Boeing B-52G Stratofortress

Boeing B-52G Stratofortress. . , The B-52 Stratofortress is one of the longest serving heavy bomber aircraft in history. The B-52 was designed in the 1960s by The Boeing Company as an eight-engine long-range high altitude strategie bomber for the delivery of nuclear weapon during the Old War Bong built 744 B-52s and delivered the last, a B-52H, in October, 1962 Over fifty years later, the US. Air Force still employs the B-52 in a strike capacity due to their ability to meet changing national defense needs Some forecasts indicate the B-52 might remain in service until 2040. , , A Lighter Heavy Bomber , The B-623 variant of the Stratofortress was introduced in 1968 and 1930-models were built exclusively at Boeing's Wichita plant. Modifications reduced the weight of the aircraft, including shortening the tail by 8 feet (24 meters The tail gunner was moved to the main crew compartment where be operated the guns by remote control. The B-520 had a lighter structure than earlier variants but could carry almoot 6,000 more gallons (22700 liters) of fuel, providing enhanced range. , , Specifications , Boeing B-520 Stratofortress , Span: 185 ft (56.4 m) , Length: 160 ft 11 in (49.1 m) , Height: 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m) , Wing Area: 4000 sq ft (371.6 sq m) , Weight, Empty: 185,000 lb (83,915 kg) , Weight, Loaded: 488,000 lbs (219,600 kg) , Power Plant: Eight Pratt and Whitney J57-P-43WB turbojet engines with 13,750 lbf (61.16 kN) thrust each , Accommodation: 6 , Armament: 70,000 lbs (31,751 kg) of mixed ordnance: bombs, mines and missiles. (Modified to carry Air-Launched Cruise Missiles); four 0.50-in (12.70 mm) machine-guns , , Performance , Top Speed: 634 mph (1000 km/h) at 8,000 ft , Cruise Speed: 510 mph (820 km/h) at 8,000 ft , Ceiling: 55,000 ft (16,764 m) , Range: 7,500 mi (12,070 km) , , , Midnight Express , The museum’s B-52, nicknamed Midnight Express, was one of 110 G-models which flew combat duty during the Vietnam War as part of Operation Bullet Shot. The heavy bomber also participated in the first night of Operation Linebacker II on December 18, 1972. The eleven-night bombing campaign of Hanoi and Haiphong preceded the Paris Peace Accords, which ended U.S. involvement in the conflict. , , The aircraft spent its entire career as part of the U.S. Air Forces Strategic Air Command, including time at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. Demilitarization of the accomplished on August 17, 1992 in accordance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the U.S. and the Russian Federation. , , Operation Chrome Dome , From 1960 to 1968, the museum's B-52 was part of the U.S. Defense Department's round-the-clock flights of B-52s called Operation Chrome Dome. The fleet's B-52s, armed with thermonuclear weapons, would launch and remain airborne for 24-26 hours while circling near the Arctic Circle, the Mediterranean Sea, and the North Pacific, prepared to strike targets in the Soviet Union.