Boeing B-54: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Bomber aircraft project by Boeing}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name = Boeing B-54
|name = B-54
|image = Image:RB-54A mockup nose.jpg
|image = File:RB-54A mockup nose.jpg
⚫
|caption = Mockup of the B-54
|size = 200px
⚫
|caption = Mockup of the RB-54A
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
|type = Strategic bomber
|type = Strategic bomber
|national origin = United States
|manufacturer = [[Boeing]]
|manufacturer = [[Boeing]]
|designer =
|first flight =
|first flight =
|introduced =
|introduced =
|retired =
|retired =
|status = Cancelled
|status = Canceled
|primary user = [[United States Air Force]]
|primary user = [[United States Air Force]] (intended)
|more users =
|more users =
|produced =
|produced =
|number built = 0
|number built = 0
|unit cost =
|unit cost =
|developed from = [[B-50 Superfortress]]
|developed from = [[B-50 Superfortress]]
|variants with their own articles =
|variants with their own articles =
|developed into =
|developed into =
}}
}}
|}
|}


The '''[[Boeing]] B-54''' was a [[medium bomber]] designed by [[Boeing]] for use by the [[United States Air Force]]. Derived from the
The '''Boeing B-54''' was an American [[strategic bomber]] designed by [[Boeing]] for use by the [[United States Air Force]]. Derived from the
[[B-50 Superfortress|YB-50C Superfortress]], construction of the prototype was cancelled before completion, and the aircraft was never flown.
[[B-50 Superfortress|YB-50C Superfortress]], construction of the prototype was canceled before completion, and the aircraft was never flown.


==Design and development==
==Design and development==
Begun in 1947, the B-54 was the planned production version of the [[B-50 Superfortress|YB-50C]] prototype. The standard [[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]] engines of the normal B-50 bomber were replaced with R-4360-51 Variable Discharge Turbine (VDT) engines, the [[fuselage]] was lengthened by over {{convert|10|ft}} and the wingspan was extended by {{convert|20|ft}}, which required the installation of outrigger landing gear in the numbers one and four engine nacelles. Large fuel tanks under the outboard wing section were required to carry an additional {{convert|3000|usgal}} of fuel to reach the intended {{convert|9300|mi}} range; 14 .50-caliber machine guns comprised the specified defensive armament.<ref name="Jones">Jones 1974, p. 183.</ref>
Begun in 1947, the B-54 was the planned production version of the [[B-50 Superfortress|YB-50C]] prototype. The standard [[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]] engines of the normal B-50 bomber were replaced with R-4360-51 Variable Discharge Turbine (VDT) engines, the [[fuselage]] was lengthened by over {{convert|10|ft}} and the wingspan was extended by {{convert|20|ft}}, which required the installation of outrigger landing gear in the first and fourth engine nacelles. Large fuel tanks under the outboard wing section were required to carry an additional {{convert|3000|usgal}} of fuel to reach the intended {{convert|9300|mi}} range; 14 .50-caliber machine guns comprised the specified defensive armament.<ref name="Jones">Jones 1974, p. 183.</ref>


On May 29 1948,<ref name="Jones"/> contracts were placed by the Air Force for 21 B-54A bombers and 52 RB-54A [[aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] aircraft;<ref name="USAF">NMUSAF 2009</ref>{{#tag:ref|While the numbers given in the article are based on the official US Air Force serial number assignments, sources vary on how many were ordered. Seven B-54As and 23 RB-54As is one number given;<ref name="Jones"/>; other sources specify 14 B-54As and 29 RB-54As.<ref>Swanborough and Bowers 1989, p. 124.</ref> Several sources state the total order was 43 aircraft,<ref>Wagner 1968, p. 139.</ref> while one claims 73.<ref>Redding and Yenne 1989, p.117.</ref>|group=N}} However, on April 18, 1949, the B-54 project was cancelled due to the development of better-performing jet aircraft; construction of the prototype B-54A had started at Seattle but was never completed.<ref name="Jones"/> The cancellation was lambasted by the Seattle press, who claimed that it was a political decision instead of a military one.<ref>Olson 2003, p.184.</ref>
On May 29, 1948, contracts were placed by the Air Force for 14 B-54A bombers and 29 RB-54A [[aerial reconnaissance|reconnaissance]] aircraft.<ref name="USAF">NMUSAF 2009</ref><ref>Redding and Yenne 1989, p.117.</ref><ref>Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. {{ISBN|0-904597-22-9}}.</ref><ref name="Jones"/> However, on April 18, 1949, the B-54 project was cancelled due to the development of better-performing jet aircraft; construction of the prototype B-54A had started at Seattle but was never completed.<ref name="Jones"/> The cancellation was lambasted by the Seattle press, who claimed that it was a political decision instead of a military one.<ref>Olson 2003, p.184.</ref>


==Variants==
==Variants==
;'''B-54A''': Production version of the YB-50C
;B-54A: Intended production version of the YB-50C
;'''RB-54A''': Reconnaissance version
;RB-54A: Reconnaissance version


==Specifications==
==Specifications==
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|length in=
|length in=
|length note=
|length note=
|span m=2
|span m=49.08
|span ft=161
|span ft=161
|span in=
|span in=
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|eng1 number=4
|eng1 number=4
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]]-51
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-4360]]-51
|eng1 type=[[radial engine|radial piston engines]] with [[variable discharge turbine]]s
|eng1 type=[[radial engine|radial piston]]
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=4500
|eng1 hp=4500
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|combat range note=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range miles=10562
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|ferry range note=
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|more performance=
|more performance=


|guns= 14 x .50-caliber machine guns in turrets
|guns= 14 × .50-caliber machine guns in turrets
|bombs= {{convert|36000|lb}}
|bombs= {{convert|36000|lb}}


