B-52 Stratofortress
The B-52 Stratofortress is the primary manned strategic bomber used by the United States Air Force. This long range heavy bomber has capabilities enable it to drop nuclear as well as conventional bombs[1]. The bomber is specifically designed to conduct strategic attacks, air interdictions, maritime and offensive counter-air operations. The B-52 can also fly at high subsonic speeds at 50,000 feet. The bomber has been used in United States missions in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo. There are currently 85 active B-52 bombers[2]. Engineering analyses show the B-52's life span to extend beyond the year 2040.[3]
History
1946-1952
Now in its fifth decade of operation, the B-52 Stratofortress's origins go back to World War Two. The specific specifications they looked for in a new bomber which had the ability of operating in a radius of 5000 miles, and could fly at 300 mph at 34,000 feet. Boeing Company received a contract from the military to build the new plane. The bomber, Convair B-36, was not ready until after the war and soon its capabilities proved useless against new technology. Boeing tried to improve the plan but their efforts failed, as the plane still was not much of an improvement over the B-36. The design for the B-52 was made by engineering staff and military experts in Seattle.
1952-2007
This prototype led to the XB-52, the first model of the B-52 which rolled out in 1951. The first model of the plane was created by Bowing Company, and flew in 1954, the second B-52B model entered in 1962. This model added two large wing tanks and a new avionic bomb system which proved to be a significant update from its predecessor[4]. Although these plans were modified, Bowing built the B-52 H, the first of which was delivered in May of 1961. This new model replaced the machine guns used and incorporated more advanced avionics which permitted lower, more precise terrain –hugging perpetration. The B-52H continued to be produced until May of 1961, bringing the total number of B-52H to 742. The B-52H is the only model B-52 used by the military today. On January 10-11, 1962, a B-52H set a new distance record flying an unrefueled 12,532.28 mile flight from Okinawa to Spain. Over the years the B-52H became a major component of the United States Airforce, later working alongside the stealth B-2 Spirit and the Airforce Rockwell B-1B. Because of the B-52H ability to use nuclear weapons, the B-52 served as a deterrent during the Cold War, even though it was never used. During the Vietnam War, the B-52 was used to carpet bomb enemy bases. The B-52 next major use was in Operation Desert Storm; here the planes dropped over 27, 000 tons of bombs[5]. In 1999, the B-52 served in the United States and NATO mission to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. The B-52, which dropped twenty-nine percent of all U.S. bombs dropped and thirty-eight percent of all Air Force bombs during the war, dropped Cluster Bombs that paralyzed enemy airfields[6]. In response to the attacks on the United States on September 11th 2001, The B-52 was used in Operation Enduring Freedom, to bomb Al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, and in Iraq as part of the United States, “shock and awe” campaign[7].
B-52 Information
| Function | Primarily used as a heavy bomber |
| Contractor | Boeing Military Airplane Co. since its creation |
| Power plant | Engines created by Pratt & Whitney engines TF33-P-3/103 turbofan |
| Length | 159 feet |
| Height | 40 feet, 8 inches |
| Thrust | Each engine up to 17,000 pounds |
| Speed | 650 miles per hour |
| Wingspan | 185 feet |
| Weight | Estimated 185,000 pounds empty |
| Crew | The B-52 can carry five crewmen |
| Cost | $53.4 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars) |
| Range | Unrefueled 8,800 miles |
| Maximum Wight | 488,000 pounds |
External Links
References
- ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-52-describe.htm
- ↑ http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=83
- ↑ http://www.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=83
- ↑ http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm
- ↑ http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm
- ↑ http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-52-ops.htm
- ↑ http://www.stratofortress.org/history.htm
- ↑ http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/affacts/blb-52stratofortress.htm
