Oh please. Why are the B52 engines mounted in pairs? Because it looks good,
that's why. Fuel pipes, hard points, drop tanks, weapons ... yeah yeah yeah.
Can you imagine what it would look like if it had 4 equally speed engines on
each side? Like one of the designer's 8-year old kid had drawn it after
watching an episode of Thunderbirds and the USAF would have laughed them out of
the meeting.Old pilot adage: It's better to look good than to be good. Why do
F14s, 15s, 18s, 22s and 35s have twin fins? Because it looks great, that's why.
Are they needed? Who cares? Not if you ask the guys who designed the F16,
Tornado, Rafael, Typhoon and Gripen. Same for the 747's hump. Front loading
cargo option, you say? Yeah, right. Because it looks great, that's why. That's
the only reason why.What's the use of having all that aerodynamic knowledge if
you don't have a soul?Simon
-------- Original message --------From: Jack Keady via Mifnet
<[email protected]> Date: 11/06/2025 02:19 (GMT+02:00) To: David
Wardell via Mifnet <[email protected]> Cc: Jack Keady <[email protected]>
Subject: [Mifnet 🚀 72661] B - 52 stats Keady - Mike B - can you explain the
need not to have drop tanks?Tom Stagliano · FollowSenior Aerospace Engineer
(studied at MIT)Updated 8yWhy are the B-52's engines mounted in pairs?The fully
fueled and maximum payload B-52H has a weight over 500,000 pounds (more than
its maximum take-off weight). Back in 1961–63 when the B-52H were made, the
20,000 lb thrust class engines were well developed and nearly the
largest.Indeed the Boeing 707 had a maximum weight of 310,000 pounds in that
era. Using a rough rule of thumb that maximum engine thrust is 25% of the max
weight of the aircraft, four engines at that time could power a Boeing 707 or
KC-135, but a 500,000 lb plus B-52H would need at least 125,000 lb in thrust.
Eight engines gave them 140,000 lbs of maximum thrust and therefore tremendous
capability.By having the engines together, you only need four fuel line
penetrations from the wing and you keep the engines clustered allowing room for
under-wing weapons and external fuel tanks:You notice the missiles mounted
under the wing of the B-52H and the external fuel tanks mounted out towards the
wing tips. The external fuel tanks were originally to be drop tanks, but due to
some aero-elastic response of the B-52H wing, it was decided to make them
permanent.Therefore, you minimize attachments, minimize fuel penetrations, and
maximize room to carry weapons and external pods under the wings.I hope that
helps.
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Revised: 20250507
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