B-47 Stratojet: Insurmountable Threat For Soviet Union

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - B-47 Stratojet: Insurmountable Threat For Soviet Union

Posted: 9/10/2010 3:59:13 PM EDT

Was watching "Top Ten Bombers" from the military channel and they started talking about this really neat bomber during the cold war called the B-4 Stratojet. They had some interesting things to say about it....

"For a long time the B-47 was an insurmountable threat to the Soviet Union"

But by mid-1948 it became clear to the Air Force and Boeing executives that the airplane far surpassed all of its contemporaries with straight wings. Test pilot Chuck Yeager was sent to follow a B-47 in a jet fighter to check its speed. He radioed to the B-47's civilian pilot, "I can't keep up."

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:00:29 PM EDT

[#1]

" If these things were so good, how come they discontinued its service? "

B-52

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:01:37 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:

" If these things were so good, how come they discontinued its service? "

B-52

Yeah, but B-52 is only better in terms of payload.

The fastest jets for a long time couldn't catch the B-47.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:02:25 PM EDT

[#3]

Wasnt the 52 also longer ranged?

and could carry a wider range of weapons

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:02:34 PM EDT

[#4]

Because the russians developed something that would keep up.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:02:48 PM EDT

[#5]

B-52 is 43mph faster than a B-47.

..according to my 20 second wiki research.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:04:08 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:

B-52 is 43mph faster than a B-47.

..according to my 20 second wiki research.

lol. I guess ur right.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:05:26 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Because the russians developed something that would keep up.

"If we was flying any lower... why, we would need sleigh bells on this thing."

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:05:41 PM EDT

[#8]

beautiful

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:07:50 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
" If these things were so good, how come they discontinued its service? "

B-52

Plus the toss bombing delivery flight profile was cracking the wings.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:09:19 PM EDT

[#10]

The Navy operated the last two B-47's.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:13:10 PM EDT

[#11]

Isn't this the one were they issued SAC pilots an eye patch, to be worn just before dropping the NUKE, so they'd still have an un-blind eye to fly home with.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:15:24 PM EDT

[#12]

my dad flew them and loved them, but he was under no illusions about them being an "insurmountable problem" for the USSR. he told me once "we had a recovery profile that had us landing in turkey, but none of us was under any illusions that it was anything other than a one way ticket".

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:16:45 PM EDT

[#13]

one of the most gorgeous aircraft ever built

this thread reminds me that "Strategic Air Command" needs to be made in DVD

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:20:08 PM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
one of the most gorgeous aircraft ever built

this thread reminds me that "Strategic Air Command" needs to be made in DVD

+1!

She is a sexy bitch, that's for sure.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:22:46 PM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
The Navy operated the last two B-47's.

http://www.vaq34.com/junk/24100_52-0410_EB-47E_Navy_19771000c.jpg

That was some SIGINT varient? I know the Air Force used them as SIGINT versions prior to adapting the C-135 airframe, I believe.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:23:22 PM EDT

[#16]

I would have been cool to have had those four years earlier.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:25:02 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
The Navy operated the last two B-47's.

http://www.vaq34.com/junk/24100_52-0410_EB-47E_Navy_19771000c.jpg

That was some SIGINT varient? I know the Air Force used them as SIGINT versions prior to adapting the C-135 airframe, I believe.

EW trainer.
FEWSG asset.

Posted: 9/10/2010 4:33:25 PM EDT

[#18]

RATO for the win! (Rocket Assisted Takeoff)

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:05:12 PM EDT

[#19]

had this as my backround for a while

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:08:18 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Was watching "Top Ten Bombers" from the military channel and they started talking about this really neat bomber during the cold war called the B-4 Stratego jet. They had some interesting things to say about it....

I lol'ed.

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:22:50 PM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:

had this as my backround for a while

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Strategic_Air_Command_B-47_Stratojets_-_020903-o-9999r-001.jpg

And now it's my background on my work computer, thanks!

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:26:35 PM EDT

[#22]

I saw that show too. Pretty cool.

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:39:59 PM EDT

[#23]

Amazing to think that at one time we had 2000 of those in service. In that sense it would be 'insurmountable' - no way the USSR could stop waves of those in the hundreds swarming their airspace.

Now we can't even get 200 of the latest fighters into service.

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:44:21 PM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
RATO for the win! (Rocket Assisted Takeoff)

If the "Smokers" in "Waterworld" had a bomber, this is the one they would have flown...

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:46:18 PM EDT

[#25]

Quoted:
Amazing to think that at one time we had 2000 of those in service. In that sense it would be 'insurmountable' - no way the USSR could stop waves of those in the hundreds swarming their airspace.

