Boeing B-52G Stratofortress Minimum Interval Take Off (MITO)

Note the Hound Dog cruise missiles under the wings...

The B-52G was proposed to extend the B-52's service life during delays in the B-58 Hustler program. At first, a radical redesign was envisioned with a completely new wing and Pratt & Whitney J75 engines with a water injection system to assist on takeoff. The water injection adds approximately a 17% increase to the takeoff power, also leaving the runway covered in a dense smoke screen.

The most significant of these was the brand new "wet" wing with integral fuel tanks which considerably increased the fuel capacity — gross aircraft weight went up by 38,000 pounds (17,235 kg) compared with prior variants. In addition, a pair of 700 US gallon (2,650 L) external fuel tanks was fitted under the wings. The wing also had the traditional ailerons eliminated, instead utilizing spoilers for roll control. The tail fin was shortened by 8 feet (2.4 m), water injection system capacity was increased to 1,200 US gallons (4,540 L), and the nose radome was enlarged. The tail gunner was provided with an ejection seat and moved to the main cockpit. Dubbed the "Battle Station" concept, the offensive crew (pilot and copilot on the upper deck and the two bombing navigation system operators on the lower deck) faced forward, while the defensive crew (tail gunner and ECM operator) on the upper deck faced aft. The B-52G entered service 13 February 1959 (a day earlier, the last B-36 was retired, making SAC an all-jet bomber force). Nearly all B-52Gs were destroyed in compliance with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty of 1992. A few examples remain in museums and as static displays at various air force bases.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Boeing
• B-52
• BUFF
• MITO
• Minimum
• Interval
• Take
• Off
• Strategic
• Air
• Command
• SAC
• bombers
• take
• off
• Stratofortress
• airplane
• aviation
• AGM-28
• Hound
• Dog

[saptono]

@DOWMER297 Thanks for that. It gave me some aeronautical knowledge.

[DOWMER297]

@saptono

I believe that the B-52 had a negative glide angle - with engines cut the plane would drop 8 feet for every 1 foot it went forward. This plane reinforced the old saying in those days that the Air Force could fly a house if it had enough power.

[Ilicium]

Brings back how smoggy those things were up to the 70's. Most jets, anyway.

[crotchboots]

the smell of jp4 in the morning...wonderful,eh?

[phambo101]

Amazing CGI effects on those B-52s here in making this scene consider the technologies they had back then...HEY, WHERE'S MAJOR KONG!!!

[BadSneakers]

My dad was flying one of these BUFFs - Beale AFB, 1963 (at least that's when the movie was released.) I have a pic behind this of the film crew filming this. Note to the right of Rock and Rod - and you can see a shadow of film equipment.

[usafvet100]

@saptono CHROMEDOME continuous airborne alert flights couldn't have been fun for the crew. We instead were doing ground alert in the early 80s, with the armed B-52s and supporting KC-135s on the "Alert Pad," which was guarded like Fort Knox. IF the call came, the bombers would MITO as shown in this clip, with the tankers following.

[usafvet100]

@saptono the massive "fowler flaps" that extend from the wings' trailing edges. We had Gs and Hs at Grand Forks, the Gs' engines were J-57s, and like the ones in the video clip, they emitted a lot of smoke. They also emitted an ear-splitting high-frequency shriek that wasn't fun to be around. The H's turbofans were quieter. Inside the aircraft, It's amazing how cramped the crew's quarters are, and what little space there is is taken up with instruments, electronic and avionics gear. Those

[usafvet100]

@saptono You've got to see a B-52 up-close to realize how massive it is, and yes, it has a tremendous wing-span. Perhaps you noticed the "outrigger" landing gear wheels that extend from the wingtips, with full wing fuel tanks the outrigger wheels touch the ground. When not full, the wheels are about 1 meter above the runway while taxiing. The wing flexes a great deal while in flight, which causes the fuselage skin to be wrinkled around the wing roots. Perhaps your model also includes