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Home > Fact Sheets > Boeing TB-50D
BOEING TB-50D
Posted 7/7/2009
Printable Fact Sheet
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Boeing TB-50D (S/N 48-052, the last TB-50D converted). (U.S. Air Force photo)
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Eleven B-50Ds were modified as crew training aircraft and redesignated TB-50D. All armament was removed and special equipment used to train crew members was installed. The aft bomb bay was replaced by an electronics bay housing most of the additional avionics used in training.
The primary mission of the TB-50D was to train navigator-radar operator-bombardier triple duty crewmen. Since most of the bombers of the early 1950s had relatively small crews, many crew members had to do more than one job.
The forward fuselage compartment was used to conduct navigator training. One instructor and two student stations for were installed. The aft fuselage was modified for radar operator training and also had seats for one instructor and two students.
Bombardier training was generally conducted with a trainer or operational version of the specific aircraft the crewman would fly operational missions in.
| Type |
Number built/
converted |
Remarks |
| TB-50D |
11 (cv) |
Crew trainer conversion |
TECHNICAL NOTES (production B-50D):
Armament: 13 .50-cal. machine guns and 28,000 lbs. of bombs; the drop tank pylons were capable of carrying one 4,000-lb. bomb each
Engines: Four Pratt & Whitney R-4360-35 Wasp Major turbosupercharged radials of 3,500 hp each
Maximum speed: 380 mph at 25,000 ft. and combat weight of 123,000 lbs.
Cruising speed: 277 mph
Range: 4,900 miles with 10,000-lb. bomb load; 7,750 miles maximum ferry range
Service ceiling: 36,700 ft.
Span: 141 ft. 3 in.
Length: 99 ft. 0 in.
Height: 32 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 173,000 lbs. (maximum takeoff weight)
Crew: Eight or nine normally [pilot, copilot, flight engineer, bombardier, radio operator, and four gunners (top, tail, left and right)]
Serial numbers: 47-163, -164, -167 and -170 (originally B-50D-65-BO); 48-046 to 48-052 (originally B-50D-70-BO)
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