boeing boeing long range jet powered strategic bomber designed built boeing continued provide support upgrades operated united_states_air_force 1950s bomber capable carrying pounds weapons typical combat range miles aerial beginning successful contract bid june design evolved straight wing aircraft powered engines final prototype engines swept wings took maiden flight april built carry nuclear weapons cold war era missions replaced veteran wars dropped conventional munitions combat official rarely informally aircraft commonly referred buff big ugly fat active service active service reserve bombers flew sac aircraft absorbed transferred newly created air force global strike command superior performance high speeds relatively low operating costs kept service despite advent later advanced aircraft including canceled variable geometry stealth spirit completed years continuous service original operator upgraded expected serve development origins november issued desired performance characteristics new strategic bomber capable carrying strategic mission dependence advanced intermediate bases controlled countries aircraft crew turret gunners man relief crew required cruise mph knots feet combat radius miles nautical miles armament consist unspecified number cannon pounds bombs february air_force issued bid specifications boeing submitting proposals june boeing model straight wing aircraft powered wright gross weight pounds combat radius miles nmi declared winner june boeing issued letter contract million build scale mock new preliminary engineering testing october air force began express concern sheer size new aircraft inability meet specified design requirements response boeing produced model smaller engine version pound gross weight briefly deemed acceptable subsequently november deputy chief general curtis expressed desire cruise speed miles hour boeing responded aircraft december boeing asked change design engine bomber speed miles hour range miles nmi ability carry nuclear weapon total aircraft weigh pounds boeing responded models powered model nuclear bomber pound model general purpose bomber pound cost associated purchasing specialized aircraft air force selected model understanding adapted nuclear strikes june military requirements updated model met range obvious air_force updated performance obsolete time entered production offer little improvement result entire project postponed months time boeing continued perfect design resulted model speed miles hour mile range september convened performance requirements nuclear bomber december requirements called speed miles hour mile nmi range far capabilities outright cancellation boeing contract december plea president secretary allen reasoned design capable adapted new aviation technology stringent requirements january boeing instructed thoroughly explore recent technological innovations including aerial flying wing noting stability control problems experiencing flying wing bombers boeing insisted conventional aircraft april presented million million today proposal design construction testing model prototypes model design configuration similar later design built soviet_union bear strategic bomber revisions resulted aircraft speed miles hour feet range miles nmi pounds gross weight included pounds bombs gallons fuel design effort asked boeing incorporate previously discarded fuel efficient jet engine design resulted development revision july model substituted air_force project officer reviewed model favorably impressed especially thinking similar lines government concerned high fuel consumption rate jet engines day directed boeing use powered model basis agreed propulsion future general deputy chief staff material keen jet powered felt jet engine progressed sufficiently permit intermediate stage boeing encouraged continue studies expected commitment jet propulsion thursday october boeing engineers presented design engine bomber chief bomber development colonel warden disappointed projected aircraft asked boeing team come proposal engine bomber joined boeing vice president engineering engineers worked night hotel van ohio boeing proposal engine bomber friday colonel warden looked information asked better design returning hotel boeing team joined boeing engineers town business late friday night laid essentially new airplane new design built basic layout degree swept wings engines paired pods bicycle landing gear wheels notable feature landing gear ability pivot main landing gear aircraft centerline increase safety landings trip hobby shop supplies set work building model rest team focused weight performance data wells skilled artist completed aircraft drawings sunday hired type clean copy proposal monday presented colonel warden bound page proposal inch scale model aircraft projected exceed design specifications size mock inspection april generally favorable range concern early model excessive fuel consumption despite talk revision specifications design competition aircraft manufacturers general charge insisted performance compromised delays engine development final attempt increase range boeing created larger stating production range increased subsequent modifications following direct boeing awarded production contract thirteen seventeen reconnaissance pods february major