The B-47 was the world's first sweptwing bomber and the first to use a bicycle arrangement for the landing gear, which was necessary because of the thin wing. At the time, the design was so advanced that some writers called it "futuristic." The advanced design was also a curse in that it led to a number of developmental troubles. The B-47A entered service at MacDill AFB, Fla., in 1951. The B-47B was the first model to enter wide-scale service, and by 1957, 28 bomb wings were flying 1,260 B-47s; another 600 reconnaissance or training versions were in use. Several versions of the B-47 were high- altitude photoreconnaissance aircraft, and a number of them were used for electronic reconnaissance. Spurred by the Suez Crisis of 1956, Strategic Air Command demonstrated its ability to launch a large strike force on short notice. Within a two-week period, more than 1,000 B-47 crews flew nonstop simulated combat missions, averaging 8,000 miles each, over North America and the Arctic. The last Air Force Stratojet, an RB- 47H, was retired on December 29, 1969. The Navy had a specialized test version that was used until 1976.

Contractors:	Boeing Aircraft Co.
	Douglas Aircraft Co.
	Lockheed-Georgia Co.
Locations Built:	Seattle, Wash., and Wichita, Kan.
	Tulsa, Okla.
	Marietta, Ga.
Number Built: (USAF)	2,041 (2,041)
First Flight:	December 17, 1947
First Flight Model:	XB-47
First Flight Location:	Seattle, Wash.
First Flight Pilot:	Bob Robbins (pilot) and Scott Osler (copilot)
Models/Variants:	B-47A, B, E. RB-47B, E, H. TB-47B. RB-47B. WB-47B, E. EB-47E, L. QB-47E
Powerplant:	Six General Electric J47-GE-25 or -25A turbojets of 7,200 lb thrust each with water injection
Wingspan:	116 ft 0 in.
Length:	109 ft 10 in.
Height:	27 ft 11 in.
Weight:	206,700 lb gross
Armament:	Two M24A1 20-mm cannon in remotely controlled tail turret and up to 25,000 lb of bombs internally
Accommodation:	Crew of three (pilot, copilot, and navigator)
Cost:	$1.9 million
Max. Speed:	606 mph
Range:	4,000 mi.
Ceiling:	40,500 ft.