Why Does The B-52 Bomber Have Eight Engines?

[rangerrebew]

Why Does The B-52 Bomber Have Eight Engines?
Story by Bob Sharp • 2h


The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is a living testament to the saying -- if it ain't broken, don't fix it. Boasting a service career that now numbers over seven decades, it is expected to remain in service until the 2050s, potentially making it a 100-year-old aircraft before it finally earns a well-deserved retirement. However, unlike more modern larger aircraft that typically have two or four engines, the B-52 is powered by eight Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3/103 turbofan engines, each capable of producing 17,000 pounds of thrust. This is a lot of engines and all are needed to power a bomber that has a maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 244 US tons. However, eight engines might seem like overkill, especially when a modern airliner like the heavyweight Airbus A380 has an MTOW of 575 tons and only has four engines.

 
The story behind this design is largely due to the age of the aircraft. While the B-52 engines produce 17,000 pounds of thrust each, the four massive Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines fitted to some A380s are each capable of producing 70,000 pounds of thrust. Indeed, the first iterations of the plane (the B-52A and B-52B) were powered by eight Pratt & Whitney J57 engines, the first turbojet capable of producing 10,000 pounds of thrust. Still, the planes were considered underpowered. Ultimately, it was this lack of power that saw the J57 replaced by the more powerful TF33 in later variants. In short, the B-52 needed eight engines because of the constraints of the engine technology of the age.
 

Re-Engining A Legend
 
To keep the B-52 operational until the 2050s, the United States Air Force decided to re-engine its most iconic plane. While the potential for this has been cited a few times over the years, it wasn't until 2021 that Rolls-Royce was awarded the contract that would effectively keep the old lady flying for another 30 years. However, while this might seem like an opportunity to reduce the number of engines, the contract involves replacing the existing engines with eight Rolls-Royce F-130 engines, in a like-for-like swap -- there are sound technological and practical reasons for sticking to this configuration.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-does-the-b-52-bomber-have-eight-engines/ar-AA1JLYYc?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=688df93576314c2bb05f7587c6eb8ede&ei=68

[BobfromWB]

Why Does The B-52 Bomber Have Eight Engines?

Because the other 2 were too heavy?

[Hoodat]

If eight is good enough for Santa, then it should be good enough for a B-52.

[MeganC]

"Why Does The B-52 Bomber Have Eight Engines?"

Better question: Why can't we build a newer, better, faster bomber?

[BobfromWB]

"Why Does The B-52 Bomber Have Eight Engines?"

Better question: Why can't we build a newer, better, faster bomber?

The B-21 is the latest, newest, fastest bomber

AI answer:

B21 raider

The Northrop Grumman
Raider is an American stealth strategic bomber in development for the United States Air Force (USAF) as part of the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program. It is designed to replace the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit by 2040 and potentially the B-52 Stratofortress afterward. The first B-21 aircraft was unveiled in December 2022, and its first flight took place on November 10, 2023. As of mid-2025, three B-21 aircraft are undergoing flight testing, with more in production.

Development and Testing: The B-21 program began in 2011, with the first flight occurring in November 2023. By September 2024, three airworthy B-21s were involved in program testing.

The second developmental test aircraft was expected to begin flight testing, with the Air Force planning to have at least 100 B-21s in service by the early 2030s.

Design and Features: The B-21 is a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber capable of delivering both conventional and thermonuclear weapons. It is designed with a flying-wing configuration, modular open systems architecture, and advanced stealth technology. The aircraft is slightly smaller than the B-2 but has a longer range.

Production: The B-21 is assembled at the USAF Plant 42 near Palmdale, California. Low-rate initial production (LRIP) began in early 2024, with the goal of producing up to 10 units per year as the program transitions to full-rate production.

Significance: The B-21 is named in honor of the Doolittle Raiders of World War II and is intended to play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability. It is considered the world's first sixth-generation aircraft and is expected to form the backbone of the future USAF bomber force alongside the B-52.

[Cyber Liberty]

I always thought they had eight engines because six weren't enough.   

[rustynail]

 "six turning, four burning" , those were the days.

[Smokin Joe]

The B-21 has a 20,000 lb capacity in the internal weapons bay.

The B-2 can carry two 30,000 lb MOPs

The B-52, up to 70,000 lbs.

All are nuclear capable.

The right tool for the right job.