Boeing B-50 Superfortress Heavy Bomber (1948)
The Boeing B-50 series was a direct development of the B-29 Superfortress, though 75 percent a new aircraft.
The B-50 was a four engine heavy bomber powered by the Pratt & Whitney 3,500 horsepower R-4360-35 Wasp Major radial engine. Accommodations for crewmen included a total of ten personnel with access to 12 x .50 caliber machine guns in remotely-controlled barbettes throughout the aircraft design. Additionally, a 20mm cannon was part of the arsenal, as was up to 20,000lbs of internal ordnance in the form of drop bombs.
In the end, with far greater payload and range, the B-50 bomber provided the USAF Strategic Air Command with a powerful conventional bomber that could double as a nuclear deterrent in the face of the expanding Cold War. B-50's would eventually be replaced by the jet-powered B-47 Stratojet by 1954, to which many would go on to be modified as TB-50H crew and pilot trainers, the KB-50 aerial refueling aircraft and the RB-50 photographic reconnaissance platform. All B-50's would be retired from service by 1965. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved β’ No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Heavy Bomber
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing Company - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1948
Production: 370
Focus Model: Boeing B-50D Superfortress
Crew: 10
Length: 100.00ft (30.48m)
Width: 141.40ft (43.10m)
Height: 34.58ft (10.54m)
Weight (Empty): 80,601lbs (36,560kg)
Weight (MTOW): 173,001lbs (78,472kg)
Powerplant: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35 Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial engines generating 3,500hp each.
Maximum Speed: 380mph (611kmh; 330kts)
Maximum Range: 4,896miles (7,880km)
Service Ceiling: 36,713ft (11,190m; 7.0miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 0 feet per minute (0m/min)
Hardpoints: 0
Armament Suite:
STANDARD: 12 x 12.7mm machine guns
1 x 20mm cannon
OPTIONAL:
Up to 20,000lbs of internal ordnance
Variants:
XB-44 B-29A Model Series fitted with Wasp Major 28-cylinder engines; prototype model for B-50A; initially designated as the B-29D model.
B-50A Initial Production Model Designation; redesigned tail and strengthened wings over B-29 models.
B-50B Increased Operating Weight
B-50D Redesigned Nose Section; refueling boom; 222 examples produced.
DB-50D Drone Controller
EB-50B Single Conversion Example of B-50D model; redesigned undercarriage.
KB-50 Inflight Refueling Tanker Conversion Model; 134 examples.
KB-50J Improved KB-50 Tanker Series; fitted with 2 x General Electric GE J47 series turbojets underwing.
KB-50K Inflight Refueling Tanker Conversion Model; based on the TB-50H trainer; 24 examples.
RB-50B Photographic Reconnaissance Platform Conversion Models from B-50B series.
RB-50E Specialized Photo-Reconnaissance Conversion Model from B-50B series; 14 examples.
RB-50F Specialized Photo-Reconnaissance Conversion Model from RB-50B series; 14 examples; SHORAN equipped.
RB-50G Photographic Reconnaissance Platform Conversion Models from RB-50B series; SHORAN equipped; ECM equipped; 15 examples.
TB-50A Trainer Conversion Model of B-50A series; 11 examples.
TB-50D Trainer Conversion Model of B-50D series; 11 examples.
WB-50 Meteorological Research Platform Conversion of B-50 model series.
WB-50D Meteorological Research Platform Conversion based on B-50D series; 36 examples.
YB-50C Proposed variant featuring VDT (Variable Discharge Turbine) R-4360 series engines; never produced.
B-54A Proposed variant of the YB-50C model; never produced.
RB-54A Proposed variant of the YB-50C model; never produced.
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