B-3 Tornado
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The B-3 Tornado is a Latin American strategic bomber that has, in one version or another, been in continuous service with the FAEC for over fifty years. The B-3 was conceived shortly after the foundation of the ECAL to replace the three bombers operated at the time, the B-1 (Avro Lincoln), B-29 Washington, and B-2 (B-47 Stratojet).
The initial B-3 was based on an unused jet airliner design. The aircraft was a massive narrowbody, with six engines. It flopped against the far more efficient and cost-effective Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8. The design was developed into a strategic bomber. The whole aircraft was lifted 8 feet, and a lower fuselage with weapons bays was added. The pressurised compartment in the upper fuselage (for the passenger cabin, and the cockpit) was replaced by three pressure compartments for the cockpit, the gunner's station, and the tail gunner's position. The YB-3 was powered by 10 engines, was armed with 8 20mm cannon and 2 30 mm cannon, and had the following crew:
- Pilot
- Co-pilot
- Navigator
- Flight Engineer
- Bombardier
- ECM/Radio Operator
- Gun Captain
- 3 Central Gunners
- Tail gunner
It could carry a bomb load consisting of two nuclear bombs, or up to 40,000lbs of conventional bombs.
The massive and complex YB-3 was quickly rejected.
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B-3A
This version, with eight turbofan engines and a tail gun position only was adopted by the FAEC in 1959. No more exist, all being scrapped in the mid 1970's.
B-3B
This aircraft introduced solid state computers to bombing when it entered service in 1968. It also had a vastly extended conventional weapons load (80,000lbs), thanks to better packaging of the bomb load. It also introduced outer wing external fuel tanks, and four hard points for bombs.
The B-3B's were converted to tankers in the 1980's, and are now retired.
B-3C
The B-3C, intended for the 1980's entered service in 1979. It had four JT9D engines, an early electro-optical/FLIR system, and was intended for low level penetration. It also had to support the new cruise missiles.
B-3D
The current B-3D entered service in 1996. It has no gun armament, and a revised crew:
- Pilot
- Co-pilot
- Offensive Systems Officer
- Defensive Systems Officer
The aircraft also has new engines (RR Trent), the ability to support such weapons as JDAM, a completely new avionics system, higher bombload (89,000lbs), composites in the structure, vastly increased range, and an on-board self-start capability.
General description
The B-3 Tornado is a large four engined, mid-wing heavy bomber. The frontal profile of the fuselage bears a resemblence to the number 8. Wings are long, swept, and have dihedral. Tail surfaces are also swept. The four engines are carried in underwing pods.
