Academy 2156 RB-50G Reconnaissance

The Boeing RB-50G was an American electronic reconnaissance aircraft from the early post-war period. The main propulsion was provided by four Pratt and Whitney R-4360-35 engines with 3,500 HP each. The length of the aircraft was 30.18 meters with a wingspan of 43.05 meters. The maximum speed reached approx. 630 km / h. The Boeing RB-50G was created as a result of the conversion of the RB-50B aircraft, which in turn was created by adapting the B-50B strategic bomber to reconnaissance tasks. The latter, in turn, was a highly modernized version of the B-29 Superfortress bomber from the Second World War. Compared to its predecessor, it received mainly new engines with more power, a reinforced fuselage and wings, as well as other minor modernizations. These changes have led to a significant improvement in performance - especially top speed. The RB-50B aircraft was created by rebuilding the serial B-50B by adding photographic equipment, instruments for meteorological measurements and places for additional crew members. Some of the RB-50B machines (exactly 15 pieces) have been modernized to the RB-50G standard by adding much better navigation equipment and specialized electronic reconnaissance equipment. Airplanes of this type operated near the borders of the USSR or in the airspace of that country from bases in Great Britain, Turkey or Japan. Their main task was to conduct reconnaissance of the Soviet anti-aircraft defense.