B-52B - 'Mothership' retires

OVER EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif.—NASA’s B-52B launch aircraft takes off carrying an X-43A hypersonic research aircraft on an evaluation flight Sept. 27. The B-52, the oldest still flying, was officially retired from service during a ceremony at Edwards Air Force Base Dec. 17. (National Aeronautics and Space Administration photo by Tom Tschida)