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North American B-45 Tornado
North American · Bomber · USA · Early Jet (1946–1969)
The North American B-45 Tornado is an early American jet bomber designed and manufactured by aircraft company North American Aviation. It has the distinction of being the first operational jet bomber to enter service with the United States Air Force (USAF), as well as the first multiengine jet bomber to be refueled in midair.
Specifications
- Category
- Fixed Wing
- Sub-Category
- Bomber
- Domain
- Defence
- Era
- Early Jet (1946–1969)
- Country
- USA
- Manufacturer
- North American
- Operator
- USA
- Primary Role
- Bomber
- Status
- Retired
- Service Entry
- 1948
- Produced
- 143
- Propulsion
- Electric
- Engine
- 4x General Electric J47-GE-13 turbojets
- Thrust / Power
- 5,200 lbf each
- Launch
- Ground
- Length (ft)
- 75.4
- Wingspan (ft)
- 89
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 46921
- MTOW (lb)
- 112952
- Payload (lb)
- 22000
- Endurance (hr)
- 4
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 43200
- Range (mi)
- 1910
- Max Speed (mph)
- 580
- Max Speed (Mach)
- 0.78
- Armament
- 2x .50 cal tail guns; bombs/nuclear