B-52 Stratofortresses
by Staff EditorFor more than 40 years B-52 Stratofortresses have been the backbone of the manned strategic bomber force for the United States. The B-52 is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory. This includes gravity bombs, cluster bombs, precision guided missiles and joint direct attack munitions. B-52s have never carried out the mission for which they were originally designed – delivery of nuclear bombs, but continual upgrades have afforded the versatility to conduct strategic attack, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations. Current engineering analyses show the B-52's life span to extend beyond the year 2040.
B-52H Specifications
| Manufacturer: | Boeing |
| First Flight: | 1954 (A model) |
| Wingspan: | 185 ft. (56.4 m) |
| Height: | 40.7 ft. (12.4 m) |
| Length: | 159.3 ft. (48.5 m) |
| Payload: | 70,000+ lbs. (31,750+ kg) |
| Thrust: | 70,000+ lbs. (31,750+ kg) |
| Top Speed: | Mach 0.86 |
| Ceiling: | 50,000 ft. (15,167 m) |
| Range: | 7,650 nm (14,080 km) |
| Crew: | Five |
