B-45 Tornado
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| B-45 Tornado | |
|---|---|
| Name | B-45 Tornado |
| Type | Bomber |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| First flight | December 1947 |
| Introduction | 1948 |
| Retired | 1959 |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
B-45 Tornado was a jet engine-powered bomber aircraft developed by North American Aviation for the United States Air Force. The B-45 was the first multi-jet engine bomber and the first jet bomber to be used by the United States Air Force. It was designed to meet the requirements of the United States Army Air Forces for a bomber aircraft that could carry a nuclear bomb and had a range of over 2,000 miles. The development of the B-45 involved collaboration with other companies such as General Electric and Curtiss-Wright.
● Development
The development of the B-45 began in 1944 when the United States Army Air Forces issued a request for a bomber aircraft that could carry a nuclear bomb and had a range of over 2,000 miles. The request was responded to by several companies including North American Aviation, Boeing, and Convair. The design proposed by North American Aviation was selected and the company was awarded a contract to develop the aircraft. The development of the B-45 involved collaboration with other companies such as General Electric and Curtiss-Wright, and was influenced by the work of Alexander Lippisch and Hans von Ohain. The B-45 first flew in December 1947, and was tested by Chuck Yeager and other pilots at Edwards Air Force Base.
● Design
The B-45 was a swept-wing aircraft with a tricycle landing gear and a pressurized cabin. It was powered by four General Electric J47 jet engines, which were mounted in nacelles under the wings. The aircraft had a range of over 2,000 miles and could carry a payload of up to 22,000 pounds. The B-45 was designed to be used as a strategic bomber and was equipped with a bomber sight and a radar system. The design of the B-45 was influenced by the work of Arado Ar 234 and Messerschmitt Me 262, and was similar to the English Electric Canberra and Tupolev Tu-14.
● Operational History
The B-45 entered service with the United States Air Force in 1948 and was used as a strategic bomber during the Cold War. The aircraft was deployed to Europe and Asia and was used to conduct reconnaissance and bombing missions. The B-45 was also used to test the nuclear bomb and was involved in several nuclear tests including Operation Greenhouse and Operation Ivy. The B-45 was retired from service in 1959 and was replaced by the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and the Convair B-58 Hustler. The B-45 was used by several units including the 47th Bombardment Wing and the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, and was supported by SAC and TAC.
● Variants
There were several variants of the B-45, including the B-45A, B-45B, and B-45C. The B-45A was the first production variant and was used as a strategic bomber. The B-45B was a reconnaissance variant and was equipped with a camera system. The B-45C was a trainer variant and was used to train pilots. Other variants included the RB-45C and the WB-45C, which were used for weather reconnaissance and research. The variants of the B-45 were similar to the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star and the Republic F-84 Thunderjet.
● Specifications
The B-45 had a length of 85 feet and a wingspan of 89 feet. It had a height of 25 feet and a gross weight of 82,000 pounds. The aircraft was powered by four General Electric J47 jet engines, which produced 5,200 pounds of thrust each. The B-45 had a range of over 2,000 miles and could carry a payload of up to 22,000 pounds. The aircraft had a ceiling of 40,000 feet and a climb rate of 3,000 feet per minute. The specifications of the B-45 were similar to the de Havilland Vampire and the Gloster Meteor, and were influenced by the work of Sir Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain. The B-45 was also compared to the Avro Vulcan and the Handley Page Victor, and was used by the Royal Air Force and the French Air Force.