| B-50 Superfortress | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Strategic bomber |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| Maiden flight | 25 June 1947 |
| Introduced | 1948 |
| Retired | 1965 |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Produced | 1947-1953 |
| Number built | 371 |
| Unit cost | US$1,144,296[1] |
| Developed from | B-29 Superfortress |
| Variants | Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter |
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress was a post-World War II revision of the wartime United States B-29 Superfortress with larger Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, a taller vertical stabilizer, and other improvements. An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing building testing selling and maintaining Aircraft, Aircraft parts The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E The maiden flight of an Aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord Events 524 - Battle of Vézeronce, the Franks defeat the Burgundians Year 1947 ( MCMXLVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including The United States of America —commonly referred to as the WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion Engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central
Contents |
Design and development
The B-50 program began life as the XB-44 Superfortress. The Boeing XB-44 Superfortress was a United States B-29 Superfortress Bomber aircraft upgraded with Pratt & Whitney R-4360-33 One B-29A-5-BN (s/n 42-93845) was modified by Pratt & Whitney in 1944 to accept the larger engines; the resulting engine testbed first flew in May 1945. Pratt & Whitney is an American Aircraft engine manufacturer of products widely used in both civil and military aircraft. If the engine modification had been included in the B-29 program, the resulting model was to have been known as the B-29D. However, due to other structural changes that would also be necessary to address the increased power, weight and fuel consumption, it was decided to change its military designation to a new model. Since the B-44 program was only for the engine modification, that designation was not considered, and in December 1945 the program was named B-50 Superfortress.
Officially, the aircraft's new designation was justified by the changes incorporated into the revised aircraft, but according to Peter M. Bowers, a long-time Boeing employee and aircraft designer, and a well-known authority on Boeing aircraft, "the redesignation was an outright military ruse to win appropriations for the procurement of an aeroplane that by its designation appeared to be merely a later version of an existing model that was being canceled wholesale, with many existing examples being put into dead storage. Peter M Bowers (15 May 1918 - 27 April 2003 was a journalist specializing in the field of Aviation. The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E The Boeing Company is a major Aerospace and defense corporation originally founded by William E "[1]
Revisions to the B-50 (from its predecessor B-29) would result in a top speed just short of 400 miles per hour, faster than many World War II fighters. Changes included:
- Larger engines
- Redesigned engine nacelles and engine mounts
- Enlarged vertical tail and rudder (to maintain adequate yaw control during engine-out conditions)
- Reinforced wing structure (required due to increased engine mass, larger gyroscopic forces from larger propeller, greater fuel load, and revised landing gear loading)
- Revised routing for engine gases (cooling, intake, exhaust and intercooler ducts; also oil lines)
- Upgraded fire-control equipment (to control remote turrets)
- Landing gear strengthening (takeoff weight increased from 133,500 to 173,000 pounds)
- Increased fuel capacity (this was largely addressed by adding underwing fuel tanks).
- Revisions to flight control systems (the B-29 was already difficult to fly; with its increased weight the B-50 would have been much harder to hand-fly)
Redesigned with a larger upper fuselage, the B-50 design would form the basis for the Boeing 377 series of airliners and C-97/KC-97 military transports, with 816 of the KC-97 built. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The B-29 and B-50s would be phased out with introduction of the jet powered B-47 Stratojet [2]
Operational history
Boeing built 371 of the various B-50 models and variants between 1947 and 1953, some serving until 1965. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1947 Events January January 26, A KLM Douglas Dakota crashed This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1953: Events The first year in which the world's Airlines carried more than 50 million people ( This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1965: Events January January 2 - Denis Healey, the UK's Secretary
A reconnaissance variant, the RB-50B (a B-50B conversion) existed and played an important role in Cold War espionage. Reconnaissance (also scouting) is a military and medical term denoting exploration conducted to gain information Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the
An aerial refueling tanker conversion designated KB-50 was used in the Vietnam War. Aerial refueling, also called air refueling, in-flight refueling ( IFR) air-to-air refueling ( AAR) or tanking, is The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
In 1949, The Lucky Lady II, commanded by Captain James Gallagher, became the first airplane to circle the world nonstop. This was achieved by refueling the plane in flight.
