Built to carry nuclear weapons for Cold War–era deterrence missions, the B-52 Stratofortress replaced the Convair B-36 Peacemaker. The B-52 took its maiden flight in April 1952. īeginning with the successful contract bid in June 1946, the B-52 design evolved from a straight wing aircraft powered by six turboprop engines to the final prototype YB-52 with eight turbojet engines and swept wings. The bomber can carry up to 70,000 pounds (32,000 kg) of weapons, and has a typical combat range of around 8,800 miles (14,200 km) without aerial refueling. It has been operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) since the 1950s. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber.
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