North American B-45 Tornado
Photo from USAF Museum Homepage B-45
The North American B-45 Tornado was America's first jet bomber. It did not incorporate swept back wings, and some claimed it was simply a conventional bomber with jet engines strapped on to it. It was in fact an entirely new airframe borne out of a 1944 USAAF requirement for a jet bomber capable of carrying a 22 000 lb payload. B-45's were intended as a stop gap until the B-47 Stratojets came on line slightly later. They served in Europe in the early fifties and some carried nuclear weapons. B-45 Tornados were replaced in Europe in 1956 by B-66 Destroyers.
Specifications
(Data for B-45A-5)
Origin: North American Aviation
Type: Light Bomber
Crew: Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator/Bombardier, Tail Gunner
Powerplant: Four General Electric J47A-9 turbojets each delivering 2 340 kg (5 200 lbs) of thrust
Dimensions
Span: 27.41 m (89' 5")
Length: 22.95 m (75' 3.5")
Height:
Max Weight: 42 096 kg (92 745 lbs)
Performance
Maximum Speed: Mach 0.77
Cruising Speed: 805 kph (500 mph)
Climb Rate:
Service Ceiling: 10 000 m (30 000 feet)
Max Range: 3 056 km (1 910 miles)
Armament
Two M3 .50 caliber in tail & 9 900 kg (22 000 lbs) of ordnance including 27 225 kg (500 lb) GP bombs some aircraft capable of carrying Mk5 or Mk7 nuclear bombs
First Flight: March 17, 1947
User(s): USA
Production: About 140
Unit Cost:
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