Although constructed in relatively small numbers, the B-50 was the last member of the B-29 family and was one of the last piston-engined bombers built. A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is a Heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating Pistons to convert The B-50 was retired from its main role as atomic bomber in 1955. This is a list of Aviation -related events from 1955: Events February February 26 - George F A number were converted into KB-50 tankers and lasted long enough to be deployed to Southeast Asia in support of tactical operations.
B-50s were grounded and removed completely from inventory when wreckage of a KB-50 that broke up in flight in 1965 revealed corrosion problems in the fleet.
No flying examples exist today, although several can be found in various air museums.
The USAF Strategic Air Command had B-50 Superfortresses (B-50s and RB-50s) in service from 1948 through 1954. The Strategic Air Command (SAC was both a major command and a "specified command" in the U
Variants
- XB-44: One B-29A was handed over to Pratt & Whitney to be fitted with the new Wasp Major 28-cylinder engines. Pratt & Whitney is an American Aircraft engine manufacturer of products widely used in both civil and military aircraft. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout Initially designated B-29D, this was eventually changed to B-50A in December 1945 . (x1, converted)
- B-50A--First production version of the B-50. It had new wings that were stronger and lighter than the units on the B-29. It also had taller vertical tail than the B-29. (x60)
- B-50B--Increase in gross weight over the A model, from 168,480 lb (76,420 kg) to 170,400 lb (77,290 kg). Also included a new type of lightweight fuel cell. (x45)
- B-50D--Definitive production version of the B-50. The 7-piece nose cone window was replaced by a single plastic cone and a flat bomb-aimer's window. Many included the new boom-type refueling system. (x222)
- DB-50D--Drone director conversion of a B-50D, to be used with the GAM-63 RASCAL missile. The GAM-63 RASCAL is a Supersonic Air-to-surface missile that was developed by the Bell Aircraft Company. (x1, converted)
- EB-50B--Single conversion of a B-50B to be fitted with a track-tread undercarriage. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 (x1, converted)
- KB-50--Air to air refueling tanker conversions of the bomber. (x134, converted)
- KB-50J--Tanker B-50s with improved performance, via two extra General Electric J47 turbojets under the outer wings. WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout (x112, converted)
- KB-50K--Tanker conversions of the TB-50H trainer aircraft. (x24, converted)
- RB-50B--All but one of the B-50Bs were converted into the recon role. These were fitted with nine cameras in four stations, weather instruments, and a bomb bay capsule holding the extra crew members. (x44, converted)
- RB-50E--Special photographic conversions of the RB-50B, modified at Wichita. (x14, converted)
- RB-50F--Conversions of the RB-50B, fitted with SHORAN navigation radar for special missions. SHORAN is an acronym for SHO rt RA nge N avigation a type of electronic navigation and bombing system with a precision radar beacon used in the B-26 (x14, converted)
- RB-50G--Conversions of the RB-50B, fitted with electronics countermeasures statios along with the SHORAN radar. (x15, converted)
- TB-50A--Trainer conversion of the B-50A. (x11, converted)
- TB-50D--Trainer conversion of the B-50D. (x11, converted)
- TB-50H--Newly built trainer planes. (x24)
- WB-50 --Weather reconnaissance conversion of the B-50.
- WB-50D--Weather reconnaissance conversions of outdated B-50Ds, fitted with meteorological equipment. (x36, converted)
- YB-50C--Version to be fitted with the Variable Discharge Turbine version of the R-4360 engine. None were built.
- B-54A--Proposed version of the YB-50C.
- RB-54A--Proposed reconnaissance version of the YB-50C.