design change general insistence switch style tandem seating conventional cockpit increased effectiveness reduced crew fatigue prototypes featured original tandem seating arrangement framed bubble type canopy pre production production second modified operational equipment flew april pilot ground testing november system failed pressure test resulting explosion severely damaged trailing edge wing necessitating considerable repairs hour minute proving flight seattle washington undertaken boeing test pilot air force lieutenant colonel followed october thorough development including days wind tunnel days aerodynamic testing paid smooth flight testing encouraged air force increased order ordered built returned boeing test program june february contract updated order aircraft new specifications final aircraft enter active service completed roll ceremony march air_force chief staff general said long rifle great weapon day today long rifle air age followed progressively improved bomber reconnaissance variants culminating allow rapid delivery production lines set main seattle factory boeing facility companies involved massive production effort airframe built prototypes models aircraft built seattle testing aircraft built seattle caused problems jet noise led establishment engine tests aircraft ferried miles east maiden flights near fully tested production came end factory phased production seattle responsible models plants continued build built seattle seattle decided transfer production freed seattle tasks particular production production ended aircraft built plus original prototypes upgrades proposed variant consisted modified augmented additional electronic capabilities variant restored airborne capability lost retiring raven program canceled following removal funds stand program revived cut early july air_force began fleet wide technological upgrade bombers called electronics communications technology computing flight deck upgrades include software hardware new computer radios data links receivers digital crew update warrior line sight software radio able transmit voice data information flight ground command control centers allowing transmission reception data updated intelligence mapping targeting information previous flight target changes required copying coordinates allows machine machine transfer data useful long endurance missions targets moved arrival aircraft able receive information upgrades cost billion overall years funding secured air_force hopes upgrades year rate decided weapons upgrades include gives percent increase weapons digital interface expected cost roughly million allow carry operational october bombers ability carry weapons place carry allows precision guided missiles bombs deployed inside weapons bay previous aircraft carried munitions externally wing increases number guided weapons carry reduces need guided bombs carried phase allow carry pound guided bombs pound later phases family missiles addition carrying smart bombs moving internally wings reduces drag percent reduction fuel consumption design overview shared technological similarities preceding boeing strategic bomber aircraft basic design swept wings jet engines cabin included crew systems pilots electronic operator ejected upwards lower deck crew ejected downwards gunner tail gun bail structural fatigue accelerated factor low altitude flight profile high altitude flying requiring costly repairs extend service life early 1960s phase high stress program launched counter structural fatigue aircraft flying hours follow programs conducted hour service life extension select extensive completed wet wing introduced models susceptible fatigue experiencing stress flight old wing wings modified followed fuselage skin replacement flight control program fuel leaks deteriorating continued plague variants end aircraft subjected hard shell finally programs fitted safety prevented catastrophic loss fuel case clamp failure september military aircraft fly alternative fuel took edwards air force base blend process synthetic fuel conventional jet fuel burned engines december took edwards synthetic fuel engines time air force aircraft entirely powered blend seven hour flight considered success program aims reduce crude oil usage obtain half aviation fuel alternative sources august air_force secretary certified fully approved use blend flight controls mission parameters modest maneuvers required need spin recovery aircraft relatively small narrow chord rudder giving limited control authority originally moving vertical abandoned doubts hydraulic reliability aircraft engines thrust loss engine flight minimal narrow rudder assist landings main landing gear degrees neutral landing gear crew according wind observations ground elevator narrow chord like rudder suffers limited elevator control authority long term pitch trim changes aircraft uses moving tail elevator small adjustments setting degrees movement crucial operations landing large pitch changes induced application prior models small short span approximately equal chord provide feedback forces pilot control fine tune roll axes delicate maneuvers aerial twisting thin main wing conventional type lose authority words activation cause wing twist roll control wing responsible majority roll control late models eliminated