B-47 Stratojet research and development began in 1945 with the first prototype flight in December 1947. The Air Force wanted a great height, medium-range, subsonic bomber. At that time, four contractors were developing bombers. Two designs were conventional bombers in the mold of the B-29, while the more radical designs Northrop and Boeing flying wing jet sweep wing. In this era before the SAM, fighter jets were considered the main threat to the terrorists. The Second World War had shown that stripped B-29 with a speed almost of combat and a higher altitude ceiling could only be successfully intercepted from the rear.
The B-47 was the first pure jet strategic bomber with its many unique features include six jet engines, a twin-engine, tower-mounted pod under each wing near the fuselage, and a sheath of a single outboard motor more. The wings were attached high on the fuselage and swept 35. The revolutionary design incorporates a type of bicycle, train, retractable main landing, with only two wheels, stands on the fore and aft fuselage. Outrigger wheel lateral stability and retracted on the deck of two-engine pod. The B-47 was 107 feet long, 28 feet high at the tail, and had a wingspan of 116 feet. The crew consisted of pilot, copilot, and bombardier. With a maximum gross weight of about 204,000 pounds, which used to attend the launch of the rocket. A tail chute is used to slow the aircraft during landing.
