B-52 Chronology

[Marc James Small <msmall@roanoke.infi.net>]

At 01:36 PM 12/1/01 EST, Jhk789@aol.com wrote:
>"Nov. 29, 1951 -- The first all-jet bomber, the eight-engine XB-52 is 
>rolled out of a Boeing plant in Seattle, Wash., to a nearby hangar in 
>early morning darkness." 
> 
>Is XB-52 different from B-52? 

Yes, it is.  The XB-52 was the very first sample, and it was a test model.
And being "rolled out" doesn't mean that it flew:  it was simply rolled out
to display it to the public.  Here is a brief synopsis:

JUL 48		USAF orders two prototypes of B-52 w/turboprop engines
DEC 48	Turboprop model scrapped for all-jet Model 464
FEB 51	13 production B-52's ordered
29 NOV 51	XB-52 (49-230) rolled out for display, then returned for further
installation work
2 OCT 52	XB-52 (49-230) flew
15 MAR 52	YB-52 (49-231) rolled out
15 APR 52	YB-52 (49-231) flew
5 AUG 53	first production model. B-52A (52-001) flies -- later joined by
52-002 and -003
29 JUN 55	93rd HBW at Castle AFB in California receives first operational
B-52's

It is a long time between the engineer's first thoughts and adoption of a
complex airplane like the B-52.

Marc

msmall@roanoke.infi.net  FAX:  +540/343-7315
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