altogether added extra wing partly lack models susceptible dutch roll ongoing problems systems addressed program completed improved components bombing navigational computer terrain computer upgrade fitted aircraft detect failures weapons computer systems essential monitoring dog missiles electronic capability expanded improve operations low altitude consisted forward looking infrared system mounted navigational capabilities later augmented addition gps 1980s bomber space shuttle main computer targeting pod fitted increased effectiveness aircraft attack ground targets variety weapons laser guidance high resolution forward looking infrared camera obtain target imagery pods fitted wide variety aircraft armament ability carry nuclear missiles added models starting improve offensive ability air launched cruise missiles fitted testing backed boeing navy backed selected operation ultimately total modified carry carrying missiles modified carry missiles fitted bomb bay conform salt treaty requirements cruise missile capable aircraft readily identifiable reconnaissance satellites cruise missile armed modified distinctive wing root assumed modified visual modification aircraft required cruise missile entered service intended replace high cost cold war end led produced unlike conventional non nuclear version built modified utilize weapon missile canceled development costs converted cruise missile carriers underwent series modifications improve conventional bombing fitted new new hold larger bombs stores external modified carry anti ship missiles fitted carry stand air ground missile retired urgent scheme launched restore interim capability aircraft modified carry carry rapid program program gave comprehensive conventional weapons capability adding modified weapon conventional armed capability carry new generation weapons including wind corrected munitions guided bombs bomb missile program introduced new radios integrated global positioning system aircraft navigation system replaced nose modern unit seven modified program end starting boeing upgrade internal launchers interface enable internal carriage smart bombs currently carried wings engines engines paired pods suspended beneath forward wings leading edge careful arrangement allowed work wing fences delay onset stall prototypes powered experimental engines lbf static thrust models equipped providing dry thrust lbf increased short periods lbf water injection water carried tank rear fuselage models equipped series engines rated lbf models powered rated lbf static thrust water injection started delivered air_force cleaner burning maximum thrust lbf study mid-1970s boeing investigated replacing engines changing new wing improvements upgrade aircraft alternative development studied engines replaced late 1990s rolls boeing jointly proposed fit leased plan failed flawed economic assessment air_force resistance combat assets involve replacing total thrust total thrust increase range reduce fuel consumption cost approximately billion fleet aircraft million study concluded boeing estimated savings billion realized cost billion keeping existing engines citing significant expenditure higher maintenance cost report subsequently disputed report air_force urged engine aircraft delay report stated program significant savings reduce greenhouse gas emissions increase aircraft range endurance line conclusions separate congress funded study conducted found air_force failed account cost aerial fuel costing times air ground overhaul cost decade joint boeing study recommended billion allowing billion cost savings increasing combat range time station proposing competition financed reviewing industry studies engine replacement approved late reported unnamed private companies exploring program private lease companies purchase new engines lease costs determined actual usage payments delivered final production stop current possibilities thrust thrust costs operational history introduction production variant aircraft testing operational version developed parallel prototypes flying december serial number entered operational service heavy bombardment wing california june wing operational march training crews consisted weeks ground school weeks flying accumulating hours air new replaced operational basis early operations problematic addition supply problems technical issues struck ramps deteriorated aircraft weight fuel system prone leaks bombing fire control computers unreliable split level cockpit presented temperature control problem pilots cockpit heated sunlight observer navigator deck sat ice cold floor comfortable temperature setting pilots caused crew members freeze comfortable temperature crew caused pilots engines proved unreliable failure caused fatal crash february result fleet briefly grounded july fuel hydraulic issues grounded response maintenance issues air force set sky speed teams contractors base perform maintenance routine taking average week aircraft dropped nuclear bomb test code named air dropped weapon november 42nd flew nonstop perimeter north_america operation quick kick covered miles nmi hours minutes sac noted flight time reduced hours fast jet powered tanker aircraft propeller driven demonstration global reach january non stop flight world miles nmi covered hours minutes flight