Boeing B-47 Stratojet
Boeing · United States · first flew 1947 · bomber
The first mass-produced swept-wing jet bomber, whose six engines and thin flexible wing set the pattern for jet airliners to come.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slim fuselage with a fighter-style bubble canopy and bicycle landing gear |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Six turbojets arranged in two inner twin pods and two outer single pods
- Thin, sharply swept high-mounted wing that flexes markedly
- Slim fuselage with a fighter-style bubble canopy and bicycle landing gear
Count six engines split into two inner twin pods and two outer singles under a thin, markedly flexing high swept wing. The slim fuselage, bubble canopy and tandem bicycle undercarriage distinguish it from the larger, eight-engined B-52.
Specifications
- The Boeing B-47 Stratojet has a length of 33.5 m (110 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 35.4 m (116 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 977 km/h (607 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Boeing's B-47 first flew in 1947 and entered Strategic Air Command service in 1951, pioneering the thin swept wing with podded engines that would define the jet age. Built in enormous numbers, it formed the backbone of America's nuclear deterrent through the 1950s before the B-52 supplanted it.
Variants
The definitive B-47E bomber was joined by RB-47 reconnaissance versions and a range of specialised electronic and weather-research conversions. Thousands were produced across the family.
Where you'll see it
An American SAC bomber rather than an RAF type, the B-47 nonetheless operated reflex deployments from British bases such as RAF Brize Norton and RAF Fairford during the Cold War, putting the deterrent within reach of Soviet targets.
Related aircraft
- Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
- Boeing B-50 Superfortress
- Boeing KB-29
- Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
- Convair XB-46
- Ilyushin Il-22
- Martin XB-48
- North American B-45 Tornado
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