#b-54

[lonestarflight]

Boeing B-29 Super Fortress Family

I had a thought experiment, what if the USAF never redesignated the B-39, B-44, B-50 and B-54, and kept its original designation of B-29, how big would the family be.

XB-29: prototype with Wright R-3350-13 engines

YB-29: preproduction version with Wright R-3350-21 engines.

B-29: original production version

B-29A: improved version

B-29B: modified version used for low-level raids, designed with the intent of firebombing Japan. All defensive armament was removed except for that in the tail turret.

B-29C: modified B-29A with improved Wright R-3350 engines

XB-44 (B-29D): a B-29A-5-BN modified by Pratt & Whitney to use the four-row, 28-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engine. This was originally going to be the B-29D but came after WWII. With orders for several of existing aircraft orders being cancelled, the USAF redesigned it B-50A as a ploy since new design aircraft weren't being cancelled.

XB-29E: a B-29-45-BW with a modified fire-control systems.

B-29F: cold-weather version for operation in Alaska.

XB-29G: testbed for jet engines.

XB-29H: testbed for armament configurations

B-29I: letter not used.

RB-29J: the F-13, a reconnaissance version of the B-29, being redesignated FB-29J, later redesignated again to YB-29J, then RB-29J. They were modified with the Wright R-3350-CA-2 fuel injected engines.

XB-39 (B-29K): Single YB-29 modified by General Motors to use water-cooled Allison V-3420-17 Vee type engines, no improvement was gained.

B-50A (B-29L): the production version of the B-44, originally B-29D.

B-50B (B-29M): Improved version of the B-50A

B-50C/B-54 (B-29N): modified to use the Pratt & Whitney R-4360-51 Variable Discharge Turbine (VDT) engines, the fuselage was lengthened by over 10 feet (3.0 m) and the wingspan was extended by 20 feet (6.1 m), which required the installation of outrigger landing gear in the first and fourth engine nacelles.

B-50D (B-29O): Improved version of the B-50B, final bomber version.

RB-50E (RB-29P): RB-50B modified for specialist photographic reconnaissance

RB-50F (RB-29Q): modified for reconnaissance, fitted with SHORAN navigation radar.

RB-50G (RB-29R): RB-50B modified for electronic reconnaissance. Fitted with Shoran for navigation, and six electronic stations.

TB-50H (TB-29S): crew trainer version for B-47 squadrons.

KB-50J (KB-29T): air-to-air refueling tankers with improved performance from two extra General Electric J47 turbojets under the outer wings.

KB-50K (KB-29U): TB-50H modified to be Tankers.

source, source, source, source, source, source

[touraupse]

[ff-ask-cattendant]

The Complete B-5x Line!

While not technically a complete Soul Almanac entry, I had Bifties on the brain and wanted to draw them. Then along came some notes, and I figured I’d share, since making full entries for each one is going to take a while.

I had a lot of fun with these! Figuring out how to make each member of the line look distinctive from one another whilst also making sure they looked related was an interesting experiment. This is also my first time colouring metal textures too!

Some more detailed notes are under the cut.

Shared Traits

Heterochromia

Fire-based abilities

Mix of mechanical and organic parts

Require some guidance regarding emotions and independence

B-51s

SR Strength Units

Breathe a blue blowtorch flame.

Overuse of said flame leads to them tiring very quickly.

This lead to them adapting into Strength-Types, using close-range melee combat which allows them to use their flame without burning themselves out.

Quick tempers and defiant attitudes has earned them the nickname “Short Fuse Cocktails”

Their most visibly defining trait is their metallic lower jaws, often burned to a very dark colour due to their flames.

Mid-low mechanical-organic parts ratio.

B-52s

UR Magic Units

The first Souls of the line, and the strongest. Only six of them are known to exist in Tierra.

Their violet flames are devastating, making them capable of laying waste to entire cities with lasting effects.

B-52s possess the highest endurance of any known Magic Soul, and can withstand perhaps even the most devastating of blows.

Upon their first Summon, B-52s start off as robotic “blank slates”, and require careful coaching in order to start thinking for themselves.

Most of them develop quiet, mellow personalities.

High mechanical-organic ratio.

B-53s

SR Magic Units

Can bend their flames to their will.

Colour of flames ranges depending on the amount of power put into it, going (weakest to strongest) Orange, White, Blue, Purple.

Low mechanical-organic ratio.

The only indicators of their line are the eyes and mechanical-looking throat and hands, which contain sparkers with which they start their flames.

Close-mid-range attacks.

Loud, flashy personalities, fiercely loyal.

B-54s

SR Magic Units

Their unique glowing cores produce a “liquid fire” or molten metal that can be condensed into projectiles and fired from weapons, making for a wide range of potential combat strategies.

Torso looks like a network of piping.

Mid-high mechanical-organic ratio.

Long range attacks.

Very calm, level-headed characters who are well-suited for high-pressure leadership positions.

B-55s

SR Defense Units

Almost as rare as B-52s, likely because of their unusually high vulnerability to Falling.

Produce a violet flame, and are able to set themselves alight and create walls of fire.

Their wings can act as shields.

All of them wear masks to protect their eyes. They very rarely take them off.

Almost entirely mechanical save for the face.

All recorded B-55 Units have been noted as completely mute and robotic in personality. It is unknown if they are capable of developing independence.

B-57s

SR Magic Units

The “most common” members of an already exceedingly rare line of Food Souls.

Green flames aren’t massively powerful compared to the rest of the line, but they are painful and the damage lingers.

Often described as “scrappy clockwork fire imps”.

They make up for their small size with their speed, both in the air and on the ground.

Like B-55s, they are entirely mechanical save for their faces.

Prone to developing stutters and twitches.

[kramlabs]

https://specialoperations.com/28857/sof-backpack-nukes/

SOF Backpack Nukes | SpecialOperations.com

Though it sounds like the plot of a movie the reality is that select Army engineer, Special Forces, Navy SEALs and select Marines were once

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/25-years-us-special-forces-carried-miniature-nukes-their-backs-180949700/

For 25 Years, U.S. Special Forces Carried Miniature Nukes on Their Backs

The B-54 Special Atomic Demolition Munition was a nuclear bomb the size of a backpack

[lonestarflight]

Concept art of the Boeing B-54, the Ultimate evolution of the B-29.

source

[lonestarflight]

The comparison of the Boeing B-50 with the cancelled B-54. The Boeing B-54 was the Ultimate evolution of the B-29.

source

[bassman5911]

Boeing B-54A mockup, 1948

via Kemon01