What is special about B-52?
It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The bomber is capable of carrying up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,080 km) without aerial refueling.
What altitude does a B-52 fly at?
50,000 feet
The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet (15,166.6 meters). It can carry nuclear or precision guided conventional ordnance with worldwide precision navigation capability.
Can B-52 pilots eject?
The upward ejection system provides emergency escape provisions for the pilot, copilot, electronic warfare officer (EWO), and gunner by upward ejection of their seats. Each seat has its own ejection system consisting of the seat and the escape hatch, which is located directly overhead.
Does B-52 have autopilot?
It was “designed in an analog era and is still largely an analog aircraft,” Gunzinger said, adding that it “doesn’t have the most sophisticated autopilot” and maneuvers like aerial refueling require hand flying. “It’s just a strenuous aircraft to fly for a very long period of time,” Gunzinger told Insider.
How much fuel does a B-52 hold?
312,197 lbs
B-52 Technical Specifications
| Primary Function | Heavy bomber |
|---|---|
| Fuel Capacity | 312,197 lbs |
| Payload | 70,000 lbs (31,500 kg) |
| Speed | 650 mph (Mach 0.86) |
| Range | 8,800 mi (7,652 nautical miles) |
How many nuclear bombs can B-52 carry?
The first of 102 B-52H’s was delivered to Strategic Air Command in May 1961. The H model can carry up to 20 air launched cruise missiles….General Characteristics.
| Primary Function: | Heavy bomber |
|---|---|
| Height: | 40 feet, 8 inches (12.4 meters) |
| Wingspan: | 185 feet (56.4 meters) |
| Speed: | 650 miles per hour (Mach 0.86) |
Do bombers have toilets?
The B-1 bomber, for instance, has a small toilet behind the left front seat in the four-person cockpit, while the B-2 stealth bomber has “one stainless-steel bowl, no walls” behind the right seat of its two-pilot cockpit, according to Popular Mechanics.
How many engines does a B-52 need to fly?
It is powered by eight jet engines mounted under the wings in four twin pods. The plane’s maximum speed at 55,000 feet (17,000 metres) is Mach 0.9 (595 miles per hour, or 960 km/hr). At only a few hundred feet above the ground, it can fly at Mach 0.5 (375 miles per hour, or 600 km/hr).
How many b2 bombers have crashed?
The accident marked the first operational loss of a B‑2 bomber, and as of 2022 it remains the only one. With an estimated loss of US$1.4 billion, considering only the cost of the aircraft, it was also the most expensive aircraft crash in history.