Continued production of B-52

[CV12Hornet]

Probably the best time for that would've been during the KC-135E re-enginings in the 1980s as the Air Force hoovered up ex-707 engines.

 

[Foo Fighter]

Left field day. Just what aircraft could be adapted out of current PAX aircraft, to a B-52 like type? Like I said, left field and about as likely as Bugs becoming President of the USA.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Left field day. Just what aircraft could be adapted out of current PAX aircraft, to a B-52 like type? Like I said, left field and about as likely as Bugs becoming President of the USA.

You'd probably need to start with a 767 or similar sized airframe, and build weapons bays into what would be the baggage bays fore and aft.

Better yet, one of the BWB airframes.

 

[Foo Fighter]

The BWB would build in a little longevity, would those 'bays' be big enough without butchering the fuselage?

 

[Scott Kenny]

The BWB would build in a little longevity, would those 'bays' be big enough without butchering the fuselage?

A rotary bay is only about 6ft deep/wide, a BWB would be trivial to put 3 or 4 across. Each 21 to 28ft long. Fuel is all in the wings. Oh, and a couple of smaller bays sized to hold a single AARGM-ER or SiAW or AMRAAM or AIM-260 each.

 

[Foo Fighter]

A rotary bay is only about 6ft deep/wide, a BWB would be trivial to put 3 or 4 across. Each 21 to 28ft long. Fuel is all in the wings. Oh, and a couple of smaller bays sized to hold a single AARGM-ER or SiAW or AMRAAM or AIM-260 each.

Thanks, a lot to mull over. I suppose it's moot while the BUFF soldiers on.