THE OLD GIRL RETIRES Questions abounded at the post flight media briefing. The press wanted to know how fast the X-43A had gone, how high, how long it would be until we could all fly on a scramjet-powered airplane. These people had no idea what they had just witnessed. While the mainstream media chattered about the test flight of the new scramjet powered X-43A, a few aviation photographers sat quietly in the corner reflecting on the day. The X-43A had the media spotlight, but we knew the true story was with the supporting cast. For the X-43’s launch platform, NASA 0008, the B-52B testbed that has been a fixture at Edwards since the 1950s, it would be her last mission. "Balls Eight" (named for the three zeros preceding the “8” in her serial number) first flew in 1955 and served all her days in the flight test community. She was the launch platform for the X-15 and the lifting bodies that preceded the space shuttle. Her starboard side is plastered with mission markings for HiMat, Pegasus, X-38, X-this, X-that... She may well be the single most historically significant airframe since the "Spirit of St. Louis" and the "Enola Gay". She served nearly two decades with the Air Force before being transferred to NASA in 1976, where she has served faithfully until today. Though she still has the lowest airframe hours of any B-52 in service, parts for the old “B” model Buff are hard to come by. NASA’s maintenance folks found many systems in 008 to be unique, and it was not unheard of to have to fabricate new parts from scratch. Newer B-52H models are now being retired from active duty and the wealth of “H” model airframes and spare parts in the bone yards led NASA to make a change. A younger “H” model B-52 now sits at NASA Dryden, ready to take over 0008’s missions. “Balls Eight’s” final mission was a huge success. Thanks to the skill and dedication of pilots, managers, and engineers on the X-43 project, the launch was perfect. All science goals were achieved, and the X-43 flew to mach 9.6-plus. History had been made once again under the old girl’s wing. After all the media questions were answered, the NASA public affairs officer was about to end the X-43 post flight press conference when he was interrupted by one of the panelists that had been assembled to answer reporters questions. There was one more thing he wanted to say. He informed the room that they had just witnessed a great airplane - 0008 - fly her last mission. The room was quiet. Not because everyone shared that sweet sorrow felt by a few of us, but because they didn't understand that a huge era in aviation history had ended before their eyes. Then the silence was broken with a slow clap of one old aviation buff’s hands, and then a few others who understood began to clap, and soon the room caught on and "Balls Eight” got a well deserved round of applause. We left walking past the silhouette of an X-15 outlined against a setting sun. It was a full-scale mockup of that magnificent rocket that, back in the late 50’s and 60’s, had taken the Wright Brother’s dream to unthinkable speeds and the edge of space from beneath the wing of 0008. She had long ago been stuck on a pole and relegated to the job of "Gate Guard". The sun had set on 0008 as well, and she would now join her old partner on guard duty.