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|similar aircraft=
|similar aircraft=
* [[Convair B-36]]
* [[Convair B-36]]
* [[Tupolev Tu-95]]
* [[Tupolev Tu-85]]
|lists=
|lists=
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
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==References==
==References==
;Notes
===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=N}}
{{Reflist |group=N}}

;Citations
===Citations===
{{Reflist|2}}
{{Reflist }}
⚫
;Bibliography

⚫
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*Jones, Lloyd S. ''U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s''. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962, second edition 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.
* {{Citation | last = Jones | first = Lloyd S | title = U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s | place = Fallbrook, CA | publisher = Aero Publishers | orig-year = 1962 | edition = 2nd | year = 1974 | ISBN = 0-8168-9126-5}}.
*{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2617|title=Factsheets: Boeing B-54A|date=July 7, 2009|publisher=National Museum of the United States Air Force|accessdate=2013-01-26}}
*{{cite web |url= http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2617 |title=Factsheets: Boeing B-54A |date=July 7, 2009 |publisher= National Museum of the United States Air Force |access-date= 2017-07-09 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120616091921/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2617 |archive-date=June 16, 2012}}
*{{cite book|last=Olson|first=James C.|title=Stuart Symington: A Life|year=2003|publisher=University of Missouri Press|location=Columbia, MO|isbn=978-0826215031}}
*{{cite book|last=Olson |first= James C.|title= Stuart Symington: A Life|year=2003 |publisher= University of Missouri Press |location= Columbia, MO |isbn= 978-0-82621503-1}}
*{{cite book|last=Redding|first=Robert|coauthors=Bill Yenne|title=Boeing: Planemaker to the World|year=1989|publisher=Crescent Books|location=New York|isbn=978-0517422700}}
*{{cite book |last1= Redding |first1= Robert |first2= Bill |last2= Yenne |title= Boeing: Planemaker to the World |year= 1989 |publisher= Crescent Books |location= New York |isbn= 978-0-51742270-0 |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/boeingplanemaker00redd }}
* Swanborough, F. G. and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909.'' Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0874748802.
* Swanborough, F. G. and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909.'' Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989. {{ISBN|978-0-87474880-2}}.
*{{cite book|last=Wagner|first=Ray|title=American Combat Planes|year=1968|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|isbn=978-0385041348}}
*{{cite book|last= Wagner |first= Ray|title= American Combat Planes|year=1968 |publisher= Doubleday |location= New York |isbn= 978-0-38504134-8}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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{{Boeing combat aircraft}}
{{Boeing combat aircraft}}
{{USAF bomber aircraft}}
{{USAF bomber aircraft}}
{{Aviation lists}}
{{Aero specs missing}}


[[Category:Boeing aircraft|B-54]]
[[Category:Boeing military aircraft|B-54]]
[[Category:Abandoned military aircraft projects of the United States]]
[[Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft]]
⚫
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-54]]
[[Category:Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-54]]
⚫
[[Category:Mid-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Four-engined piston aircraft]]

Latest revision as of 17:54, 24 April 2024

B-54
Mockup of the B-54
Role Strategic bomber
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing
Status Canceled
Primary user United States Air Force (intended)
Number built 0
Developed from B-50 Superfortress

The Boeing B-54 was an American strategic bomber designed by Boeing for use by the United States Air Force. Derived from the YB-50C Superfortress, construction of the prototype was canceled before completion, and the aircraft was never flown.

Design and development[edit]

Begun in 1947, the B-54 was the planned production version of the YB-50C prototype. The standard Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines of the normal B-50 bomber were replaced with R-4360-51 Variable Discharge Turbine (VDT) engines, the fuselage was lengthened by over 10 feet (3.0 m) and the wingspan was extended by 20 feet (6.1 m), which required the installation of outrigger landing gear in the first and fourth engine nacelles. Large fuel tanks under the outboard wing section were required to carry an additional 3,000 US gallons (11,000 L; 2,500 imp gal) of fuel to reach the intended 9,300 miles (15,000 km) range; 14 .50-caliber machine guns comprised the specified defensive armament.[1]

On May 29, 1948, contracts were placed by the Air Force for 14 B-54A bombers and 29 RB-54A reconnaissance aircraft.[2][3][4][1] However, on April 18, 1949, the B-54 project was cancelled due to the development of better-performing jet aircraft; construction of the prototype B-54A had started at Seattle but was never completed.[1] The cancellation was lambasted by the Seattle press, who claimed that it was a political decision instead of a military one.[5]

Variants[edit]

B-54A
Intended production version of the YB-50C
RB-54A
Reconnaissance version

Specifications[edit]

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 10
  • Length: 111 ft (34 m)
  • Wingspan: 161 ft 0 in (49.08 m)
  • Height: 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
  • Gross weight: 230,000 lb (104,326 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-51 radial piston, 4,500 hp (3,400 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 430 mph (690 km/h, 370 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 305 mph (491 km/h, 265 kn)
  • Range: 9,000 mi (14,000 km, 7,800 nmi)
  • Ferry range: 10,562 mi (16,998 km, 9,178 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,000 m) service

Armament

  • Guns: 14 × .50-caliber machine guns in turrets
  • Bombs: 36,000 pounds (16,000 kg)

See also[edit]

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Jones 1974, p. 183.
  2. ^ a b NMUSAF 2009
  3. ^ Redding and Yenne 1989, p.117.
  4. ^ Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
  5. ^ Olson 2003, p.184.

Bibliography[edit]

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