Description
This note examines the possibility of achieving long range with turbo-jet bombers designed to cruise at supersonic speeds. It is concluded that still air ranges up to 5000 miles from the top of the climb are possible at low supersonic speeds in view of recent aerodynamic advances. At Mach numbers between 1.5 and 2.0, however, maximum range appears to decrease to about 3000 miles. In all cases little increase in range is achieved by increasing aircraft gross weight above 300,000 to 400,000 pounds. Altitudes over the target are over 50,000 ft., and in some cases 70,000 ft.
