2 October 1952: The Boeing XB-52 Stratofortress prototype, 49-230, made its first flight at Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, with test pilot Alvin M. “Tex” Johnston in command. The first of two prototype strategic bombers, the XB-52 had been damaged during ground testing and extensive repairs were required, delaying its initial flight. The pre-production aircraft, YB-52 49-231, made the type’s first flight, 15 April 1952. The prototype Stratofortress the largest jet aircraft built up to that time. It was 152 feet, 8 inches (46.431 meters) long with a wingspan of 185 feet (56.388 meters) and 48 feet, 4 inches (17.731 meters) to the top of the vertical fin. Its gross weight was 390,000 pounds (176,900 kilograms). The XB-52 was powered by eight Pratt and Whitney YJ-57-P-3 turbojet engines, producing 8,700 pounds of thrust, each, giving it a maximum speed of 615 miles per hour (890 kilometers per hour), a cruising speed of 525 miles per hour (845 kilometers per hour) and a service ceiling of 50,000 feet (15,240 meters). Its range was 7,000 miles (11,269 kilometers). In its original configuration, the XB-52 was armed with two .50-caliber machine guns in a turret in the tail, though these guns were not installed on 49-230. It was designed to carry a 25,000 pound bomb load. XB-52 49-230 was used in testing for its entire service life. It was scrapped in the mid-1960s. 744 B-52 bombers were built by Boeing at Seattle and Wichita, Kansas, with the last one, B-52H-175-BW, 61-0040, rolled out 22 June 1962. 76 B-52H Stratofortresses are still in service with the United States Air Force. r/max
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 22:00:00 +0000
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