set records years september set world speed record miles hour kilometers nmi closed circuit day established world speed record miles hour kilometer nmi closed circuit december set world distance record flying miles nmi flight lasted hours minutes mph january set world distance record flying surpassing prior record set years earlier air base okinawa japan spain covered miles nmi flight passed seattle azores cold war entered service sac intended use deter counteract vast soviet military soviet_union increased nuclear capabilities destroying forces deliver nuclear strikes bombers missiles etc great strategic importance administration endorsed switch focus president expressing preference military targets civilian ones principle reinforced plan action case nuclear war breaking cold war strategic bombers performed airborne alert patrols code names bombers high altitude near borders soviet_union provide rapid strike retaliation capability case nuclear war airborne patrols formed component nuclear act prevent breakout large scale war soviet_union concept late 1950s era threat surface air missiles threaten high altitude aircraft seen practice incident intended use changed serve low level penetration bomber attack soviet_union terrain provided effective method avoiding radar threat intended low level role flexibility allowed intended successors nature aerial warfare changed large airframe enabled addition multiple design improvements new equipment adaptations service life november improve aircraft combat capabilities changing strategic environment sac initiated big modification program known modification operational early models program completed modifications ability launch dog nuclear missiles advanced electronic suite upgrades perform weather low altitude feet mission face advancing soviet missile based air defenses 1960s concerns fleet capable lifespan projects north american aborted proved disappointing light changing requirements left older main bomber opposed planned successive aircraft models february general curtis testified congress lack follow bomber project raised danger going fall apart replacement aircraft later complemented roles aircraft capable missions involving high speed low level penetration vietnam war escalating situation southeast_asia fitted external racks pound bombs project june additional aircraft received similar modifications project march united_states commenced combat mission operation arc light flown june bombers 9th struck communist stronghold near district south vietnam wave bombers arrived early designated rendezvous point maneuvering maintain station collided resulted loss bombers crewmen remaining bombers minus turned mechanical problems continued target seven dropped mile mile target box feet little bombs falling target zone force returned bomber electrical problems recovered mission having lasted hours post strike assessment teams south vietnamese troops american advisors found evidence departed area raid suspected south forces tipped north troops involved post strike inspection beginning late number underwent modifications increase bomb capacity carpet bombings external remained pound pound bombs internal capacity increased pound bombs pound bombs modification created capacity total pounds bombs modified carry pounds designed replace modified entered combat april flying guam bombing mission lasted hours aerial spring aircraft began flying airfield thailand giving aircraft advantage requiring flight november hit surface air missile sam raid crew forced abandon damaged aircraft thailand destroyed hostile fire total lost war included shot attacks vietnam operation linebacker referred christmas bombing consisted waves models equipment smaller bomb load days flew sorties dropped tons bombs targets originally committed war numbers frequently twice figure operation shot heavily damaged crashed suffered medium damage total crew men killed losses claimed shot air air combat vietnam war tail gunners credited shooting december tail gunner staff completed bomb run operation linebacker turning away north vietnamese air force approached locked fighter drew range turner fired guns mounting caliber machine guns exploded aft bomber confirmed master tail gunner nearby turner received actions tail number preserved display air air kill markings washington december bombing campaign diamond headed bomb railroad yards tail gunner class spotted fast approaching moore opened fire caliber guns kept shooting fighter disappeared scope technical sergeant tail gunner aboard watched catch fire fall away confirmed preserved display colorado moore bomber gunner believed shot enemy aircraft machine guns aerial combat vietnamese sources attributed air air victory shot april victories largest aircraft credited air air kills arc light mission fighter escort took place august military action southeast_asia wound post vietnam service reached end structural service life mid-1960s retired june followed september nasa eventually retired edwards california remaining models display wings denver colorado time expired models retired bulk retired march models retired survived trainers late fleet models served longer models extensively overhauled program mid-1970s lower wing fuselage replaced structural components renewed fleet models