Boeing B-50 Superfortress
Strategic Bomber
The Boeing B-50 Superfortress (Model 345-2) is a four-engine long-range heavy bomber aircraft produced by the US-American manufacturer Boeing Company.
Although the B-50 is a direct development of the B-29 Superfortress and initially named B-29D it was re-designated B-50 due to the huge amount of improvements. The changes include much more powerful engines in new nacelles. 132 B-50s were later converted to KB-50 aerial tankers. 112 of the KB-50 tankers were modified to the KB-50J version by addition of two 5200 lbf (23 kN) General Electric J47 jet engines, so they could fly fast enough to refuel jet aircraft. Some of the tankers served until 1965 with the US Air Force and were in action during the Vietnam conflict. In 1949 a B-50A named the Lucky Lady II made the first nonstop flight around the world.
Crew | 12 |
Propulsion | 4 Radial Engines | |
Engine Model | Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35 Wasp Major | |
Engine Power (each) | 2610 kW | 3500 hp |
max. Cruise Speed | 378 km/h | 204 kts 235 mph |
Speed | 620 km/h | 335 kts 386 mph |
Service Ceiling | 11.278 m | 37.000 ft |
Range | 7.482 km | 4.040 NM 4.649 mi. |
Empty Weight | 36.764 kg | 81.050 lbs |
max. Takeoff Weight | 76.389 kg | 168.409 lbs |
Wing Span | 43,05 m | 141 ft 3 in |
Wing Area | 161,6 m² | 1739 ft² |
Length | 30,18 m | 99 ft 0 in |
Height | 9,96 m | 32 ft 8 in |
First Flight | 25.06.1947 | |
Production Status | out of production | |
Production Range | 1947-1953 | |
Total Production | 371 | |
Developed from | Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
Data for (Version) | Boeing B-50A |
[Photo-ID: 10921] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
Boeing KB-50J Superfortress United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 49-0372 c/n: 16148 | |
Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] |
[Photo-ID: 10922] © Karsten Palt 2015-06-03 | |
Boeing KB-50J Superfortress United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 49-0372 c/n: 16148 | |
Pima Air and Space Museum [Tucson, AZ] |
[Photo-ID: 5520] © Karsten Palt 2012-01-11 | |
Boeing WB-50D Superfortress United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 49-0310 c/n: 16086 | |
National Museum of the United States Air Force [Dayton, Ohio / USA (Wright-Patterson AFB)] |
[Photo-ID: 5519] © Karsten Palt 2012-01-11 | |
Boeing WB-50D Superfortress United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 49-0310 c/n: 16086 | |
National Museum of the United States Air Force [Dayton, Ohio / USA (Wright-Patterson AFB)] |
[Photo-ID: 13206] © Karsten Palt 2016-10-10 | |
Boeing WB-50D Superfortress United States Air Force (USAF) Reg.: 49-0351 c/n: 13127 | |
Castle Air Museum [Atwater, CA] |