T Allan McArtor, a former FAA administrator and now chairman of Airbus North America offers at least one (almost) certain prediction on the next half century of flight. "I can't imagine what will be happening 50 years from now - other than the B-52 will still be flying!"
Speaking of which...conversation overheard between AWACS and B-52, the latter flown by a crew many years younger than their aircraft.
AWACS: "B-52, look out for traffic at 10 o'clock."
B-52: "Can you repeat that? We're all wearing digital watches."
Source: Flight International