Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Arlo on October 21, 2022, 10:46:27 AM

Title: Ultrafortress B-54
Post by: Arlo on October 21, 2022, 10:46:27 AM

(https://i.imgur.com/J27e4PG.png)

Now here's something you don't or didn't see every day. NOT a Superfortress, it's a proposed 'Ultrafortress B-54':

"This Superfortress, B-29-25-BW (42-24441), was modified under “Project S68” in late 1944 for manned turrets evaluation purposes. Instead of the B-29’s sophisticated defensive system, it was fitted with a pair of manned Martin turrets in the top fuselage; two Sperry A-2 ball turrets (one visible behind the nose wheels strut) on bottom of the fuselage and this outrageous pair of Emmerson 136 “jowl” barbettes on the nose.

via FB group 'History's Greatest Aircraft'

Title: Re: Ultrafortress B-54
Post by: mikeWe9a on October 25, 2022, 09:59:40 AM

Just a note - the B-54 was an unrelated project, based on the B-50 (itself an upgraded model of the B-29, with more powerful Pratt and Whitney R-4360 engines).  It was a post-war project intended for longer range.

Mike

Title: Re: Ultrafortress B-54
Post by: perdue3 on October 25, 2022, 06:39:56 PM

Aw man, came for a B-54, found a B-29.

Title: Re: Ultrafortress B-54
Post by: MiloMorai on October 25, 2022, 09:00:58 PM

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b50_3.html