B-52

B-52 "Stratofortress"

Aircraft	B-52 "Stratofortress" (Boeing)
Type	Heavy Bomber
Year	1952 (B-52A)
Engine	Eight 75.62kN (17,000 lb. st) Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofans
Wingspan	56.39m (185 ft. 0 in.)
Length	49.05m (160 ft. 11 in.)
Height	12.40m (40 ft. 8 in.)
Weight	MTOW 229,088 kg (505,000 lbs.)
Max. speed	819 km/h (509 mph)
Range	+16,093 km (10,000 miles)
Crew	4
Armament	Vulcan 20mm cannon in tail turret AGM-86C ALCMs:up to 22,680 kg (50,000 lbs.) B61/83 nuclear weapons AGM-142 Have Nap PGM's Conventional bombs: 51 x 340 kg (750 lb.)/454 kg (1,000 lb.)

Now in the twilight of it's operational career, the mighty B-52 has served the USAF faithfully since June 1955. Current plans foresee surviving B-52H's still in service at the turn of the century, and possibly still around to celebrate the BUFF's,Big Ugly Fat Fellow, (G version) 50 years of service.

Originally conceived as a turboprop replacement for Boeing's B-50, the B-52 emerged in 1952 powered by J57 turbojets. Production models ran from the B-52A to the B-52H, each model introducing various improvements and upgrades along the way. Today, only the B-52G (193 built) and B-52H (102 built) remain in service, with the final examples of the former due for imminent retirement. Improvements introduced on the B-52G included greater fuel capacity, a shorter fin, and a redesigned airframe to increase safety and reduce weight. Originally intended as a platform for the AGM-28 Hound Dog missile, as time progressed the G-model fleet found itself operating in the stand-off penetration role armed with cruise missiles or in a maritime role armed with AGM-88 Harpoons. Low-level all-weather operations by night are possible thanks to a terrain-avoidance radar, FLIR and LLLTV sensors.

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