Phone: 303.360.5360 Online Exhibit of Aircraft
1955 B-52B Stratofortress
Bomber
Manufactured by Boeing
The B-52 Stratofortress has been the backbone of the U.S. Air Force's manned
bomber strategic deterrent for over 45 years. Boeing won the design competition
in 1946 and the B-52 entered service with Strategic Air Command in 1955. The
B model was the first truly operational version of the venerable Stratofortress,
nicknamed BUFF, or "Big Ugly Fat Fellow."
At peak strength in 1963, SAC operated 650 B-52s, with C through H models divided
among 42 squadrons at 38 different air bases worldwide. In addition, the B-52
has assumed an important conventional (tactical) role in several wars—from Vietnam
to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Approximately 90 H models are still in service today, supporting the campaigns
in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Our B-52B Stratofortress
The B-52B (52-005) at Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum was originally
built as an RB-52 with a primary mission as an enhanced reconnaissance aircraft
with a new bombing/navigation system. After six months at Edwards AFB in California,
its reconnaissance equipment was removed and the aircraft spent the next eleven
years with SAC's 93rd Bomb Wing at Castle AFB, California. No. 52-005 arrived
at Lowry AFB in 1966 to be assigned to the Training Command (Lowry was the premier
training site for B-52 ordnance loading and unloading at the time) and was featured
in an air show that summer, before Lowry's runways were permanently closed that
same year.
Specifications
- Role/Category: Bomber
- Wingspan: 185 feet
- Length: 165 feet, 6.9 inches
- Height: 48 feet, 3.6 inches
- Weight: 272,000 lbs. combat, 420,000 lbs. maximum
- Powerplant: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57-P-1W turbojets, each rated at 11,400 lbs. static thrust with water injection
- Speed:
maximum: 630 mph at 19,800 feet
normal cruise: 523 mph
runway needed for take-off: 8200 to 10,500 feet
combat radius: 3590 miles with 10,000 lb. bomb load (no in-flight refueling) - Ceiling: 47,300 feet at combat weight
- Crew: six: aircraft commander, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, electronic weapons officer, and tail gunner
- Armament: Two M24A1 20 mm cannon or four .50 caliber M3 machine guns in tail turret, 2 inboard wing hard points for bombs or missiles.
- Payload: Maximum offensive payload of 43,000 lbs. in one bomb bay.
More Photos:
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