stayed largely intact late upgraded retired remainder retired remaining models nuclear standby alert duty nuclear combination nuclear armed land based missiles submarine based missiles manned bombers intended replaced older models ceased continuous hour sac alert duty vietnam experience operations hostile air defense environment taken account modernized new weapons equipment offensive defensive use low level tactics marked major shift utility upgrades short range nuclear missiles models modified carry missiles replacing existing gravity bombs carried internally special mounted wing strike heavily defended targets entering terminal defenses new modification sixth major program improved aircraft self protection capability dense soviet air defense environment new equipment expanded signal coverage improved threat warning provided new techniques increased quantity power requirements consumed excess electrical capacity modified electro optical viewing system low level operations terrain avoidance easier safer system contained low light level television camera forward looking infrared camera display information needed penetration lower altitude cruise unarmed resembled radar active carried devices range miles deployed operationally concept developed known air launched cruise missile modifications increased weight nearly pounds decreased operational range considered acceptable increase capabilities fall soviet_union remaining service destroyed accordance terms strategic arms reduction treaty start cut bombers pieces completion destruction task verified russia satellite person inspection facility gulf war later strikes important operation starting january flight flew louisiana air route struck targets iraq returned home journey hours miles round trip set record longest distance combat mission breaking record previously held raf vulcan bomber achieved forward seven flew combat sorties operation firing successfully destroying percent targets operating saudi_arabia united_kingdom air base spain island flew bombing missions iraq initially low altitude nights moved high altitude missions instead reduced effectiveness psychological impact compared low altitude role initially played conventional strikes carried bombers dropped pound bombs area bombings defending iraqi troops surrendered wake strikes science technology magazine described role conflict buff value clear gulf war turned lights baghdad operation flew sorties delivered weapons dropped coalition forces conflict claims iraqi air air successes including iraqi pilot allegedly fired missile damaged opening night gulf war disputes claim stating bomber actually hit friendly fire high speed anti radiation missile harm fire control radar tail gun jet subsequently renamed harm way shortly following incident general announced gunner position crews eliminated gun turrets permanently commencing october mid-1990s variant remaining military service currently stationed air force base 5th bomb wing air force base 2nd active air_force assigned edwards air force base additional nasa california heavy lift program september bombers conducted mission operation struck baghdad power stations communications facilities conventional air launched cruise missiles hour mile round trip mission guam longest distance flown combat mission march began bombers bombarded targets including contributed operation enduring freedom providing ability high battlefield provide close air support use precision guided munitions mission previously restricted fighter ground attack aircraft late dropped bomb afghanistan played role operation iraqi freedom commenced march iraq southwest asia night march launched targets iraq recent service august cruise missiles mistakenly loaded missiles nuclear weapons leave custody secured january original aircraft operational retired september periodically refurbished maintenance depots oklahoma air force works bomber projects intends service nearly years entered service unprecedented length service aircraft civilian military continues rely remains effective economical heavy bomber absence sophisticated air defense particularly type missions conducted end cold war nations limited defensive capabilities continued service reliable replacement capacity extended periods deliver precision direct fire munitions distance addition direct bombing valuable asset supporting ground operations conflicts operation iraqi freedom highest mission capable rate types heavy bombers operated period averaged ready rate spirit achieved averaged cost hour flight cost hour hour bomber program intended yield successor begin service intended produce aircraft competitors joint team boeing submitted proposals awarded contract october november began freedom navigation operations response chinese man islands region chinese forces claiming jurisdiction mile exclusion zone islands ordered bombers leave area refused recognizing jurisdiction january parts south_korea escorted south korean response supposed test hydrogen bomb north_korea april undisclosed number arrived air base operation inherent resolve military intervention took heavy bombing conducting rotated region january variants went design changes variants years production prototype aircraft limited operational equipment aerodynamic handling tests modified