Posted on 10/27/2014 6:48:59 AM PDT by C19fan
I did not know that. Thanks!!!
Wonder how the Bombay doors are holding up?
Some of the advantages of the B-52 is relatively low and inexpensive maintenance compared to the modern bombers, some of which must even be stored in temperature and humidity controlled hangars.
It also consumed a heck of a lot of fuel, sometimes needing refueling as soon as it reached altitude.
So a modern design would likely have modular everything, so after a given length of time the entire aircraft would be replaced a piece at a time on a wear and tear depreciation schedule. Estimated price about $75m a plane.
Next would be significantly improved fuel efficiency, which is just normal engine evolution, nothing special.
Somehow, you have to make up for all of the longitudinal members that have been removed.
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Maybe you could load and drop bombs vertically instead of loading them horizontally,, have a whole lot of openings that don’t intrude on the structural members.. or have a mechanism that squirts them out a opening under the tail.
Thanks for the ping. It is difficult to imagine where massive bombing by B-52’s could be used today.
Don't cut. add on under
Drag is the enemy of speed and range.
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