XB-52

B-52 Chronology
Many Tradeoffs: Speed, Range, Payload, Weight



AAF Long-Range Turbine Bomber Requirements

Apr 1945





Specific Requirements 10K lb, 10K mi, 450 mph

Nov 1945

T35, T37 Available



Boeing 462 Offered (non-swept, 360,000 lb)

Feb 1946

With 6 x T35-1, 410 mph



Study Contract for Boeing 462

Jun 1946

None for Convair, Martin



464-16,-17 Offered (480,000 lb, 3,750 mi)

Dec 1946

4 x T35-3, LeMay Request, 400 mph



USAF Give Boeing more $ for 464-17 Study

Feb 1947

With T35



Cancellation considered by DOD

Early 1947

Fought off by Boeing, LeMay



464-25 Offered

Mar 1947

12K lb



USAF Issue New Requirements

Jun 1947

10K lb, 12K mi, 400 mph



464-29 Offered (400,000 lb) Mild Sweep

Aug 1947

10K mi, 455mph



USAF Contract for Mock-Up

2 Sep 1947

With T35-3



USAF Issues New Requirements (8k mi,550 mph)

Dec 1947

$2.35M Spent to Date



USAF Mock-Up Inspection

Jan 1948





Cancel Contract/Re-Start

Jan 1948





USAF Go-Ahead for 464-35 (300,000 lb)

Feb 1948

With T35-5, 500 mph, 8K mi



USAF Contract for 2 Prototypes, due 2-51

Mar 1948

$29.4M, Still with T35



USAF Ask for Use of J40

May 1948

Study



Boeing Proposed 464-40 with J40

Jul 1948

5.3K mi, 280,000 lb



USAF Asks Boeing to Use J57

21 Oct 1948

464-49 Proposed 24 Oct 1948



USAF Contract Mod to Use 8 x J57

26 Jan 1949

330,000 lb, 35° Sweep



USAF Mock-Up Inspection

29 Apr 1949





Air Staff Approval

1 Oct 1949





Boeing Proposed Definitive XB-52, 464-67

Nov 1949

390,000 lb, 7K mi, 10K Payload



USAF Selects 464-67 as B-52

24 Mar 1950

519 mph Cruise



USAF Approves Production of B-52

9 Jan 1951

First Batch = 13



XB-52 Rollout

29 Nov 1951





YB-52 First Flight

15 Apr 1952