On 29 January 1951, Aviation Week published a lead story revealing a radical bomber designed by Douglas, the Model 1211-J. This came as a shock to the outside world, as Boeing was under contract to develop the XB-52 as the US Air Force’s new heavy strategic bomber. Something had clearly happened…
Today, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has secured a unique place in aviation history. Having first flown in 1952, it is not only still in service but likely to remain so until the 2050s, a hundred years after the prototype took to the air. Given this astonishing record, it is easy to assume its original development went smoothly, but that is far from the case. And the early problems gave rise to a remarkable alternative being considered.
The origins of the B-52 go back to the months immediately following World War Two, when Air Materiel Command, the branch of the US Army Air Forces responsible for the acquisition of new aircraft, issued the specification for a new strategic bomber. Paramount within the requirements was the need for long range, which would avoid reliance on bases outside the USA. Together with the need to carry a 10,0000lb bomb load, this posed a challenge for the design engineers. Three companies put forward proposal…
