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

[drummer012345]

Al Gore's Worst Nightmare.

[FylthyBeest]

You are kidding, right? There were no effects here.  This was an actual MITO launch using peacetime criteria shot at Beale AFB for the movie. And, Rock Hudson and Rod Taylor were right there along with the film crew. Read the previous posts. "CGI"?

[kurt hurt]

The plane was a polluter. :D

[Jonathan Fateley]

I've also checked his liquor bills at the club . . .

[FylthyBeest]

Amazing and cool. Are the others in your crew still around that you know of (you said the CP was in NM). Guessing you had a family, did you share this with them? What did they think? What bragging rights!

[Lancair84]

Our crew (I was EWO) had summer leave (vacation) scheduled so when they wanted a crew to work with Paul Mantz that was not on the flying or Alert schedulte we were asked if we would give up our summer vacation. The copilot Wes Blanchard is living in NM. The squadron usually only had three ship MITOs so a five ship was unusual.

[FylthyBeest]

You were actually in this MITO?  I don't ask that with doubt, I ask it with respect. What aircrew position did you fly? Are the others who flew in this scene still around? I don't mean for that question to be taken as heartless. I'm acknowledging that many years have gone by. Are you still in contact with the others?

[Lancair84]

The MITO for the movie was briefed at 10 seconds because the director said that 15 seconds wouldn't look very close on film. Our crew was 8 seconds behind the aircraft in front of us and it looked very close. The turbulence was considerable before we got out of it on the fan out. (744 Bomb Squadron S-84 crew member)

[soccerguy2433]

15sec was peacetime?

[BadSneakers]

My dad is piloting of the BUFFS and I have a pic of the film crew filming this and Rock and Rod are definitely right there, but obviously they did voice overdubs.

[Canes Venatici]

I thought maybe they switched to a turbofan in the G model.

[David McClelland]

The T33 was fitted into the H Model, the biggest external differences between the 2 models were the 2-step nacelles for the turbofans and the 20mm rotary cannon in the tail as opposed to the 4 .50s in the Gs.