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Aviation History
1960
1960 - 0991.PDF
57 FLIGHT, 8 July I960 United States of America Beech L-23 Seminole There are many versions of this aircraft inservice with the US Army; most of the earlier models were direct military counterparts of the Twin Bonanza, but the L-23F is a derivativeof the larger Queen Air and the RL-23D carries APS-85 all-weather surveillance radar in a large ventral fairing. Beech T-34 Mentor Although no longer produced in the USA orCanada, this tandem-seat basic trainer is still being made in Japan and the Argentine. It is a standard ab initio trainer of the USAF, USN,Canada, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, the Philippines and Turkey. Bell HU-1 Iroquois Winner of a major design competition for a USArmy utility helicopter, the basic HU-1A went into volume production in 1958 and probably about 100 have now been delivered. Powered bya Lycoming T53-L-1 free-turbine (derated to 770 h.p.), the Iroquois normally seats a single pilot and up to 10 passengers or 2,2501b of freightin the broad fuselage. Data are given below (also see Flight for May 27 last). On June 15 a mock-up board inspected the YHU-1D. Taking fulladvantage of the power potential of the T53, this version has a longer cabin which will accommodate 12 fully equipped troops; internal fuelcapacity has also been increased. All Iroquois can carry a variety of weapons externally, including wire-guided missiles. Agusta, Bell'sItalian licensee, plan to produce a Gnome-powered version. Rotor diameter, 44ft; length (.blades folded), 53ft; height, lift 3t'n;weight empty, 3,8502b; gross weight, 7,2001b; max speed, 142 m.p.h.; cruising speed, 115 m.p.h.; normal range, 186 miles. Boeing B-47 Stratojet Boeing's plants in Seattle and Wichita, assistedby Douglas, Tulsa, and Lockheed, Marietta, manufactured 2,040 of these medium bombers for the USAF Strategic Air Commandbetween 1951 and 1957. All are powered by six General Electric J47-GE-25A turbojets (7,2001b with water), have a crew of three andaccommodate 20,0001b internally, or a GAM-63 or other missile externally. Medium Bomb wings are being re-equipped with the B-58and B-47s are now often employed for special reconnaissance, tanking, weather missions, crew training and as a target drone. Span, 116ft; length, 109/r 10m; height, 21ft 11 in; wing area, 1,400sq ft; weight empty, about 80,000Zb; gross weight, 202,000Zb (clean, 175,000Zb); max speed, 630 m.p.h.; service ceiling, 42,000/t; range,3,500 miles. Boeing B-52 Stratofortress Asked to name the most important mili-tary aeroplane, most impartial Western observers would choose the B-52. It is at present responsible for delivery of approximately 80 per cent ofthe total thermonuclear yield forming the Western "deterrent," and is still considered to have the requisite ability to penetrate. The prototypeflew in April 1952 and first delivery to the USAF Strategic Air Command was made in June 1955. Progressive improvements to both the aircraftand what it carries has maintained its vital competitive position, and two more major improvements have yet to come (fan engines and Sky Bolt).Originally the B-52 was designed to fly 6,000 miles on its internal fuel at about M0.8 at 50,000ft while carrying a wide variety of weaponsup to the largest thermonuclear warheads used in the West (probably about 20MT). The basic B-52A is powered by eight Pratt & WhitneyJ57-P-1W turbojets each of some 9,5001b thrust. Gross weight is 350,0001b, and some 30,000 Imp gal of fuel are contained in bag tanks Boeing DB-47E taking off with ALBM test vehicle in the fuselage and wings and in 833gal underwing tanks outboard of theouter engines. One of the many unusual features is the landing gear, comprising four steerable twin-wheel trucks under the fuselage and asmall outrigger wheel near the wingtip. The pressurized nose accom- modates a flight crew of five at two levels, and a gunner is located in aremote pressurized cell in the extreme tail to govern the operation of a radar-laid barbette of four 0.50in guns. Only a few of the A Model were built (all at Seattle) and the firstbulk deliveries were of the B-52B. Weighing 420,0001b and having a variety of improved types of J57 engine, this aircraft could be equippedwith a large reconnaissance pod in the bomb bay. Minor improvements characterized the B-52C, built during 1956. The B-52D and E, made inboth Seattle and Wichita, reverted to the single mission of bomber, as have all subsequent models. The B-52F, the last version made in Seattle,introduced the P-43W engine with a wet rating of 13,7501b. These engines were retained in the much-improved G model, manufacturedonly in Wichita. Data for this version are given at the end of this des- cription. With a gross weight of 488,0001b, the G introduced a "wet"wing with integral tanks giving a great increase in fuel capacity and a range in excess of 9,000 miles. Inboard of the inner engines are pylonsfor a pair of GAM-77 Hound Dog missiles, and provision is made for carrying a GAM-72 Quail decoy drone internally. The fin has beencut down in height and the gunner has been re-located in the forward crew compartment. Yet to come is the B-52H, which will include all the G improvementsas well as Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-1 turbofan engines of 17,0001b thrust each, which will greatly improve field performance (even at490,0001b), cruising speed, altitude, and—in particular—range. Although a photograph shows a fan-powered G model, the first H is notscheduled to fly until next year. Like the G already in service, the H will be equipped to carry GAM-87A Sky Bolt air launched ballistic missilesfrom the winter of 1964-5 onwards. A refinement in the H will be the addition of pods housing numerous forwards-firing rockets for dispensinganti-radar chaff. A total of 704 of all versions has been programmed to equip the 14SAC heavy-bomber wings authorized; of these, more than 500 must have been delivered. Funds have been allocated to provide additional sparesand crew training for one-eighth of the force to maintain an airborne alert; such an alert could be flown from early next year, at an annualcost of $225m. In addition, all squadrons are being increasingly dis- persed, and reaction time tightened up until one-third of the entire forcecould always be airborne in 15min. Pictures, pages 49 and 50. Span, 185/r; length, 157ft lin; height 40/r 9»n; wing area, 4,000 sq ft;gross weight, 488,000/b; max speed, 650 m.p.h.; operational range, over 9,000 miles; operating altitude, nearly 60,000/r. Boeing KC-13SA Stratotanker In August 1954, a month after Boeingflew their privately financed 707 prototype, the USAF announced that a large number of military versions would be bought for use as tanker/transports for Strategic Air Command. The first came off the line at Renton in July 1956, and some 400 of the total of approximately 500ordered have now been delivered. Essentially these aircraft resemble the 707-120 series of commercial transports. Powerplants are Pratt &Whitney J57-P-31 turbojets, each with a wet rating of 13,7501b. In its primary mission as a SAC tanker 9,060 Imp gal of transfer fuelare located in cylindrical rigid tanks secured under the main floor and transferred to the bomber by means of a "flying boom" installationbeneath the Ryan-built rear fuselage. The aircraft's own 14,488 gal of fuel are located in integral wing tanks. Since the refuelling equipment isentirely on the lower deck the main floor can be employed for a variety of Boeing B-52G equipped with TF33 turbofans and superficially similar to B-S2H
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