Boeing B-52 Ideas and Inspiration

[elmayerle]

Maybe just replace the TF33's on a one-for-one basis with JT8D-200 variants (possibly with by-pass ratio reduced to work with existing cowlings?)?

[GTX_Admin]

Here we go again...I wonder if they can make the business case work this time?

[jcf]

Here we go again...I wonder if they can make the business case work this time?

Clearly the business case failed, as the story states that no re-engining is going to happen, the TF33s are to be upgraded.

[aerospacer]

You could use the B-52 as a carrier aircraft for a reusable launch vehicle, e.g. as was envisioned in the early sixties for the Junkers RT-8-01 Raumtransporter two stage spaceplane shown here:

https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQSxqDzNdIxsQlq9bg_TSwoICUIiGjgswyuivTURzgPb93fc5pZ-Q

More information and larger pictures (though you have to be a member to see them) can be found here:

http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,2334.0/all.html

Yet more/larger pics of the Junkers concept can also be found here: http://www.fandom.ru/about_fan/zubakin_25.htm

A more exotic variant would be to turn it into a twin fuselage design, once again as a carrier for a shuttle/reusable launch vehicle, as was envisaged in the seventies for the Conroy Virtus:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conroy_Virtus

Another variation of the B-52 as the basis for an outsized transporter was the Colossal Guppy concept from the same source as the Virtus design:

http://www.aerospaceprojectsreview.com/blog/?p=1221

a twin configuration could also be used for launch operations, analogous to the twin C-5A conceived for RLV deployment by Robert Salkeld or the current Stratolaunch carrier aircraft:

http://www.pmview.com/spaceodysseytwo/spacelvs/sld039.htm

http://www.gizmag.com/stratolaunch-systems-air-launch/20839/

Martin

[GTX_Admin]

A different view of a B-52:

https://youtu.be/V0FPqdsC8_Y

[taiidantomcat]

A different view of a B-52:

https://youtu.be/V0FPqdsC8_Y

Great find

[kitnut617]

Last night while going through some of the models I got an idea for an upgraded B-52.  I had pulled some parts out of the box which has my Boeing 767 in (radome AEW bits) when I looked at the kit itself again.  The fuselage is earmarked for another project which would leave me with the wings (Jeff already has the engines from it), so after all the talk of re-engining the B-52, how about re-winging it too.

Some google searches reveals that the new 767-400 has a max' take-off weight of 450,000 lbs, that's pretty much on par with the max take-off weight of a B-52H (480,000) and one CF6 has almost the power as four TF-33's.  So I would shoulder mount  the 767 wing on the B-52 but then use a GE90 engine.  You could modify the nacelle to a shape like the new 737 CFM 56 nacelles to make sure we had ground clearance.

I would do away with the wing tip u/c gear, and spread the main gear wider and have them in sponsons, maybe like a C-17 sponson only longer with the main gear at the front and back of each one, maybe even use C-17 main gear instead (three wheels per corner).  The space between them could be additional bomb bay space -----   I think I like this idea   

I was doing some 1/72 engine sizing last night, a GE90-85 nacelle outside diameter is 137", which is 1.9" in 1/72, (the fan itself is 123" in diameter which is the same as a Spitfire prop).  This is very convenient because 1 1/2" NPT pipe just happens to be 1.9" OD.  All I've got to do is get a bunch of short pipe lengths in ABS plastic (2"-4") and stick them in a lathe and turn a shape onto them.  This will also help with a visual of how it will look on the B-52 before hand ---

Well, the only thing left to source (or scratch-build) were some engines for my project , but now I have some 1/72 scale GE90's being made for me right now ---

[Logan Hartke]

Here's an odd one ripped from the headlines:



Flightglobal: USAF flaunts ‘arsenal plane’ concept at Air Warfare Symposium

The love child of a C-130 and a B-52, it reminds me a lot of the old C-123A, just sixty years on!



Cheers,

Logan

[kim margosein]

Look, the last B-52 rolled off the line in 1960, for Pete's sake.  You really want to spend that kind of dough to heavily modify these museum pieces?   Buy another couple dozen C-17s wired up to handle this sort of thing.   Hell, modify a couple dozen  of the C-17s we have.

[GTX_Admin]

You learn something new every day:  for instance, I never knew that some early B-52A/Bs had twin 20mm tail guns:

[kitnut617]

It looks like the tail turret from the B-47, just a different radar

[elmayerle]

Er, I believe you need to make a small correction in your post, Greg, that should be "20mm" not "200mm".  Two 200mm guns firing aft would be impressive though, your own flying artillery battery. :)

[taiidantomcat]

That B-52A gun mount is ugly, it belongs on the front of some russian 1950s lavichkin

[Gingie]

Well, I never knew about the 20mm, but the Gatling is also news to me! Cool beans!

[GTX_Admin]

Well, I never knew about the 20mm, but the Gatling is also news to me! Cool beans!

And now they have nothing:

[jcf]

I like what they propposed for the Seamaster. 
How about a new version for self-defense on the 'arsenal plane' B-52?

[GTX_Admin]

Some guys will go to extraordinary lengths to keep the neighbours dogs/cats/kids off their property...

[ysi_maniac]

Here's an odd one ripped from the headlines:



Flightglobal: USAF flaunts ‘arsenal plane’ concept at Air Warfare Symposium

The love child of a C-130 and a B-52, it reminds me a lot of the old C-123A, just sixty years on!



Cheers,

Logan

I love these! :) :) :)

[The Big Gimper]

Source: Deviant Art via Facebook

[taiidantomcat]

That is really excellent. Love the winglets

[jcf]

That is really excellent. Love the winglets

Meh. Too blocky (looks like an A330 winglet), modern Boeing winglets are more curvy. 


While not as organic as later, more recent designs, even the old 747-400 winglets have a subtle curve and greater rake than
what the illustrator has drawn.







Anyhow to make it really up to date and have the Boeing heavy look, raked tips rather than winglets would be the way to go.


P-8 raked tips similar to 767-400 raked tip design, the first of the raked tip Boeing aircraft.


747-8F

[GTX_Admin]

Has anyone done a CB-52 transport conversion?  I am thinking of something with the B-52 akin to the XC-99 - B-36 relationship:

[KiwiZac]

That's an excellent idea Greg, and I look forward to your 1/48 version.

[GTX_Admin]

Well, there was this proposal:




and also this:



Thoguh I was thinking of something a tad less radical and for more every day use.

[elmayerle]

Perhaps combine a B-52 wings and tail with an A380 fuselage, perhaps putting the wings at mid-level so the wing loads and beams go through the structure between the upper and lower decks; you'd need landing gear sponsons but it would be doable.