B-47 Stratojet

The B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engine, jet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes to avoid enemy interception. The B-47's mission was primarily to deliver nuclear ordnance on designated targets. With its engines carried in pods under the swept wing, the B-47 was a major innovation in post-World War II combat jet design and helped lead to modern jet airliners.

Service

The B-47 entered service with the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1951. It was a mainstay of SAC's bomber strength during the 1950s and early 1960s and remained in use as a bomber until 1965. It was also adapted to a number of other missions, including photo reconnaissance, electronic intelligence, and weather reconnaissance, remaining in service as a reconnaissance platform until 1969 and as a testbed until 1977.

Testing

This aircraft served most of its operational life as a testbed for various projects. Most notable is the development of "fly-by-wire" systems. The ability to control aircraft surfaces such as flaps, ailerons, etc. with digital technology is the direct result of work performed using this aircraft as the testbed.

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