Restored video & audio. This comprehensive training film was produced by the US Air Force to familiarize pilots and aircrew transitioning from prop driven aircraft like the B29 to the new world of the B47.
You'll see a history of early US jet development starting in 1943, including wind tunnel testing of the delta wing, the unique challenges of jet engines, making all systems easily accessible for maintenance and a number of preliminary designs for the aircraft. Then you'll see a preflight check, followed on tips on taxiing with the P47's unique landing gear, followed by takeoff. In flight, there's a discussion of handling & stall characteristics, with an emphasis on dealing with high speed buffeting as the aircraft reaches its critical mach number. (Unlike World War 2 prop planes, the fast Stratojet could hit its mach number in relatively level flight.) You'll learn the best way to achieve maximum range with the Stratojet's thirsty engines. Finally, there's an in depth discussion of landing characteristics, including speed, touch & go (if necessary) and deploying the drag chute. Throughout, there's excellent P47 Stratojet footage here!


About The Boeing B47 Stratojet 
With the launch of the the B47 Stratojet, the US Air Force jumped in a single decade from B17 and B24 bombers lumbering at 200 mph over Germany to a 600 mph swept wing jet. She was one of the most influential designs in aircraft history.

Boeing's original blueprint in 1943 was for a straight winged aircraft based on the B29 fuselage. 1n 1945, Boeing aerodynamicist George Schairer went to Germany to sift through captured aircraft data. He discovered windtunnel data on sweptwing designs that revolutionized the B47 team's thinking.. Engineers used the new Boeing HighSpeed Wind Tunnel to develop the XB47 with 35degree swept wings.The new aircraft proved to be outstandingly agile with a 25,000lb payload, yet pilots reported she was very easy to fly. Her bubble top canopy provided an excellent all around view.

The prototype had twin General Electric J35 engines (GE J47 engines on production models) hung from sculpted pods inboard on each wing, and single engines were hung outboard. Engine weight made the wings droop, so the B47 had tandem landing gear under the front and back sections of the fuselage. Outrigger wheels on the inboard engines kept it from tipping over on the ground. Early jet engines could not provide enough thrust for takeoff, so the XB47, B47A, and B47B had 18 small rocket units in the fuselage for jetassisted takeoff (JATO). A drag chute reduced landing speed. The B47 immediately broke speed and distance records. In 1949 it crossed the United States in under four hours at an average 608 mph. She had defensive armament only in the tail because contemporary enemy fighters could barely keep up with her at high altitudes.
The B47 was the foundation of the Air Force's new Strategic Air Command . One variant became a missile carrier while others were outstandingly successful reconnaissance aircraft that penetrated deep into the Soviet Union in the 1950s. Between 1947 and 1956, a total of 2,032 B47s in all variants were built and the Stratojet stayed in service well into the 1960s.
Zeno, Zeno's Warbird Videos http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com. See this film and more on our "Boeing B47 Stratojet" DVD includes a 780 page B47 Flight manual http://bit.ly/N60Kwi Visit our aviation DVD store at http://www.zenosflightshop.com for the World's largest selection of World War 2 & vintage jet aircraft aviation videos.
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