Survivors
- B-50A-5BO 46-10, "Lucky Lady II", Planes Of Fame, Chino, California (D)
- B-50D-115BO 49-310, ex-WB-50D, " 48-114 ", USAFM, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio (D)
- B-50D-120BO 49-0351, ex-WB-50D, " Flight Of The Phoenix ", Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California (D)
- B-50D-125BO 49-372, ex-KB-50J, " 372 ", Pima Air Museum, Tucson, Arizona (D)
- B-50D-125BO 49-389, ex KB-50J," 48-014 ", MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida (D)
note: On 46-10 " Lucky Lady II " it has been reported that nose section is not original to this airframe
Operators
Specifications (B-50D)
General characteristics
- Crew: 8: Pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, radio/electronic countermeasures operator, two side gunners, top gunner and tail gunner
- Length: 99 ft 0 in (30. Castle Air Museum is located in Atwater, California, United States at the site of the former Castle Air Force Base. Atwater is a city in Merced County, California, United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. 2 m)
- Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43. The wingspan (or just span) of an airplane or a Bird, is the distance from the left wingtip to the right wingtip 1 m)
- Height: 32 ft 8 in (10. 0 m)
- Wing area: 1736 ft² (161. 3 m²)
- Empty weight: 80,610 lb (36,560 kg)
- Loaded weight: 121,850 lb (55,270 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 173,000 lb (78,470 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engines, 3,500 hp (2,600 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 395 mph (343 kn, 636 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 244 mph (212 kn, 393 km/h)
- Combat radius: 2,100 NM (2,400 mi, 3,860 km)
- Ferry range: 5,000 NM (5,760 mi, 9,270 km)
- Service ceiling 36,650 ft (11,170 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,225 ft/min (11. The pound or pound-mass (abbreviation lb, lbm, or sometimes in the United States #) is a unit of Mass The Maximum Takeoff Weight or Maximum Takeoff Mass of an Aircraft is the maximum weight at which the pilot of the aircraft is allowed to attempt to take off WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion Engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such In Aviation, V-speeds or Velocity-speeds are standard terms used to define Airspeeds important or useful to the operation of Aircraft, such A nautical mile or sea mile is a unit of Length. It corresponds approximately to one minute of Latitude along any meridian. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States For Aircraft, ferry range means the maximum range the aircraft can fly In Aeronautics, a ceiling is the maximum Density altitude an aircraft can reach under a set of conditions In Aerodynamics, the rate of climb RoC is the speed at which an Aircraft increases its Altitude. 3 m/s)
- Wing loading: 70. In Aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing 19 lb/ft² (343 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0. Power-to-weight ratio (specific power is a calculation commonly applied to Engines and other mobile power sources to enable the comparison of one unit or design to another 115 hp/lb (193 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns:
- 12× . 50 in (12. 7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in remote controlled turrets
- 1× 20 mm (0. This article is about the.50 caliber M2 machine gun For the.30-06 M2 machine gun see M1919 Browning machine gun. The 20 mm caliber is a specific size of Cannon or Autocannon ammunition commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon (or more commonly today autocannon 787 in) cannon in tail
- Bombs:
- 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) internally
- 8,000 lb (3,600 kg) on external hardpoints
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
References
Notes
- ^ a b Knaack, Marcelle Size. An autocannon is a rapid fire projectile Weapon. Autocannon often have a larger Caliber (calibre than a Machine gun (i A hardpoint is any part of an Airframe designed to carry an external load The Boeing XB-44 Superfortress was a United States B-29 Superfortress Bomber aircraft upgraded with Pratt & Whitney R-4360-33 WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft. Please see WikipediaWikiProject Aircraft/page content for recommended layout List of bomber aircraft is organized by grouped years countries and Bomber Aircraft type This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype pre-production and operational types Post-World War II bombers, 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1988. ISBN 0-16-002260-6.
- ^ [1]
Bibliography
- Jones, Lloyd S. U. S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962, second edition 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.
External links
- Boeing B-50 Superfortress Joe Baugher's Encyclopedia of American Aircraft
- [http:://www. globalsecurity. org/wmd/systems/b-50. htm B-50 Design and Specifications, Global Security. org]
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