Airplanes+of+the+Cold+War

The Cold War lasted between the 1940's and 1990's and brought out the best aircraft advances, research, design and development. As the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union got stronger, jets were being develloped and became a huge threat. For instince if the United States made a new bomber, then the Soviets would feel threatened by it and make one that was as powerful if not more powerful. This fight for power teater totered back and forth therefore many different aircrafts were produced and they improved drastically. The Cold War fight for power between the Soviet Union and United States had a great significance. Without this fight for power our airplanes and jets would not be what they are today. Through this time huge advances were made in the research of planes, and jets were introduced. The controversy and fight for power forced the formation of better, faster, more powerful aircraft and a lot of research was uncovered. Who knows where our jets and aircraft would be without the devollopment they went through in the Cold War.
 * Aircraft in the Cold War**
 * "The Jet Age"**

Boeing B-52 Bomber- a long range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high speeds and up to 50 000 feet in the air. The B-52 empowered the United States to bomb any country limitless. The plane took its first flight on April 15, 1952. It is a huge plane that has a dorsal fin of 48 feet (5 stories), and the the wings had an area of 4,000 square feet. []
 * United States**

Convair B-36- The aircraft was nicknamed "Peacemaker". It was a strategic bomber operated solely by the United States Air Force (USAF). The B-36 was the largest mass-produced piston engine aircraft ever made and had the and had the largest wingspan in a combat aircraft ever built (230 ft). The B-36 was the first bomber capable of delivering thermonucleur weapons from within a fully enclosed bomb-bay. It could carry 72 000 lbs of materials and there for was a great accet to the United States. []

Tupolev TU-16- a large aircraft powered by four turboprop engines with double contra-rotating propellers. Today the TU-16 is still the fastest existing turboprop plane and arguably the noisiest. The plane got the nickname "the bear" due to its size and deafening roar. It's capability of travelling long range threatened the United States strategic targets.
 * Soviet Union**

Sukhoi SU-7- The plane was a soviet bomber that was highly criticized. It was not very accurate bomber and caused large numbers of civilian casualties and collateral damage. The reporting name or nickname of the bomber was "fencer". It was the soviets most advanced all-weather aircraft and attack jet. It remains in service with the Soviet air forces. []

TU-26- the last word in Cold War Aircrafts. The TU-26 backfire bomber was far superior to any American contender, but also broke the Soviet Unions arms budget.

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