What is so special about B-52?
The B-52 has an incredible list of technical specs. It’s powered by eight Pratt & Whitney turbofan jet engines (the only jet in active service with eight engines), has an unrefueled range of 8,800 miles and can carry a 70,000-pound payload.
How much runway does a B-52 need?
As with any aircraft, it depends on a multitude of conditions. With a normal training flight fuel load at Amarillo,TX, 3600 ft. elev., hot summer day the B-52D would use just about all of the 13,500ft. of runway.
How many crew members does a B-52 have?
B-52 Technical Specifications
| Primary Function | Heavy bomber |
|---|---|
| Speed | 650 mph (Mach 0.86) |
| Range | 8,800 mi (7,652 nautical miles) |
| Ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,150 m) |
| Crew | 5 (aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator and electronic warfare officer |
How many B-52s are still in service?
But while that was the game plan in the Doctor Strangelove era of B-52 operations, the U.S. Air Force’s has found many new uses for its seventy-six remaining B-52Hs, which are nicknamed Big Ugly Fat Fellows.
Can the B-52 shoot down a missile?
The B-52 has also been suggested as a likely candidate for an aerial Active Protection System designed to shoot down incoming missiles using kinetic projectiles, guided missiles or even a laser. In fact, Air Force interest in increasing the B-52’s electrical generation strongly hints at possible laser-armed BUFFs.
When did the B-52 take off with synthetic fuel?
On 15 December 2006, a B-52 took off from Edwards with the synthetic fuel powering all eight engines, the first time an air force aircraft was entirely powered by the blend. The seven-hour flight was considered a success.
Are laser-armed buffs coming to the B-52?
In fact, Air Force interest in increasing the B-52’s electrical generation strongly hints at possible laser-armed BUFFs. However, many dramatics upgrades to the B-52 have already been set in motion prior to the unveiling of the B-52J concept—notably, the quest for new fuel-efficient engines and a bewildering array of new potential weapon systems.