College students create new B-52 towbar prototype for US Air Force

RUSTON, La. ( KTAL/KMSS ) — Engineering students at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston have helped to develop a prototype for a B-52 towbar that will be easier to transport and quicker to assemble.

The collaboration between Louisiana Tech, STRIKEWERX, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and the University of Dayton Research Institute was created because of an urgent need within the Air Force Global Strike Command.

The new design cuts the time it takes to prepare B-52s. The difference is enormous, too. It previously took two full days to prepare the bombers, but now it takes a mere 30 minutes.

Master Sgt. Justin Countryman is the AFGSC Logistics Innovation Branch Superintendent. He said that the effort is about meeting the needs of the Agile Combat Employment concept.

Whisell said his team was given hand-drawn design copies from the 1960s. Then the students visited Barksdale AFB to see the towbar that is currently in use.

Modern-day improvements to the towbar include flange-style connections that save transport space and time.

B-52 maintainers at BAFB are currently testing the new towbar.

“We are trying to break this thing so we can know where to improve it for the final design,” said Countryman.

The end product should be in service by 2025. It will be tested under varying conditions to ensure that it meets the needs of the Air Force Global Strike Command.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com.