Boeing B-56

Boeing B-56

Role: Jet reconnaissance bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing
Status: cancelled
Number built: 1 (not converted)
Developed from: Boeing B-47 Stratojet

The Boeing B-56 was a proposal by Boeing for a re-engined version of the United States jet-powered medium bomber aircraft, the B-47 Stratojet. The original designation for this modification was YB-47C.

Design and development

The B-47 was equipped with six J-47 turbojets, each rated at 5,200 pounds thrust. The engines were mounted in four nacelles slung from the high wing, with two engines in the inboard pod and one engine in the outboard nacelle. To reduce complexity and increase commonality, it was proposed that a higher-rated engine be selected such that one engine could be mounted in each nacelle.

The Allison J35 turbojet engine was being developed during the late 1940s, and it was provisionally rated at 9700 pounds (with afterburner) or 8500 pounds thrust without AB. Thus 4 * 8500 = 34,000 pounds using that engine, as compared to 6 * 5200 = 31,200 pounds in the production B-47. So the conversion would be lighter, simpler and more powerful.

A contract was signed with Boeing in January 1950, calling for rework of one aircraft. A B-47B-20-BW (s/n 50-082) was earmarked for the conversion. The date for first flight was projected as April 1951.

A combination of delays and less-than-expected performance of the J35 led to the consideration of other engines. The Allison J71 was proposed, however problems with this engine meant that this was not feasible for the by-then redesignated B-56A. The Pratt & Whitney J57, eventually rated at 17,000 pounds thrust, was also considered, but that engine was still in development, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which was being concurrently developed (first flight was April 1952), had priority for this engine.

The B-56 program was canceled in December 1952 before conversion of the prototype was started. The unconverted B-47 was relegated to a ground instructional airframe and in the late 1960s was in use at the Naval Air Facility El Centro as an egress trainer.

Variants

XB-56 Designation for a single B-47 to be re-engined with four YJ71-A-5 engines, later re-designated YB-56 and YB-47C but was not converted. RB-56A Designation for production variant, cancelled and not built.

Specifications (XB-56)

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 107 ft 1 in (32.64 m)
Wingspan: 116 ft 0 in (35.36 m)
Height: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Wing area: 1,428 sq ft (132.7 m)
Powerplant: 4 x— Allison YJ71-A-5 turbojet

Related development

B-47 Stratojet

Bibliography

Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN ISBN 0 904597 22 9.

Boeing B-56 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia