B-47B
STRATOJET
| The Boeing B-47, the world's
first swept-wing bomber, made its initial flight on Dec. 17, 1947 and quantity
deliveries began in 1951. When production ended in 1957, more than 1,200
Stratojets were serving with the Strategic Air Command at USAF bases throughout
the world.
The B-47 normally carried
a crew of three: pilot, copilot (who operated the tail turret by remote
control), and an observer who also served as navigator, bombardier, and
radar operator. In the RB-47 reconnaissance version, the navigator also
operated the camera equipment.
The B-47E was the first USAF
aircraft to incorporate a "fly-by-wire" primary flight control system in
which the pilot's command controls are transmitted to the control surfaces
by electrical wires rather than by cables and mechanical linkages. |
 |
 |
The wings have as much as
17 feet of flex at the wing tips.
First flown in 1947, the
B-47 was the first of the big swept-wing bombers. A 35-degree sweep and
six engines made the B-47 a very fast and formidable bomber.
By the late 1960s, the B-47
was obsolete and was removed from operational service.
Our plane suffered two major
accidents: first, an engine exploded and ripped 18 feet from the right
wing; second, a hard landing permanently grounded the plane. |
| SPECIFICATIONS |
|
| Span: |
116 feet |
| Length: |
107 feet 1 inch |
| Height: |
28 feet |
| Weight: |
226,000 lbs. max |
| Armament: |
Two M-24 20mm cannons in
tail turret;
plus nuclear bombs or; 10,000
lbs. of conventional bombs |
| Engines: |
Six (6) General Electric
J47-GE-23 turbojets with 7,200 lbs. thrust each |
| Crew: |
Two (2) |
| Cost: |
$ 1,888,000 |
| Tail Number: |
51-2315 |
| Years in Service: |
1952-1971 |
| Total B-47's Produced: |
2,042 |
| Total B-47 Remaining: |
29 |
| Used By: |
United States Air Force
(2,040)
United States Navy (2 -
EB-47E) |
|
|
| PERFORMANCE |
|
| Maximum Speed: |
630 mph |
| Cruising Speed: |
560 mph |
| Range: |
3,500 miles |
| Service Ceiling: |
39,300 feet |
To learn more about
the exciting possibilities at Grissom Air Museum, view our Site Map or
Contact us.
Call us today at (765)
689-8011
Have questions? Contact
us today. Inquiries are always welcome.
This site is © Copyright
Grissom Air Museum 1982 - 2007, All Rights Reserved.
|
|
