Boeing B-52 Stratofortress B-52G

The B-52G was proposed to extend the B-52's service life during delays in the B-58 Hustler program. A radical redesign with a completely new wing and Pratt & Whitney J75 engines was rejected to avoid slowing production, though many changes were made: the most significant was a new "wet" wing with integral fuel tanks, increasing gross weight by 38,000 lb, plus a pair of 700-US-gallon external tanks under the wings. Traditional ailerons were eliminated, with roll control provided entirely by spoilers; the tail fin was shortened by 8 ft, water-injection capacity was increased to 1,200 US gallons, and the nose radome was enlarged. The tail gunner was relocated to the forward fuselage with an ejection seat. The B-52G entered service on 13 February 1959 (a day after the last B-36 was retired, making SAC an all-jet bomber force). 193 were built, the highest total in the B-52 family; most were destroyed under the 1992 START treaty, and the last one (serial 58-224) was dismantled in December 2013 under New START.