The B-52s Are Still Around-- Part 3: Till 2040

During the B-52s Cold War heyday, there were 744 of them operating. Today, that number is down to 76. The most recent variant of the plane, built between 1960 and 1962, has undergone more than 30 major modifications.

The plane's 185-foot wingspan and 160-footlength, however, remain.

The plane was designed on the back of a napkin over a weekend by three Boeing employees.

The B-52 was developed during the Korean War (1950-1953). It carpet bombed during the Vietnam War, ran crucial missions in Kosovo and the Middle East and the Air Force plans to keep them running until at least 2040.

--Cooter