American bombers, such as Boeing XBLR-1 or XB-15, the XB-17 or B-17 Flying Fortress, the Douglas XB-19 or XBLR-2 or B-19, the Northrop XB-35, the Convair or Consolidated XB-36 or B-36 peacemaker, the Boeing B-47 Stratojet, the Convair B-60 or YB-60 and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.We will take a look at some of the most iconic and powerful aircraft that helped shape the history of aerial warfare.First up, we have the Boeing XBLR-1 and the XB-15. These were two experimental heavy bombers that were developed in the 1930s, prior to the outbreak of World War II. The XBLR-1 was built to test the concept of a long-range bomber, while the XB-15 was designed to be the largest and most powerful bomber of its time. Although neither of these bombers were put into production, they laid the groundwork for the development of the B-17 Flying Fortress, which would become one of the most famous bombers of World War II.Speaking of the B-17, it was a four-engine heavy bomber that was primarily used by the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. The B-17 was developed in the 1930s and became known for its toughness and ability to withstand enemy fire. Its high-altitude performance made it ideal for bombing missions over Germany, and it was responsible for dropping more bombs than any other U.S. aircraft during the war.Moving on to the Douglas XB-19, XBLR-2, and B-19, these were three experimental heavy bombers that were developed in the 1940s. The XB-19 was designed to be the largest bomber in the world at the time, while the XBLR-2 was built to test long-range capabilities. The B-19 was a refined version of the XB-19 and was intended to serve as a long-range bomber. However, it was never put into full production due to the end of World War II.Next up is the Northrop XB-35, which was an experimental heavy bomber developed in the 1940s. The XB-35 was unique in that it was a flying wing aircraft, meaning that it had no traditional tail section. It was designed to have long range and high altitude capabilities, but unfortunately, it was not put into full production due to its high cost and technical difficulties.Moving on to the Convair or Consolidated XB-36, which was also known as the B-36 Peacemaker. It was a strategic bomber that was developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The B-36 was the largest bomber ever to enter production and was capable of carrying nuclear weapons. It was designed to be a deterrent against the Soviet Union during the early years of the Cold War and played a significant role in the development of the United States’ strategic bombing capabilities.The Boeing B-47 Stratojet was a strategic bomber that was developed in the 1950s. It was designed to be a high-speed, high-altitude bomber that could deliver nuclear weapons to targets deep inside the Soviet Union. The B-47 was the first mass-produced jet-powered bomber and played a significant role in the United States’ Cold War strategy.The Convair B-60 or YB-60 was an experimental jet-powered bomber that was developed in the 1950s. It was designed to be a successor to the B-52 Stratofortress and was intended to be faster and more capable than its predecessor. However, the project was cancelled due to cost overruns and technical difficulties, and the B-52 remained in service for many years.Finally, we have the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which is perhaps the most iconic American bomber of all time. The Convair B-36 “Peacemaker” is a strategic bomber that was built by Convair and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1949 to 1959.General characteristicsCrew: 13Length: 162 ft 1 in (49.40 m)Wingspan: 230 ft 0 in (70.10 m)Height: 46 ft 9 in (14.25 m)Wing area: 4,772 sq ft (443.3 m2) [78]Airfoil: root: NACA 63(420)-422; tip: NACA 63(420)-517[79]Empty weight: 166,165 lb (75,371 kg)Max takeoff weight: 410,000 lb (185,973 kg)Powerplant: 6 × Pratt & Whitney R-4360-53 Wasp Major 28-cylinder 4-row air-cooled radial piston engines, 3,800 hp (2,800 kW) each for take-offPowerplant: 4 × General Electric J47 turbojet engines, 5,200 lbf (23 kN) thrust each in pylon mounted pods outboard of piston enginesPropellers: 3-bladed Curtiss Electric constant-speed fully-feathering pusher propellersPerformanceMaximum speed: 435 mph (700 km/h, 378 kn)Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn)Combat range: 3,985 mi (6,413 km, 3,463 nmi)Ferry range: 10,000 mi (16,000 km, 8,700 nmi) [78]Service ceiling: 43,600 ft (13,300 m)Rate of climb: 1,995 ft/min (10.13 m/s)ArmamentGuns: 1 remotely operated tail turret with 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) M24A1 autocannon[78]Bombs: 86,000 lb (39,000 kg) with weight restrictions, 72,000 lb (33,000 kg) normal[78]#aircraft #bomber #b36