Evening star., 1949-12-26
Range Rise Predicted
For Air Force BAT
JET Bomber Soon
BY the Associoted Press

BY the Associated Press
The Air Force predicts that the
range of its 600-mile -an-hour
Boeing BAT jet bomber will be
increased shortly.
The increase would be the Sec
ond indication since the plane
flew 2,289 miles across the United
States at an average ground speed
of GOT miles an hour last Febru-
ary. it was said.
Air Force officials explained yes
terday that an experimental BAT
is being equipped with jet engines
more economical of fuel than
either the engines used in that
flight or more powerful ones
adopted subsequently.
Although the BAT Stratojet flew
2,289 miles last February, the Air
Force placed it's combat radius at
that time only at more than 800
miles" That meant it could take
bomb load to a target more than
300 miles away. flying at combat
attitudes, and return with a small
fuel reserve.
Tested With New Engines.
The experimental Bat that
made the long flight in three hours
and 46 minutes was equipped with
six General Electric J-35 jet en-
gines, each of which developed
about 1000 pounds of thrust.
Last October 8. a BAT was
flight-tested with General Electric
J-47 jet engines that the Air
Force said developed more than
5000 pounds of thrust each.
The Air Force officials said to-
day the J-47 engines gave the
bomber more speed and are ex-
pected to increase its combat
radius to more than 1000 miles"
That accounts for the first ex-
pected increase in range.
The J-47 engines have been
adopted for Is production model
Bat bombers now being built at
the Boeing factory at Wichita,
Kans. The first of these planes
Is due off the production line
next spring.
A. F. Has Only Two B-47s.
Meanwhile, officials said. tests
with an improved model of the
J-35 jet engine showed it is more
economical on fuel than the J-47
engine. They added that the i'm
proved J-35, like the J-47, de-
velops more than $500 pounds
of thrust.
AS result. the officials said,
an experimental Bat Stratojet
also is being equipped in the Boe-
ing factory at Wichita with the
improved J-35 engines.
II flight tests confirm expecta-
tions, they declared. the bomber's
combat radius will be pushed far
ther past 1000 miles, and the next
batch of Bats placed in produc-
tion will be equipped with the
fuel-saving engines.
The Air Force now has only
two of the BAT bombers, both
experimental models.
In addition to the Is others
now in production, the service is
reported planning to purchase 81
more with funds available for the
year ending next June 80.
Won't Approach B-36 Range.
While officials expect the planes
combat radius to be increased by
better engines, they have no ex-
pectation that it's increased range
will even approach that of the
controversial Consolidated-Vultee
B-36. --.s
The B-36, which Navy officers
criticized in House hearingS last
fall, has flown more than 10000
miles. carrying a f1ve-ton bomb
load which it dropped beyond the
halfway mark.
During House hearings on Navy
officers charges that the Defense
Department placed too much en-
phasis on the transcontinental
bomber, Admiral Arthur w. Rad
ford, the Pacific Fleet commander,
said the Bat is a better plane
than the B-36.
The Air Force rates the Bat
as a medium bomber, the B-36 as
q heavy. It has advised Congress
the B-36's successor as a long
range bomber is now in the design
stage.