Boeing B-54

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.

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

Design and development

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.

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

Variants

B-54A

Intended production version of the YB-50C

RB-54A

Reconnaissance version

Specifications

Data from

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

Related development

• Boeing B-29 Superfortress
• Boeing XB-39 Superfortress
• Boeing B-50 Superfortress

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Convair B-36
• Tupolev Tu-85

Related lists

• List of bomber aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Bibliography

• Jones, Lloyd S (1974) [1962], U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s (2nd ed.), Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.
• "Factsheets: Boeing B-54A". National Museum of the United States Air Force. July 7, 2009. Archived from the original on June 16, 2012. Retrieved 2017-07-09.
• Olson, James C. (2003). Stuart Symington: A Life. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri Press. ISBN 978-0-82621503-1.
• Redding, Robert; Yenne, Bill (1989). Boeing: Planemaker to the World. New York: Crescent Books. ISBN 978-0-51742270-0.
• Swanborough, F. G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989. ISBN 978-0-87474880-2.
• Wagner, Ray (1968). American Combat Planes. New York: Doubleday. ISBN 978-0-38504134-8.