JediMaster 451 Posted January 28, 2008 The B-58 was a maintenance hog, IIRC. It was very advanced but paid for it. The B-36 had the largest single-wheel main gear ever made. After it started cracking runways on landing they came up with the now-standard multi-wheel bogeys for the main gear. Planes like the C-5, 747, and An-124 have tons of wheels on their mains, but the B-36 had TWO. Until they revised them, of course. As for size, the B-1B is actually larger than a B-52, it just doesn't look it. The B-2 is far shorter, but its wingspan is still greater than the KC-135s that refuel it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Viggen 585 Posted January 28, 2008 As for size, the B-1B is actually larger than a B-52, it just doesn't look it. The B-2 is far shorter, but its wingspan is still greater than the KC-135s that refuel it. Isn't the KC-10 just about as big as a BUFF? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mladuna 0 Posted January 28, 2008 Does anybody know the planed conventional load of B-58 if it was converted for non-nuclear strike role in Nam? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sparkomatic 7 Posted January 29, 2008 - "As for size, the B-1B is actually larger than a B-52, it just doesn't look it. The B-2 is far shorter, but its wingspan is still greater than the KC-135s that refuel it." I thought I had read that, and wasnt the B-1A larger still? Seems like the B-1B can lift more than a C-5B as well... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted January 29, 2008 B-1A/B size differences are negligible, if any. They changed the inlets on the engine and that was about it as far as external differences. Internal is another story. KC-10: LENGTHS Fuselage 170ft. 6in. Overall (Boom Retracted) 181ft. 7in. HEIGHT To top of tail 57ft. 7in. To top of fuselage 27ft. 2in. WIDTH Wing Span 165ft. 4in. Horizontal Stabilizer Span 71ft. 2in. Fuselage 19ft. 9in. B-52: Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters) Height: 40 feet, 8 inches (12.4 meters) Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters) So, the B-52 has a bigger wingspan but that's it. As for the Hustler, its max payload was 8823 kg, so you can figure it could've carried a lot of bombs if the trials had shown any promise. They didn't, so they skipped it and just went for the B-52. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
super61 0 Posted January 30, 2008 I mean, the B-36 is the only aircraft designed to carry the T12 43.600lb bomb. Good Lord! That thing could remove finger prints. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
