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Aviation / Aerospace

Boeing B-47 Stratojet


Strategic Medium / Heavy Bomber Aircraft [ 1951 ]



The Boeing B-47 scored many firsts in the realm of high-altitude jet-powered bomber aircraft - including a tricycle-style undercarriage configuration.



Authored By: Dan Alex | Last Edited: 05/20/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]
The swept-wing B-47 Stratojet produced by Boeing was a milestone in American bomber design in several ways. The system pioneered the now-traditional bomber layout found on many of today's bomber aircraft and offered up performance capabilities unheard of before then. As a post-war/Cold War aircraft design, the system was the epitome of what the American military sought in terms of high-level penetration systems capable of nuclear strikes deep within enemy territory.

The XB-47 was proposed as early as 1945 - the final year of World War 2 - and beat out a notable flying wing design proposed by the Northrop aviation firm. Two XB-47 prototypes were constructed as SN 46-065 and 46-066. Each was initially powered by 6 x Allison J35-GE-7 turbojet engines slung under each swept-back wing with both prototypes eventually receiving General Electric J47-GE-3 turbojets. The engines were split into pairings and single mounts as individual nacelles. The aircraft was crewed by three personnel made up of two pilots and a bombardier. From there, the first XB-47 achieved first flight in 1947.

With its immense size, the B-47 made use of no fewer than eighteen rocket-propelled boosters to help it achieve flight, resulting in a dazzling display of power and smoke upon take-off. To decrease runway landing distances, the Stratojet deployed a drag chute to significantly slow the airframe down upon landing - a practice utilized even today in modern aircraft types. An impressive inherent range meant that the B-47 was ideally suited to forward and rearward operating bases across Europe and the United States. In an age before accurate surface-to-air missile systems became the norm, the B-47 was really only threatened by the latest in the delta wing interceptors of the Soviet Union. As such, since the rear portion of any bomber was susceptible to attack from interceptors, the B-47 mounted two remote-controlled 12.7mm machine guns (later upgraded to 20mm cannons) in her tail. As far as her external design goes, the B-47 was conventional with a forward held cockpit (including glazed nosecone), a cylindrical fuselage and a conventional empennage mounting a single vertical tail fin and applicable horizontal planes. At rest, the aircraft took on a noticeable "nose up" position that required the use of a rolling ladder platform for the crew to gain entry. The undercarriage consisted of a pair of double-tired landing gear legs along the fuselage centerline with a pair of smaller single-tired legs under the inner pair of engine nacelles. With the advent of improved Soviet surface-to-air missile systems (SAM), the B-47 was forced to take more of a low-level bombing role and thus the structure was optimized for the rigors of such flight. Internal ordnance was finalized in the B-47E model which could carry 25,000lb of munitions in the form of 2 x Mk 15 nuclear drop bombs or up to 28 x 500lb conventional drop bombs.

The B-47A was the initial production model serving as evaluation airframes numbering ten examples. The first unit was delivered in December of 1950 and followed closely to the original XB-47 prototypes fitted with J47-GE-11 series turbojet engines of 5,200lbf. At least four were fitted with autopilot and their nav-attack systemsas well as radar. Ejection seats were afforded the two pilots and the bombardier - the former's seats ejecting upwards with the latter's seat ejecting downwards. B-47A models were in service up until 1952 and were followed into service by the improved B-47B models.

B-47Bs served as the first true operational forms of the Stratojet to which the USAF put on order some 87 examples. First flight was on April 26th, 1951 and the dire need by the USAF to field the B-47 ensured a total of 399 B-47Bs were delivered. The first production batch was fitted with J47-GE-11 engines with follow up deliveries being given J47-GE-23 series turbojets of 5,800lbf. Since the B-47 series, up to this point, held an inherently short operational range, an in-flight refueling boom was added to the right side of the nose section to help increase range as well as jettisonable external fuel tanks between the outboard and inner pairing of engines. The addition of this assembly deleted the bombardier's glazed nose cone. The resulting changes produced a heavier end-product than the XB-47 and B-47A before it and several weight-saving measures were enacted - including the removal of the ejection seats.

A specialized reconnaissance version of the B-47 existed - aptly designated as the RB-47 - with extensive onboard Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) equipment installed. The similarities between the B-47 and the RB-47 were consistent which allowed all RB-47s to be retrofitted to carry bombs if need be. Despite the inherently limited internal carrying capacity of the base aircraft - either for munitions or electronics equipment - the B-47 made up for it in quantity with over 2,000 produced in one form or another - many eventually seeing operation with the Strategic Air Command (SAC). The RB-47B consisted of 24 B-47B airframes modified for the reconnaissance role - these fitting eight internal cameras in the forward bomb bay. Of note was that these airframes were only capable of daylight operations.©MilitaryFactory.com
TB-47B were trainer conversion models of the B-47B production model. At least 66 of B-models were converted as such and saw the loss of their defensive tail armament as well as the inclusion of a fourth position seat for the instructor.

The Stratojet existed in several short-live forms that included the YDB-47B missile launcher platform, the WB-47B weather reconnaissance platform, the KB-47B refueler and the CL-52 from Canadair to be used as a test airframe for the Orenda Iroquois engine to power their (ultimately) cancelled Avro CF-105 Arrow interceptor. Similarly, a B-47E was loaned to the United States Navy for the testing of the GE TF34-2 turbofan engine to be used in the Lockheed S-3 Viking anti-submarine aircraft and designated as the NB-47E. Several specialized ECM conversion models existed and were noted for their "E" designators as in the EB-47E, EB-47E(TT) and ETB-47E. The JB-47E was used to test early fly-by-wire systems while QB-47E were radio-controlled target drones.

