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From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Air Superiority B-52?
Message-ID: <1991Jun7.071922.7490@amd.com>
Date: 5 Jun 91 11:54:35 GMT
References: <1991May22.034943.27949@amd.com> <1991Jun5.064837.26248@amd.com>
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From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)


jwstuart@ecst.csuchico.edu (Jesse William Leo Stuart) writes:
>Why not make an Airspace Control System platform out of a B-52?

You mean why not make an AWACS out of a B-52?

You can't - a B-52 wasn't designed and built as a transport plane.  You
need a transport type plane to carry all those electronic equipment and
personnel for AWACS missions.  That's why Boeing 707 is an ideal choice
here.

B-52 was designed and built as a bomber - meaning that there is a very
limited space available for additional crew or equipment.  Most of the
fuselage volume is devoted to fuel tanks, bomb bays, etc.  Also, I
believe that the B-52 airframe is too narrow for AWACS equipment/personnel
purpose.