the desert and 2 engine go around were all successfully attempted, but I never even heard a rumor of anyone exceeding mach.

Sorry to disappoint you, but that's not a supersonic shock wave in your picture. It's condensation forming in the low pressure areas around the plane, and such condensation can form any time a plane flies at high speed or maneuvers violently in very humid air. It doesn't require supersonic speeds.

No. But the B-52 is actually fast. High subsonic. Faster than the B-2,...I think. Guess I should Google that, but the B-52 is actually pretty fast.

I see this frequently as planes emerge from clouds on approach to O'Hare Airport...and they are at less than 300 mph.

Back in the sixties we had to practice maneuvers called pylon maneuvers. The object was to get as high as possible and practice turning the aircraft for handling. We never got above 50000 feet but we got close.

Might be fake... But it sure looks cool.

Oversped an H flying low level once. One look at the “twist” in the wing outboard of the engines convinced me to never make that mistake again.

Nope. Vapor cone does not equal breaking the sound barrier. Not even close.

That is a really really bad photoshop...check the edges of the plane fuselage...compare to f15s (etc) breaking sound barrier...you can see the plane inside the vapor...this is a very poor editing job.

Well if any of you were watching the news you would know that the b 52 has a new project and it did break the sound barrier.

i bet the b52 didn't break the sound barrier.