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Quest for Performance: The Evolution
of Modern Aircraft
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- Part II: THE JET AGE
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- Chapter 12: Jet Bomber and Attack
Aircraft
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- Conclusion
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- [405] First discussed
in this chapter were early jet-powered bombers that, from a
technical point of view, were little more than World War II-type
configurations powered with jet engines. Revolutionary new design
concepts for long-range, high-speed subsonic aircraft were then
pioneered by the large Boeing B-47 and, later, the B-52
jet-powered bombers. Because of continuing disagreement and debate
over the relative effectiveness of manned bombers as contrasted
with ballistic and cruise missiles, however, subsequent bomber
development has been sporadic and has yielded no new advanced
long-range subsonic aircraft. The further development and
refinement of this class of aircraft has taken place in the field
of civil transports. Evolution of this class of vehicle, which has
had such a profound effect on modern society, is discussed in
chapter
13. Military explorations into
supersonic bomber aircraft have been largely unproductive.
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- The attack aircraft discussed in this
chapter do not represent any significant advancement in
air-vehicle technology but have provided a useful capability to
the armed services that far exceeds anything possible with
propeller-driven aircraft.
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