Now we can't even get 200 of the latest fighters into service.

plus around 300 B-36s until 1959, later 744 B-52s, and B-58s

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:47:03 PM EDT

[#26]

Video to spank to -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqIJL8lx00o

Posted: 9/10/2010 5:48:34 PM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:

one of the most gorgeous aircraft ever built

this thread reminds me that "Strategic Air Command" needs to be made in DVD

Sorta: Link

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:08:15 PM EDT

[#28]

There's a B-47 sitting forlornly outside at WPAFB. Not at the museum, but closer to the annex. Poor bird needs to be restored to flying condition for the air show circuit, like they did with the Vulcan in England. If they're going to waste money restoring the XC-99 (currently in pieces outside), they can do this.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:08:35 PM EDT

[#29]

Quoted:

one of the most gorgeous aircraft ever built

this thread reminds me that "Strategic Air Command" needs to be made in DVD Blu Ray

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:27:40 PM EDT

[#30]

Quoted:
There's a B-47 sitting forlornly outside at WPAFB. Not at the museum, but closer to the annex. Poor bird needs to be restored to flying condition for the air show circuit, like they did with the Vulcan in England. If they're going to waste money restoring the XC-99 (currently in pieces outside), they can do this.

a flyable B-47 would be friggin sweet to say the least, BUT the USAF will NEVER do it

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:28:58 PM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:

Quoted:

There's a B-47 sitting forlornly outside at WPAFB. Not at the museum, but closer to the annex. Poor bird needs to be restored to flying condition for the air show circuit, like they did with the Vulcan in England. If they're going to waste money restoring the XC-99 (currently in pieces outside), they can do this.

a flyable B-47 would be friggin sweet to say the least, BUT the USAF will NEVER do it

That is why God gave us the Collings Foundation.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:37:08 PM EDT

[#32]

Beautiful plane.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:46:23 PM EDT

[#33]

B47 Display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, WA.

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:53:15 PM EDT

[#34]

B47=medium bomber. B52=heavy bomber

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:54:14 PM EDT

[#35]

Quoted:

Quoted:

There's a B-47 sitting forlornly outside at WPAFB. Not at the museum, but closer to the annex. Poor bird needs to be restored to flying condition for the air show circuit, like they did with the Vulcan in England. If they're going to waste money restoring the XC-99 (currently in pieces outside), they can do this.

a flyable B-47 would be friggin sweet to say the least, BUT the USAF will NEVER do it

That is why God gave us the Collings Foundation.

I thought they moved it inside for the cold war exhibit?

Posted: 9/10/2010 6:57:18 PM EDT

[#36]

They've also got a B-47 on display at Whiteman AFB in MO...

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:03:07 PM EDT

[#37]

Quoted:

Quoted:
had this as my backround for a while
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/Strategic_Air_Command_B-47_Stratojets_-_020903-o-9999r-001.jpg

And now it's my background on my work computer, thanks!

That is a great picture!

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:08:59 PM EDT

[#38]

There was one at Little Rock AFB 15+ years ago, might still be there.

Don in Ohio

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:12:49 PM EDT

[#39]

Stuff like this makes me wish we had some kinda "Cold war bad-ness" thread

Most of the cold war took place before I was born

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:16:24 PM EDT

[#40]

Quoted:
There was one at Little Rock AFB 15+ years ago, might still be there.

Don in Ohio

she was there in Jan 2005, when I was there for C-130 HOT training

Posted: 9/10/2010 7:21:54 PM EDT

[#41]

those b47 pilots had some big brass ones. They would penetrate Soviet Airspace just waiting to see the Russian response. For a time the B47 was untouchable. It flew higher and faster than anything the filthy dirty Russian commies could put up. From accounts read, it was a pilots dream. Although quite large, it handled like a much smaller aircraft and because of the size, they were able to move around some to stretch out. Ah yes the days of the cold war.

Posted: 9/11/2010 4:00:22 AM EDT

[#42]

Quoted:
those b47 pilots had some big brass ones. They would penetrate Soviet Airspace just waiting to see the Russian response. For a time the B47 was untouchable. It flew higher and faster than anything the filthy dirty Russian commies could put up. From accounts read, it was a pilots dream. Although quite large, it handled like a much smaller aircraft and because of the size, they were able to move around some to stretch out. Ah yes the days of the cold war.

I read that it was a bitch to land under the best of circumstances and the flight envelope, while high, was also extremely narrow.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - B-47 Stratojet: Insurmountable Threat For Soviet Union

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