AMERICA’S B50 BOMBER

Wanganui Chronicle, 28 April 1949, Page 5

AMERICA’S B50 BOMBER

It Is 75 Per Cent. New (By Louis Hunter, a Reuter Correspondent in New York.) The United States Air Force 850 Bomber, the first aeroplane to fly round the world non -stop, incorporates the proved aerodynamic efficiency of its immediate predecessor the famous 829 Superfortress, but like the 829 *lt also incorporates so many changes both major and minor that 75 per cent, of the design is new. The Bso’s new features result in highly increased performance. Specifically it will (1) cruise 27 per cent, faster than the 829 at equal ranges; (2) cruise about 50 miles per hour faster than any other bomber capable of Hying equivalent distances; (3) fly at an actual top speed approaching 400 m.p.h. The Bso’s 141 ft. wing is 16 per cent, stronger, 26 per cent, more efficient and weighs 6501b5. less 1 than its predecessors. To permit Bsos to enter hangars with limited vertical clearance the vertical .fin is hinged much like a shipboard fighter's wings to allow it and the rudder to be folded on to the stabiliser.

By fitting the new bomber with a specially designed ball-bearing actuator, take-off performance has been substantially increased, reducing by 24 seconds the time necessary to retract the landing gear on the 829 which is 35 seconds. A number of 829 features, such as the central gun firing system, have been incorporated in the 850. This system allows any one gunner except, the rear gunner to assume control of more than one of the bomber’s five turrets at one time. The result is a concentration of fire when needed on a particular target which may be visible only to one gunner.