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Subject: Martin B-57 Canberra
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-57_Canberra
The Martin B-57 Canberra is an American-built, twinjet tactical bomber and
reconnaissance aircraft that entered service with the United States Air Force
(USAF) in 1953. The B-57 is a license-built version of the British English
Electric Canberra manufactured by the Glenn L. Martin Company. Initial
Martin-build models were highly similar to their British-built counterparts;
Martin later modified the design to incorporate larger quantities of US-sourced
components and produced the aircraft in several different variants.
The B-57 Canberra holds the distinction of being the first jet bomber in U.S.
service to drop bombs during combat. The Canberra was used extensively during
the Vietnam War in a bombing capacity; dedicated versions of the type were also
produced and served as high-altitude aerial reconnaissance platforms (the Martin
RB-57D Canberra), and as electronic warfare aircraft. The B-57 Canberra was also
sold to export customers abroad, further combat use was seen by the Pakistani
Air Force during the Second Kashmir War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.
In 1983, the USAF opted to retire the type; the B-57 Canberra's retirement
marked the ending of the era of the tactical bomber that had its beginning with
the British World War I De Havilland DH-4 bomber. The three remaining
flightworthy WB-57Fs are technically assigned to the NASA Johnson Space Center,
next to Ellington Field in Houston, as high-altitude scientific research
aircraft, but are also used for testing and communications in the U.S. and
Afghanistan.
Role
Tactical bomber
Manufacturer
Martin
First flight
20 July 1953[1]
Introduction
1954
Retired
1983 (USAF)
1985 (Pakistan)
Status
Retired (3 still used by NASA[2])
Primary users
United States Air Force
Pakistan Air Force
Republic of China Air Force
Number built
403
Unit cost
US$1.26 million (B-57B)[3]
Developed from
English Electric Canberra
Variants
Martin RB-57D Canberra
Developed into
Martin/General Dynamics RB-57F Canberra
The B-57A was not considered combat-ready by the USAF and the aircraft were used
solely for testing and development. One of the aircraft was given to the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) which fitted it with a
new nose radome and used it to track hurricanes. The aircraft was placed into
limited production. Particularly contentious were the cockpit arrangement and
the lack of guns, the Canberra having been designed as a high-speed, high
altitude bomber rather than for close air support. The definitive B-57B, which
introduced numerous improvements, made its first flight on 18 June 1954. The
aircraft initially suffered from the same engine malfunctions as the RB-57As and
several were lost in high-speed low-level operations due to a faulty tailplane
actuator which caused the aircraft to dive into the ground. The USAF came to
consider the B-57B as being inadequate for the night intruder role and thus
Martin put all aircraft through an extensive avionics upgrade in response.
Regardless, by the end of 1957, the USAF tactical squadrons were being
re-equipped with supersonic North American F-100 Super Sabres. The complete
retirement was delayed, however, by the start of the Vietnam War.
Specifications (B-57B)
General characteristics
Crew: 2 (pilot,navigator )
Length: 65 ft, 6 in (20.0 m)
Wingspan: 64 ft 0 in (19.5 m)
Height: 14 ft 10 in (4.52 m)
Empty weight: 27,090 lb (12,285 kg)
Loaded weight: 40,345 lb (18,300 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 53,720 lb (24,365 kg)
*Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0119
Aspect ratio: 4.27
Performance
Maximum speed: Mach 0.79 (598 mph, 960 km/h) at 2,500 ft (760 m)
Cruise speed: 476 mph (414 knots, 765 km/h)
Stall speed: 124 mph (108 knots, 200 km/h)
Combat radius: 950 mi (825 nm, 1,530 km) with 5,250 lb (2,380 kg) of bombs
Ferry range: 2,720 mi (2,360 nm, 4,380 km)
Service ceiling: 45,100 ft (13,745 m)
Rate of climb: 6,180 ft/min (31.4 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.36
Lift-to-drag ratio: 15.0
Armament
Bombs: 4,500 lb (2,000 kg) in bomb bay, including nuclear bombs
2,800 lb (1,300 kg) on four external hardpoints, including unguided rockets
Avionics
APW-11 Bombing Air Radar Guidance System
SHORAN bombing system
APS-54 Radar Warning Receiver
*
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