Posted on 06/24/2015 1:12:53 PM PDT by Brad from Tennessee
This photo shows the entire arsenal of a B-52 Strartofortress.
The standard loadout for this plane includes eight AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, four AGM-142 Raptor missiles, 51 500lb bombs, 30 1,000lb bombs, 20 AGM-86C conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCM), 12 joint stand-off weapons (JSOW), 12 joint direct-attack munitions (JDAM) and 16 wind-corrected munitions dispensers (WCMD), according to Airforce-technology.com.
In 1955, when the first Boeing B-52 Stratofortress became operational, nobody would have imagined that the plane would likely remain in service for nearly 100 years. Today, that's exactly what the US Air Force has in mind for this iconic aircraft.
Around 750 of the bombers were produced. Although the latest model of the plane came off the assembly line in 1962, the Air Force intends to keep flying these planes until 2040. The B-52 is a multi-purpose heavy lifter of the skies, that has carried drones, space shuttle components, cruise missiles, and even nuclear bombs. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at finance.yahoo.com ...
Yeah, the BUFF could fit the real crowd pleasers in the bay.
I had the honor and pleasure to meet and hear Col. Bill Dabney USMC while I was at VMI. One of my most famous quotes from him was: “A B-52 will Christianize anybody.”
If you don’t who Bill Dabney was, or not heard of the Siege of Khe Sahn, please read about him here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_H._Dabney
Oh yeah, he was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions.
Years ago a buddy was a navigator on the refueling planes in support of the B-52’s. Every so often his crew would be at the base full time to cover for rapid deployment.
I asked him if there were nukes on the B-52’s. “I can neither confirm or deny that. However, all of those guards DO have fully loaded weapons.”
You are talking about a 747.
Why not convert some C-5’s to bomber use. Imagine the carnage a few of those babie can cause. Several hard points can be put on the wings and turn its cargo bay into a huge bomb bay.
I remember when they built the AF museum at Wright-Patterson AFB they built the huge building arounf the B-36.
yes very cool
why does land sideways mean anything special?
One of my brothers worked on them and the other flew on one when he was in the USAF.
Man, one of those engines goes out and you have to deal with a dreaded 7-engine approach.
But...what do you really think? :-)
MOABs were designed to be delivered by C-130s.
That would be too logical, inexpensive, and easy. Not gonna happen unless it comes with a new shiny fighter plane!
The author got a little confused about the “standard loadout,” implying all those munitions he listed could fit on or in the bird at once. In reality, those numbers are either/or. The ALCMs alone would weigh 63000, and the bird has a 70000 limitation.
Amazing airframe, nonetheless.
It ain’t normal....
USS Texas circa 1898
I originally signed up for the only “not fun” job on that aircraft.
Defensive Fire Control - In the D and earlier mod’s, the DFC sat in the tail. Except that you didn’t take off in that position.
After reaching mission elevation you got to crawl across the top of the cable-tray, above the bomb bay, back to the tail. And you didn’t want to be whipped around back there in bad air.
Fortunately they selected me to work Nuke Weapons instead and I spent the later phase of the Vietnam War working MMIII ICBMs at Vandenberg AFB.
FYI
That Gremlin sat tucked in the belly of the B-36, intended to be its fighter escort....but it didn’t work out so well.
Never deployed.
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