Blast From The Past, B-47 Stratojet

The XB-47 first flew on December 17, 1947, With its 35-degree swept wings and six podded let engines, the XB-47 was the first swept wing bomber bought by the U.S. Air Force. In total the USAF bought 2,042 B-47's, which served as a bombers, photo reconnaissance, weather reconnaissance, ELINT, ECM and flying test bed aircraft. The most prevalent model was the B47E,the B-47E was basically the standardized production version of the Stratojet, and incorporated many innovations that had been suggested by experience with the B-47B. It was equipped with six General Electric J47-GE-25 engines, which offered static thrust of 7200 pounds with water injection. It also had JATO units installed. Early planes had the eighteen units internal JATO system but this was s soon replaced by a jettisonable rack that contained 33 1000 lb. static thrust units that could be dropped following takeoff. The B-47E was fitted from the start with an approach chute to increase drag and a brake chute to decrease the landing roll. An anti-skid braking device was also fitted. Later production blocks of the E model saw the incorporation of upgraded radar and ECM packages, stronger landing gear for increased take-off weight, and upgraded defensive armament. 240 E models were built with a special camera housing in the nose and they became the RB-47 photoreconnaissance model. Some 35 E models were converted to WB-47E weather recon aircraft and The last WB-47E was actually the last operational B-47 in the Air Force inventory it was delivered to Davis-Monthan AFB on October 31, 1969.

Specifications of the Boeing B-47E Stratojet:

Powerplant:Six General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojets, 5970 lbs. static thrust dry and 7200lbs static thrust with water injection

Performance:Maximum speed: 607 mph (528 knots) at 16,300 feet. 557 mph (484 knots) at 38,500 feet

Cruising speed: 500 mph (434 knots)Stalling speed: 175 mph (152 knots)

Service ceiling: 33,100 feet Combat ceiling: 40,500 feet

Combat radius: 2013 miles (1744 nautical miles) with a 10,845 pound bomb load

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 116 feet 0 inches
Length: 107 feet 0 inches
Height: 27 feet 11 inches
Wing area 1428 square feet
Weights:Empty: 79,074 pounds Combat: 133,030 pounds Gross: 198,180 pounds Maximum takeoff: 230,000 pounds

Armament:
Two 20-mm M24A1 cannon in tail
Maximum bomb load: 25,000 pounds