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Description
| Manufacturer: | Boeing | |
| Base model: | B-50 | |
| Designation: | KB-50 | |
| Version: | J | |
| Nickname: | Superfortress | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1924-Present | |
| Basic role: | Bomber | |
| Modified Mission: | Tanker | |
Specifications
| Length: | 105' 1" | 32.0 m | |
| Height: | 33' 7" | 10.2 m | |
| Wingspan: | 141' 2" | 43.0 m | |
| Gross Weight: | 179,498 lb | 81,405 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 179,500 lb | 81,405 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 4 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-4360 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 5910 | ||
Performance
| Max Speed: | 445 mph | 716 km/h | 387 kt |
| Ceiling: | 40,000 ft | 12,191 m | |
Examples of this type may be found at
| Museum | City | State |
| United States Air Force Museum | Wright-Patterson | Ohio |
KB-50J on display
United States Air Force Museum |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Kenneth Bohn Houston, TX | My grandfather was based out of Biggs Airforce Base during Vietnam. All I know was that he was on a refueling plane, so I assume it was the KB-50J. Not sure of the exact dates, but my dad was born in 1963 and I think he was still in the AF when my dad was born.
I have a picture of him that says "Bohn K.C." and what appears to be "OKKL OPR" underneath it. Anyone know what this stands for? 02/09/2015 @ 14:09 [ref: 68921] |
| William Holt Panama City, FL | I was assigned to raf sculthorpe right out of tech school feb 1962- June 1962 01/11/2015 @ 07:42 [ref: 68879] |
| Patrick W. Smith Germantown, TN | I was stationed at Langley AFB in the 429th Air Refuling Squadron straight from school at Shepard AFB. I was a flight line mechanic and later crew chief of 49-381, a KB-50J. Enjoyed all the travel as we were TDY most of the time. 12/27/2014 @ 16:42 [ref: 68849] |
| Eddie DeYoung Australia & USA, AZ | Was assigned to 431st AREFS, Biggs AFB, straight out of Tech school (Keesler AFB) as what would now be called an avionics tech. Spent the rest of my tour in USAF there (Jan 59-Oct 62). Had many flights over Utah/NMex refueling ANG jet jockies doing inflight tests on the electronic nav/IFF systems. It was a love-hate relationship! Every month, almost everyone on flying status applied for transfer, and every month the CO torn them up. Too many crashes blamed on 'pilot error'!! 05/29/2014 @ 16:09 [ref: 68491] |
| robert gocha tullahoma, TN | I was stationed at Yakota from the summer of 1959 to the summer of 1962. I also worked on the flight line and in the inspection docks. Was the first one with another airman to start our own ground base equipment. Also drove the roving follow me truck as well as the maintenance request when a airplane landed. I also started the coffee shop in our own hanger with coffee and donuts everyday. Ended up working for the worst Sgt. I have ever worked for, his name was Sgt. Cece and he was the biggest brown noser I had ever met. He would volunteer our crew for ever rotten job that came along but he would never do a once of work himself. I had three days to fly home and then got my four year enlistment extended for another year. Of my five years in the Airforce I never met a man more hated by his men than Sgt. Cece 02/04/2014 @ 10:13 [ref: 68335] |
| bruce clark panama city, FL | Right out of a/c Instrument school I was assinged to the 420 Air refuling Sqd at RAF Station Sculthorpe UK and stayed with them even after the sqd was combined into the 47th Bombardment group later changed to a wing for four years even then the a/c had a lot of problems to overcome in regardes to there age but notathing that could not be handeled (1958 to 1962) 03/03/2013 @ 05:38 [ref: 67634] |
| Harv Rutherford Gwinn, MI | I went to the Hayes factory for training on the KB 50 in Birmingham Al in 55 or 56 (long time ago). then to RAF Station Sculthorpe, Eng. after finishing the school. Spent 2 1/2 years there. Had a great time there as we went to many different countries to train & retrain USAF fighter Pilots throughout the European theater. Left there to go back to KC 97s. 02/24/2013 @ 12:32 [ref: 67614] |
| Paul Dooley Ft. Lauderdale, FL | I flew the KB-50J as an inflight refueling operator from early '61 until about the end of '63 out of Langley with the 427 ARS. At about that time they retired our planes and I transfered to the 4440 Aircraft Delivery Gp. Many great times in the 50 TDY all over the world. 01/01/2013 @ 16:26 [ref: 67461] |
| Al Brown Hudson, NH | One of my first jobs as a Jet Engine Mechanic at yokota Japan was doing phase inspections on the J47 Jet Engines on the KB 50's of the 421 ARF. Will never forget that airplane and the times at Yokota. 10/01/2012 @ 11:47 [ref: 67277] |
| Dave Smith Clearwater, FL | I spent 6 mo in England at RAF Sculthorpe from 9/63 - 3/64 watching over the big old bird. Was a K9 detachment from Grand Forks AFB, ND. 09/14/2011 @ 02:51 [ref: 48958] |
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