USAF's oldest bomber is being proposed as a platform for its newest weapon: the hypersonic missile.
New life for the B-52
- Thread starter ClayO
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- Thread starter
- #2
If you're like me, and aren't clear on what a hypersonic missile is, exactly, here's an article that explains that, as well as some of the pros and cons.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
The strength of the B-52 has always been, imho, that its size allows for mods permitting the upgrade of payload, avionics, and ECM to keep it survivable (if only barely, or only under conditions of air superiority) in hostile airspace.
ARTESH
Chief Master Sergeant
Not an specialist in these things! but like it!
wondering if there has been a more cost effective large weapons system ever ?
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Thrown rocks?
yup or maybe harsh language ?
Thumpalumpacus
Major
When I was with the 801st during Desert Storm, our -52 strikes were of three birds, each carrying 51 750-lb bombs; over 38,000 lbs of bombs apiece, albeit all dumb. However, the nav and targeting systems were very accurate.
I remember one time we had a rah-rah meeting in the base theater to show us ground-crew what our planes were doing. One mission was against a cement plant in Northern Iraq, about a mile long and 1/3 mile wide target zone. The base intel guy showed us before-and-after slides on the screen.
The "after" pic showed perhaps eight or nine craters outside of the TZ, out of 153 bombs dropped. I honestly felt sorry for those poor bastards at that point. That cement plant was almost literally obliterated; it looked like a moonscape. And that was three planes.
I could only imagine what we did to that fortification line they dug south and west of Kuwait ... and their troops inside ... once we got to that stage of the war a week or two later.
I remember one time we had a rah-rah meeting in the base theater to show us ground-crew what our planes were doing. One mission was against a cement plant in Northern Iraq, about a mile long and 1/3 mile wide target zone. The base intel guy showed us before-and-after slides on the screen.
The "after" pic showed perhaps eight or nine craters outside of the TZ, out of 153 bombs dropped. I honestly felt sorry for those poor bastards at that point. That cement plant was almost literally obliterated; it looked like a moonscape. And that was three planes.
I could only imagine what we did to that fortification line they dug south and west of Kuwait ... and their troops inside ... once we got to that stage of the war a week or two later.
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Admiral Beez
Major
How about an airliner? 
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
How about an airliner?
Why not?
Boeing's 747 started out as a USAF proposal for a heavy-lift transport, which the C-5 Galaxy won out, so it developed into what we know today.
B-52J
www.airandspaceforces.com
There is a lot of vacant letters in the alphabet yet!
It’s Official: The Re-Engined B-52 Will be the B-52J
As soon as they get new engines, B-52H bombers will be designated as B-52J aircraft, Air Force budget documents show.
www.airandspaceforces.com
There is a lot of vacant letters in the alphabet yet!
Thumpalumpacus
Major
B-52J
It’s Official: The Re-Engined B-52 Will be the B-52J
As soon as they get new engines, B-52H bombers will be designated as B-52J aircraft, Air Force budget documents show.
There is a lot of vacant letters in the alphabet yet!
Platform-launched hypes are a natural. The Russians are already using a similar force-structure in Ukraine.
GreenKnight121
Staff Sergeant
- 794
- Mar 16, 2014
Very loosely.
The B747 is better described as a B707 enlarged via technology developed for the CX-HLS program.
Note the design Boeing submitted:
Lockheed & Boeing C-5A entries:
GreenKnight121
Staff Sergeant
- 794
- Mar 16, 2014
C-124 top, Lockheed C-5A middle, Boeing C-5A bottom:
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The Boeing was prettier.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Heresy...
Blasphemy
Once again about B-52J development:
www.airandspaceforces.com
How a Rusty B-52 Carcass Is Key to the Bomber’s Big Upgrades
Engineers are using a B-52 carcass to validate digital designs and models in major upgrades to the bomber as it becomes the B-52J
www.airandspaceforces.com
- Thread starter
- #19
So the B-52J will see the original design through to a full 100 years of continuous service? I'm surprised that more isn't being made of that achievement. That's even longer than the Tupolev Tu-95 Bear is projected to be in service.Once again about B-52J development:
How a Rusty B-52 Carcass Is Key to the Bomber’s Big Upgrades
Engineers are using a B-52 carcass to validate digital designs and models in major upgrades to the bomber as it becomes the B-52J
New instruments for the B-52J:
www.airandspaceforces.com
B-52 Pilots Test New Instruments To Make BUFF Flying Easier
A test team at Edwards Air Force Base is redesigning the engine gauge clusters and cockpit for the upcoming B-52 tech upgrades.
www.airandspaceforces.com
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