Deviation Actions
Description
Side view of the YB-52 Statofrotress prototype, with bubble canopy similar to that of the B-47. Photo courtesy of the United States Air Force.
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of more than 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.
Beginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952. Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War-era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36. A veteran of several wars, the B-52 has dropped only conventional munitions in combat. The B-52's official name Stratofortress is rarely used; informally, the aircraft has become commonly referred to as the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat F*cker).
The B-52 has been in active service with the USAF since 1955. As of December 2015, 58 were in active service with 18 in reserve. The bombers flew under the Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was disestablished in 1992 and its aircraft absorbed into the Air Combat Command (ACC); in 2010 all B-52 Stratofortresses were transferred from the ACC to the newly created Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC). Superior performance at high subsonic speeds and relatively low operating costs have kept the B-52 in service despite the advent of later, more advanced aircraft, including the canceled Mach 3 B-70 Valkyrie, the variable-geometry B-1 Lancer, and the stealth B-2 Spirit. The B-52 completed sixty years of continuous service with its original operator in 2015. After being upgraded between 2013 and 2015, it is expected to serve into the 2050s.
Role: Strategic bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
First flight: 15 April 1952
Introduction: February 1955
Status: In service
Primary users: United States Air Force, NASA
Produced: 1952–1962
Number built: 744
Unit cost: B-52B: US$14.43 million (1956); ($99.9 million in 2016), B-52H: US$9.28M (1962); ($57.8 million in 2016)
Developed into: Conroy Virtus
General characteristics
- Crew: 5 (pilot, copilot, weapon systems officer, navigator, electronic warfare officer, and tail gunner until the removal of the tail gun in 1991)
- Length: 159 ft 4 in (48.5 m)
- Wingspan: 185 ft 0 in (56.4 m)
- Height: 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m)
- Wing area: 4,000 sq ft (370 m²)
- Airfoil: NACA 63A219.3 mod root, NACA 65A209.5 tip
- Empty weight: 185,000 lb (83,250 kg)
- Loaded weight: 265,000 lb (120,000 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 488,000 lb (220,000 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 47,975 U.S. gal (39,948 imp gal; 181,610 L)
- Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0119 (estimated)
- Drag area: 47.60 sq ft (4.42 m²)
- Aspect ratio: 8.56
- Powerplant: 8 × Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofans, 17,000 lbf (76 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 560 kn (650 mph, 1,047 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 442 kn (525 mph, 844 km/h)
- Combat radius: 4,480 mi (3,890 nmi, 7,210 km)
- Ferry range: 10,145 mi (8,764 nmi, 16,232 km)
- Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,270 ft/min (31.85 m/s)
- Wing loading: 120 lb/ft² (586 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.31
- Lift-to-drag ratio: 21.5 (estimated)
Armament
- Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan cannon originally mounted in a remote controlled tail turret on the H-model, removed from all current operational aircraft in 1991
- Bombs: Approximately 70,000 lb (31,500 kg) mixed ordnance; bombs, mines, missiles, in various configurations.
Avionics
- Electro-optical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward looking infrared and high resolution low-light-level television sensors
- ADR-8 chaff rocket (1965–1970)
- LITENING Advanced Targeting System
- Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod
- IBM AP-101 computer
Documentary on this aircraft:
Great Planes - Boeing B-52 Stratofortess
Be sure to follow me on Dailymotion!
It looks so weird with the tandem cockpit.