Boeing RB-47 STRATOJET

Photo by Coil B. Thouanel

The B-47 medium bomber offered such capabilities in terms of payload, speed, and range that the type was inevitably selected in the late 1940s for development as a strategic reconnaissance platform. The first such version was the RB-47B (initially YRB-47B), of which 24 were produced as B-47B conversion. The variant had  5,800-lb thrust J47-GE-23 engines, and eight cameras plus other equipment in a heated bomb bay compartment. The variant was used mainly as a crew trainer. The definitive model was the RB-47E based on the B-47E with more power and a number of other improvements. Production total 240 aircraft with reconnaissance fit that could include up to 11 cameras and their associated night photography equipment. The 32 RB-47Hs have the same airframe, but were electronic reconnaissance aircraft with nose, under fuselage, and wing radar domes for sensor controlled by three operators in the bomb bay compartment. 

RB-47E: definitive photo reconnaissance model.

RB-47H: electronic reconnaissance model.

ERB-47H: three B-47E conversion for special. electronic reconnaissance with a crew of five.

RB-47K: 15 B-47Es completed as dual role photo and weather reconnaissance aircraft.

Propulsion

Performance