operational equipment designated production version built loaned boeing flight testing production differed prototypes having redesigned forward fuselage bubble canopy tandem seating replaced arrangement nose extension accommodated new sixth crew member rear fuselage tail turret inch machine guns fire control system water injection system augment engine power water tank added aircraft carried external fuel tank wing tanks wing kept close ground ease maintenance serial modified redesignated carry fitted right wing fuselage engines feet feet section removed right wing fit tail liquid oxygen hydrogen tanks installed bomb bays fuel launch flight march launch june named high mighty carried program flights version enter service june bombardment wing castle california version included minor changes engines enabling extra pounds thrust water injection temporary grounding aircraft crash february following july caused training delays mid year combat ready crews built capable carrying reconnaissance pod crew increased aircraft pound pod contained radio receivers combination cameras operators downward firing seats pod required hours install seven brought standard number converted launch platform subsequently flew balls support nasa research december making oldest flying replaced modified fuel capacity range increased gallons adding larger fuel tanks gross weight increased pounds pounds new fire control system introduced model belly aircraft painted white paint intended reflect thermal radiation away nuclear designation initially given fitted reconnaissance duties similar manner fitted reconnaissance pod designation little quickly abandoned dedicated long range bomber reconnaissance option big belly modifications allowed carry heavy loads conventional bombs carpet bombing vietnam modification added phase systems better systems later upgrades long range capabilities model extensively vietnam model aircraft assigned vietnam painted camouflage colour scheme black defeat received updated bombing navigational system eventually included following models aircraft modified systems aircraft fitted load mode system reduced airframe fatigue wind gusts low level flight test aircraft flew knots mph faster exceed speed damage eliminated vertical horizontal vibrations caused wind gusts aircraft given engines larger capacity water injection system provide greater thrust previous models model problems fuel leaks eventually solved service modifications hard shell proposed extend service life delays program radical redesign envisioned completely new wing engines rejected avoid production large number changes implemented significant brand new wet wing integral fuel tanks considerably increased fuel capacity gross aircraft weight went pounds compared prior variants addition pair external fuel tanks fitted wings model traditional eliminated instead provided roll control tail fin shortened feet water injection system capacity increased gallons nose enlarged tail gunner manning caliber machine guns mounted remote controlled tail turret model guns later removed operational aircraft relocated main cockpit provided seat dubbed battle station concept offensive crew pilot upper deck bombing navigation system operators lower deck faced forward defensive crew tail gunner operator upper deck faced aft entered service february day earlier retired making sac jet bomber force produced making produced variant destroyed compliance strategic arms reduction treaty number dismantled new start treaty requirements december examples remain display museums crew structural changes significant upgrade switch engines despite initial reliability problems corrected program offered considerably better performance fuel economy updated new fire control system fitted rear defensive armament changed machine guns vulcan cannon later removed final aircraft manufactured provision rocket later remainder fleet provision missiles aircraft flight occurred july entered service variant use total built production aircraft serial left factory october allocated reconnaissance variant aircraft designated instead operators united_states nasa united states air force aircraft service february 57th wing nevada weapons squadron bomb wing 20th bomb squadron bomb squadron 5th bomb wing bomb squadron test wing edwards bomb wing bomb squadron bomb squadron notable accidents january returning routine instrument training mission broke apart crashed near new_brunswick killing crew board pilot captain safety crash believed caused wings airframe exercise designed test pilot fourth crash involving months february crashed ice blocking fuel system leading reduction power engines crew members killed september collided near washington crew members aircraft killed october columbus mississippi carrying nuclear weapons collided tanker near kentucky crew members bomber crew tanker killed nuclear bombs damaged fire weapons recovered august crashed spruce swamp new_hampshire bomber routine training mission massachusetts air speed indicator failed led attempting emergency landing bay landing option affected weather conditions crashed making landing reported crash entire crew survived crew safety debris crash covered quarter mile densely wooded january broke crashed suffering severe fuel loss near north_carolina dropping