Boeing B-52H Stratofortress
Boeing · United States · first flew 1960 · bomber
The B-52H is the sole surviving operational Stratofortress variant, distinguishable from earlier marks by its shorter tail fin, wide-diameter TF33 turbofan engine pods, and the eventual removal of the tail gun.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 8 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 49.1 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Short tail fin — the H model's fin is about 2.4 m shorter than the tall-tail D — a change introduced on the G, giving a distinctly squat rear silhouette
- TF33 turbofan engine pods are noticeably fatter and shorter than the turbojet pods of the D/E/F; the intake lips are wider in diameter
- Tail gun replaced from 1991 onward by electronic-countermeasures equipment (the gun went in 1991)
The shorter fin is the primary identifier against the D; the fat TF33 pods confirm the H over the G; absent gun barrels in the tail cone indicates a post-1991 modification block.
Specifications
- The Boeing B-52H Stratofortress has a length of 49.1 m (161 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 56.4 m (185 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1013 km/h (629 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Introduced in 1961 as the final production B-52, the H model's Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofans dramatically improved range and reduced the black smoke that made earlier B-52s visible at altitude. All 102 B-52Hs built remain in inventory and are being upgraded with new engines, radar, and communications systems for service into the 2050s.
Variants
The B-52G was an interim short-fin model with different fuel tanks; the H superseded it and all G models were retired by 1994, leaving only the H in service.
Where you'll see it
All operational B-52Hs serve with Air Force Global Strike Command; static examples are gate guardians at many USAF bases, and the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson holds both G and H examples for comparison.
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