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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0278.PDF
B-52 PRODUCTION TAKEN recently in the Seattle plant of the Boeing AirplaneCompany, these photographs show some facets of the manu-facture of the largest and most expensive aeroplane in the world currently in production, the Boeing B-52A Stratofortress.Although a great deal of the B-52 airframe is sub-contracted, Boeing manufacture many items themselves and employ a numberof unusual techniques. The top photograph on the opposite page shows the manufacture of tail units in vertical jigs, three storeyshigh. A considerable amount of the larger jigging is manufactured in reinforced concrete, this technique having been discussed in theFebruary 1954 issue of our associated journal Aircraft Production. Although the airframe of the B-52 is extremely large the manu-facturing tolerances are of an order previously associated only with high-speed fighters. On the other hand, skin as thick asthat on the wing of the B-47 (up to fin) is not used, for the Stratofortress has a fundamentally different type of wing employ-ing thinner skin. The middle photograph on the opposite page, taken earlierthan the otfiers, shows the manufacture of the first two produc- tion machines. The nearer aircraft awaits its flaps, the guide railsfor which can be seen, its flipper ailerons (fitted in the cut-out portion in the trailing edge) and spoilers (inserted in sectionsbehind the rear spar in the recesses visible on the starboard wing). Outer wing panels and tail sections are added at a later stage. Below, left, are seen three nose sections being assembled in theirtwo-storey jigs, something like 24 employees being engaged upon each section at the same time. The large roof hatches for thetwo pilots' ejection seats are in evidence, the use of multiple ejection-seats being unusual. The B-52 is operated by a flightcrew of six. The first production machine was "rolled-out" on March 18thlast year, since when a considerable number of aircraft have been completed. Each machine is taken out of the factory at ascheduled hour irrespective of its condition; all the work remain- ing to be done on the aircraft—including installation of all militaryequipment—is then carried out on what the company term the "pre-flight line," which is shown at the foot of the opposite page.The aircraft at the head of the line when this photograph was taken are seen to be short of radar and power units. The largeheading photograph shows a B-52A being "rolled-out" in an almost complete state, its massive fin being folded flat to clear the factoryroof. Over a dozen partially completed airframes are visible in the background. At the moment, the B-52A has hit a snag which is delayingdelivery of the type to the U.S.A.F. Strategic Air Command. Meanwhile, Boeing's large plant at Wichita, Kansas (where 1,200B-47s have been built), is tooling-up for "second source" produc- tion of the B-52.
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