We had to use aerial trucks with boom buckets to service and inspect the vertical stabilizer. Access panels had to be removed and we looked inside with our flashlights to inspect the cables, pullies and turnbuckles for wear and tear. By comparison, modern jet aircraft are fly-by-wire, electronically and computer controlled. The B-52 of the 50's is a dinosaur compared to modern aircraft. It was upgraded countless times during the decades, adding electronics and computers. The fact that the B-52 is still flying today, and is projected to remain in service for another 30 years, is a testament to its upgrades and flexibility.