Boeing further proposed a four engine variant of the B-47 to be powered by 4 x Allison J35-A-23 turbojet engines of 10,090 thrust each. Engine issues eventually delayed and ultimately cancelled this Stratojet version in December of 1952. The XB-47D was an experimental platform fielding Wright turboprops for the USAF but was never furthered after performance did not improve over that of the original's turbojets.

The markers of B-47C and B-47D were assigned to specialized B-47 variants that were never selected for serial production by the USAF.

The definitive B-47 became the B-47E model. First flight was recorded on January 30th, 1953 fielding J47-GE-25 turbojet engines of 5,970lbf. These were then upgraded to the J47-GE-25A series engines sporting water-methanol injection systems to provide extra thrust during take-off. The original 18 JATO packs were further increased to 33 and could be jettisoned after use. Ejection seats were brought back into the fold. The defensive tail armament was upgraded to a pairing of 20mm cannons. The second B-47E production block differed little when compared to the first while the third block added an Electronic CounterMeasures (ECM) suite and chaff dispenser, the former noted as an under-fuselage bulge. The fourth production block featured a reinforced airframe and landing gear as well as an increased internal fuel capacity and, therefore, longer range. The internal bomb load was increased to an extend as well (25,000lbs) but made smaller to accommodate the smaller technology of newer nuclear ordnance. The B-47E was produced in 1,341 examples with production handled by Boeing, Lockheed and Douglas facilities.

As the B-47B before it, the B-47E was also modified for the reconnaissance role to become theRB-47E to which some 240 examples were built. These were noted for their elongated nose assemblies which housed up to eleven cameras. Night reconnaissance was now possible with the newer RB-47Es. The B-47E was also modified for the weather reconnaissance role as the WB-47E to which 34 were produced.

The RB-47H was an ELINT (ELectronic INTelligence) platform and were joined by a further variant known as the ERB-47H. These were noted for their blistered noses and pressurized bomb bays (serving as a crew cabin) and differentiated by the latter's antenna fairing under the nose. RB-47K were utilized in weather reconnaissance roles up until 1963. The EB-47L was used as an airborne communications relay platform (in the advent of all-out nuclear war) beginning in 1963.

By 1965, the B-47 program had all but run its course, now replaced by the Convair B-58 Hustler and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress series of bombers (both aircraft detailed elsewhere on this site). Despite this somewhat average span for operational service, the B-47 became a major contributor to the United States Air Force in terms of strategic defense and deterrence. Serving as a capable high- or low-level bomber and reconnaissance platform ensured the system a good historical reputation and paved the way for future American bomber designs capitalizing on the successes pioneered in the groundbreaking B-47.©MilitaryFactory.com
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Specifications



Service Year
1951

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Status
RETIRED
Not in Service.
Crew
3

Production
2,039
UNITS


National flag of Canada National flag of the United States Canada; United States
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.


Length
108.0 ft
(32.92 m)
Width/Span
116.1 ft
(35.40 m)
Height
28.0 ft
(8.54 m)
Empty Wgt
79,073 lb
(35,867 kg)
MTOW
229,999 lb
(104,326 kg)
Wgt Diff
+150,926 lb
(+68,459 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Boeing B-47E-IV Stratojet production variant)
Installed: 6 x General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojet engines generating 7,200 lb of thrust each; 1 x 36,000lb rocket system for JATO launch.
Max Speed
600 mph
(965 kph | 521 kts)
Ceiling
40,499 ft
(12,344 m | 8 mi)
Range
3,870 mi
(6,228 km | 11,534 nm)
Rate-of-Climb
4,350 ft/min
(1,326 m/min)


♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Boeing B-47E-IV Stratojet production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD (B-47B):
2 x 12.5mm heavy machine guns in rear remote-controlled powered turret.

STANDARD (B-47E):
2 x 20mm cannons in rear remote-controlled powered turret.

OPTIONAL:
Up to 25,000lbs of internal ordnance to include both nuclear and conventional drop bombs.


Supported Types


Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon
Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition
Graphical image of an air-launched nuclear weapon


(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0


Model 424 - Initial Model Designation
Model 432 - Secondary Model Designation accepted and allowed for further development contracts.
Model 448 - Swept Flying Wing surfaces from captured German research.
Model 450 - Six engines moved from fuselage positions to underwing nacelles.
XB-47 - Prototype Model Designation fitted with 6 x Allison J35-2 turbojet engines of which two ordered/produced.
B-47 - Production Series Designation
B-47A - Developmental Models of which 10 were produced.
B-47B - First Operational Service Variant of which 399 were produced.
B-47E - Fitted with uprated engines, inflight refueling capabilities, ejection seats and updated operational systems; 1,591 produced of this type.
B-47B-II - Same as the B-47B models except for overall re-strengthening of the structure.
B-47E-II - Same as the B-47E models except for overall re-strengthening of the structure.
RB-47B - Reconnaissance Variant


General Assessment
Firepower  
Performance  
Survivability  
Versatility  
Impact  
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
84
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 750mph
Lo: 375mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (600mph).

Graph average of 563 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
 
  LON
LON
 
  PAR
PAR
 
  BER
BER
 
  MOS
MOS
 
  TOK
TOK
 
  SYD
SYD
 
  LAX
LAX
 
  NYC
Boeing B-47E-IV Stratojet operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Small airplane graphic
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Pie graph section
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (2,039)
2039
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
>>

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