nuclear bombs process march california carrying nuclear weapons experienced necessitating descent feet lower cabin altitude increased fuel consumption lower altitude unable rendezvous tanker time aircraft ran fuel crew ejected safely bomber crashed miles west california april serial accidentally shot intercept training mission carrying live missiles launch capability supposed disabled fault caused fire strike bomber left wing aircraft crashed near killing crew members board january training mission massachusetts lost vertical low level flight crashed west near maine crewmen aboard survived crash january 6th bomb wing walker air force base new_mexico crashed snow covered mountains northern new_mexico tore vertical fin operator tail gunner killed crew pilot radio operator crew member survived lockheed shooting stars later transports area trying locate survivors pilots reported saw survivors man walked safety january flown boeing test pilots lost vertical near east spanish peak able land air force base arkansas january carrying nuclear bombs suffered structural failure flight caused tail section shear crewmen ejected successfully aircraft crashed near cumberland maryland crewmen subsequently perished ground unable died aircraft weapons recovered incidents caused failure vertical january fatal collision occurred spain range nuclear bombs eventually recovered conventional explosives bombs detonated impact triggering nuclear explosion crash metric tons contaminated soil sent united_states agreement spain investigate clean pollution remaining result accident november deployed crashed destroyed flew ground south wisconsin crew low level terrain avoidance night mission sac stopped flights entered low altitude terrain avoidance radar flew low tops forest crashed july overran runway loss brakes emergency landing air base vietnam loss crew aircraft suffered electrical malfunction led engines january nuclear bombs aboard operation dome crashed ice attempting emergency landing air base greenland resulting fire caused extensive radioactive contamination cleanup lasting september year following closely incident cleanup costs political consequences proved high risk sac ended airborne alert program following day april assigned 28th caught fire crashed landing air force base sliding halt burning atop fuel storage tank efforts fire department personnel saved man crew prevented catastrophic explosion fuel tank march departed florida routine training mission assigned bombardment wing unarmed aircraft sustained multiple engine failures engine fires engines shortly takeoff aircraft immediately attempted return base crashed short runway residential area orlando florida approximately mile north destroying damaging homes flight crew airmen civilian ground killed july assigned strategic bomb wing operating combat mission hit lightning strike knocked plane instruments started fire port wing crewmen killed crash october serial assigned march air force base california impacted ground miles east night low level training mission crew members board killed crew sortie departed march planned recovering texas december assigned california participating minimum interval seconds aircraft takeoff incident aircraft number position ship cell equipped water injection additional thrust lead aircraft equipped system incident aircraft thrust system incident aircraft rapidly started overtake lead aircraft incident aircraft pilot rapidly causing engines aircraft stalled leading impact ground crew members killed fatalities ground october assigned washington wing arizona crashed sending high air seven crew perished crash including col wing deputy commander operations february hulk assigned provisional british indian ocean territory crashed returning bombing mission iraq crash eventually blamed catastrophic failure aircraft electrical system crew members board killed june crashed washington practice crew members died accident july deployed louisiana air force base guam crashed approximately miles coast guam crew members killed standard crew members flight surgeon aircraft display specifications data fact sheet characteristics crew pilot weapon systems officer navigator electronic tail gunner removal tail gun length wingspan height wing area root tip weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant lbf fuel capacity gal imp gal zero lift drag estimated drag area aspect ratio performance maximum speed mph cruise speed mph combat radius nmi ferry range nmi service ceiling rate climb min wing loading thrust weight lift drag ratio estimated armament guns vulcan cannon originally mounted remote controlled tail turret model removed current operational aircraft bombs approximately mixed ordnance bombs mines missiles configurations optical viewing system uses platinum forward looking infrared high resolution low light level television sensors rocket advanced targeting system sniper advanced targeting pod computer notable appearances media featured number major films notably bombers gathering eagles learned stop worrying love bomb dawn early light featured numerous novels early patrick novels feature heavily modified bombers nicknamed 1960s called resemblance aircraft distinct nose popular band subsequently named
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress