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AFGSC tests new B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle
  • 307th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  

Air Force Global Strike Command demonstrated a prototype of a potential new B-52 Stratofortress towbar Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, on Sept. 10.

U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 2nd Maintenance Squadron, roll a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype into position during a demonstration at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The demonstration included assembly, transport and towing capabilities of the new prototype. If adopted, the new towbar could reduce readiness and mobility requirement problems inherent in current Agile Combat Employment efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 2nd Maintenance Squadron, roll a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype into position during a demonstration at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The demonstration included assembly, transport and towing capabilities of the new prototype. If adopted, the new towbar could reduce readiness and mobility requirement problems inherent in current Agile Combat Employment efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
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The impetus behind the new prototype is the need for a towbar that is quicker and easier to support B-52 operations across the globe.

“This effort is about meeting the needs of the Agile Combat Employment concept and having the ability to project bomber power,” said Master Sgt. Justin Countryman, AFGSC Logistics Innovation Branch superintendent.

Towbars are essential for moving B-52s into position for maintenance air operations, which requires airlift when the jet operates out of remote locations.

The current towbar takes two days to prepare for transport and requires up to seven pallet positions when loaded in a C-17 Globemaster III.

“The current design isn’t particularly agile and that is creating a demand for towbars that is difficult to meet,” said Countryman.

From left, a U.S. Airman from the 307th Maintenance Squadron and a U.S. Air Force civilian employee assemble a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The individuals working on the towbar helped demonstrate the prototype’s capabilities, which include reduced assembly time and a smaller footprint than the current towbar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

From left, a U.S. Airman from the 307th Maintenance Squadron and a U.S. Air Force civilian employee assemble a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The individuals working on the towbar helped demonstrate the prototype’s capabilities, which include reduced assembly time and a smaller footprint than the current towbar. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
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Like the proverbial missing nail in the warhorse’s shoe, the lack of a towbar creates a cascade of problems that can negatively impact mission readiness when the B-52 operates in austere environments.  

The new towbar prototype potentially remedies that concern. Disassembling and rebuilding it takes less than 30 minutes and requires only three to four pallet positions on a transport jet.

Its design, created in a collaboration between STRIKEWERX, Louisiana Tech University, Air Force Research Laboratory, and the University of Dayton Research Institute (DRI), utilizes flange-style connections.

The flanges allow the towbar to be disassembled into three pieces, saving transport space and time compared to the current towbar’s two-piece sleeve design.

U.S. Airmen, Air Force Global Strike Command officials, and visitors from Louisiana Tech University gather around a new B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype prior to a demonstration of its capabilities at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The prototype, an AFGSC initiative, was designed in a collaboration between Louisiana Tech engineering students, and AFGSC’s innovation arm called STRIKEWERX. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

U.S. Airmen, Air Force Global Strike Command officials, and visitors from Louisiana Tech University gather around a new B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype prior to a demonstration of its capabilities at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The prototype, an AFGSC initiative, was designed in a collaboration between Louisiana Tech engineering students, and AFGSC’s innovation arm called STRIKEWERX. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
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Flanges are aligned using a series of jack stands and bolted together to assemble the prototype. Other jack stands on casters help Airmen move the towbar.

Countryman said the project originated in 2021 when the 307th Bomb Wing requested a collapsible towbar that could be easily transported to temporary duty assignments.

AFGSC and STRIKEWERX teamed up with three Louisiana Tech senior engineering students, Sam Whitsell, Owen Clyde, and Gabe Collier, to create a design for the request.

“The original design they gave us were hand-drawn copies from the 1960s,” said Whitsell. “We came to Barksdale to look at the current towbar and started working from there.”

Clyde estimated the prototype design required 180 hours to create.

U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron, and a U.S. Air Force civilian employees assemble a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype during a demonstration of its capabilities at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The new prototype was created in response to a request for a towbar that can meet the speed and readiness requirements inherent in Agile Combat Employment efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)

U.S. Airmen, assigned to the 307th Maintenance Squadron, and a U.S. Air Force civilian employees assemble a B-52 Stratofortress towbar prototype during a demonstration of its capabilities at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Sept. 10, 2024. The new prototype was created in response to a request for a towbar that can meet the speed and readiness requirements inherent in Agile Combat Employment efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Ted Daigle)
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B-52 maintainers from the 307th Bomb Wing and the 2nd Bomb Wing tested the new prototype under real-world conditions during the week leading to the demonstration.

“We are basically trying to break this thing so we can know where to improve it for the final design,” said Countryman. “We want to know where the weak points are before it goes into production.”

Countryman said plans are underway to test the prototype in any potential weather and terrain it might operate. AFGSC will use data points from field testing to help improve the existing design.

While the project timeline calls for testing to be completed before September 2025, Countryman said, “We want to get this in the warfighters’ hands as quickly as possible.”

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