The Rick Mercer Report

Monday, July 19, 2010

Let's Get Serious With Our Extra Special Guest



The B-52 was America's first long-range, swept-wing heavy bomber. Now entering its sixth decade of service, it continues to be an important element of the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet. No bomber in U.S. military history has been called upon to remain operational as long as the B-52.
With a 185-foot wingspan, a length of more than 160 feet and a gross weight of more than 480,000 pounds, the B-52 earned the nickname BUFF, short for Big Ugly Fat Fellow.
Serious hardware
Crew: 5
Length: 159 ft 4 in (48.5 m)
Wingspan: 185 ft 0 in (56.4 m)
Height: 40 ft 8 in (12.4 m)
Wing area: 4,000 sq ft (370 m²)
Empty weight: 185,000 lbs (83,250 kg)
Loaded weight: 265,000 lb (120,000 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 488,000 lb (220,000 kg)
Powerplant: 8× Pratt & Whitney TF33 P-3/103 turbofans 17,000 lbs thrust each
Fuel capacity: 47,975 U.S. Gal
Maximum Speed: 560 kt (650 mph, 1,000 km/h)
Combat Radius: 4,480 mi
Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
Rate of climb: 6,270 ft/min (31.85 m/s)
And it's coming to Windsor August 21 & 22.
Sounds of Freedom II
And then some..................