Heads Up - "Strategic Air Command" on TV
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: NSW
Posts: 123
I saw the only B-47's to come to Australia in the '60's doing a demo to the RAAF as we had been offered 24 on loan to cover the phase out of the Canberras and introduction of the F-111's. A most elegant looking aircraft!
***we knocked them back and leased 24 F-4E's instead...
***we knocked them back and leased 24 F-4E's instead...
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: England
Age: 75
Posts: 3,708
TBM. I remember that. It must have been about '61 that a B 47 arrived at RAAF Pearce. I can remember getting to the flight line, as a 14 y.o. Airforce Brat, but not getting near the aircraft, unlike the RAF "V" bombers, where we could get within touching distance.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 79
Posts: 16,756
Originally Posted by Airbubba
I assume you mean a B-47 on display, not a B-36.
Here's an aircraft that was transferred to the SAC Museum in 1964, it possibly was displayed outside before the museum was expanded:
https://sacmuseum.org/what-to-see/ai...47e-stratojet/
Here's an aircraft that was transferred to the SAC Museum in 1964, it possibly was displayed outside before the museum was expanded:
https://sacmuseum.org/what-to-see/ai...47e-stratojet/
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Rockytop, Tennessee, USA
Posts: 5,899
Originally Posted by Pontius Navigator
in 65/66 the B36 was the most impressive aircraft at Offutt. I can't recall the others but there were several. They might have had a Valiant even.
See: https://sacmuseum.org/what-to-see/ai...6j-peacemaker/
No Valiant at Offutt these days, there is a Vulcan at the SAC Museum but it didn't arrive until 1982:
https://sacmuseum.org/what-to-see/ai...hawker-vulcan/
The only B-36 I've seen is at the Air Force Museum at Wright-Patt. Like the SAC Museum, they've also got an XF-85 parasitic fighter that was supposed to ride along with the B-36.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: uk
Posts: 1,715
I have only ever seen one B47. I should say that it was too close for comfort but, as a teenage school boy, I found it very exciting. I was coming out of school, walking through some trees, and heard multiple jet engines approaching. Thinking it was the local RAF Aux Vampires in formation, I rushed out from under the trees to see a B47 come right over us at what appeared to be just above the trees. Certainly the tree tops were blowing about a bit. We then watched it fly in a steeply banked turn around the town and, again, it looked like the wing tip was just above rooftop height.
Most of the papers the next morning covered it on their front pages, describing panic in the streets. Apparently, it did pretty much the same over most of South Wales and Gloucestershire. It was said that the pilot wanted to go back home to the US.
Most of the papers the next morning covered it on their front pages, describing panic in the streets. Apparently, it did pretty much the same over most of South Wales and Gloucestershire. It was said that the pilot wanted to go back home to the US.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: West Sussex
Age: 80
Posts: 4,566
No doubt he achieved his ambition, pulse1, albeit under close arrest post CM!
When 30 and 47 Sqns were equipped with the then new Hercules C1, it was at RAF Fairford. The a/f had been closed for a few years after the USAF B47's had left. Evidently they performed QRA on an ORP that had heating elements embedded in the concrete, to ensure an ice free surface in the winter. The locals always knew when it was switched on as all their lights dimmed....
When 30 and 47 Sqns were equipped with the then new Hercules C1, it was at RAF Fairford. The a/f had been closed for a few years after the USAF B47's had left. Evidently they performed QRA on an ORP that had heating elements embedded in the concrete, to ensure an ice free surface in the winter. The locals always knew when it was switched on as all their lights dimmed....
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 79
Posts: 16,756
Chug, I also heard years ago that there was a car park, not sure if Fairford or Heathrow. It was always clear of snow and ice. Seems no one swutchecy off the UFH when the building was removed.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,345
Use of LABS by an aircraft the size of the B-47 was impressive - led to wing cracking later.
The RAF was offered 90 new B-47s in 1954 but these were rejected on various grounds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_E
The RAF was offered 90 new B-47s in 1954 but these were rejected on various grounds.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_E
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Guernsey
Posts: 110
Very interesting hour or so looking at the films. Didn’t realise that on the B47 the outriggers and the rear part of the main-gear would be selected down at high level and the front gear later on in the decent.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,345
Interesting interview here with a docent (former B-36 S/Sgt gunner) at Pima Air Museum (which displays the last B-36 built).
A few interesting anecdotes:
In 1953, a 32-hour recce mission over Russia at 44,000 ft with impunity as a Mig-15 could only get to 38,000 ft > 40,000 ft.
Taking off as #9 - 100+ other B-36s lined up behind - with a nuke on board - when an inexperienced pilot mistakenly opened the bomb doors. A gunner hand cranked the doors shut as the electrics hadn't warmed up enough to close them and they didn't want to be responsible for screwing up the MITO launch.
385 built.
Convair B-36J Peacemaker on display in Tucson, Arizona near Davis-Monthan AFB
A few interesting anecdotes:
In 1953, a 32-hour recce mission over Russia at 44,000 ft with impunity as a Mig-15 could only get to 38,000 ft > 40,000 ft.
Taking off as #9 - 100+ other B-36s lined up behind - with a nuke on board - when an inexperienced pilot mistakenly opened the bomb doors. A gunner hand cranked the doors shut as the electrics hadn't warmed up enough to close them and they didn't want to be responsible for screwing up the MITO launch.
385 built.
Convair B-36J Peacemaker on display in Tucson, Arizona near Davis-Monthan AFB
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: surfing, watching for sharks
Posts: 3,858
Evidently they performed QRA on an ORP that had heating elements embedded in the concrete, to ensure an ice free surface in the winter.
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Arizona, USA
Posts: 1,345
More excellent insight into the B-36 here - anecdotes, cutaway diagrams etc.
Primary weapon was the Mk-17 thermonuclear weapon weighing in at 43,500lb and 25 ft long.
US Air Force B-36 Flying 1955-1957
Primary weapon was the Mk-17 thermonuclear weapon weighing in at 43,500lb and 25 ft long.
US Air Force B-36 Flying 1955-1957
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 540
Having watched the film, was interested in the KC97 refuelling sequence with the B47
Looked at Wikipedia next, was it relatively easy to change from transferring Avtag to Avgas (or their then equivalents)to a piston engined receiver ? Wiki speaks of something called SAVE but not explained.
PS Good to see the Flight Engineer on the B36 was later Col Potter in MASH !
Looked at Wikipedia next, was it relatively easy to change from transferring Avtag to Avgas (or their then equivalents)to a piston engined receiver ? Wiki speaks of something called SAVE but not explained.
PS Good to see the Flight Engineer on the B36 was later Col Potter in MASH !
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Lincolnshire
Age: 79
Posts: 16,756
RAFEng, I was sceptical about that claim until I saw on wiki that a B36 Feather weight III could reach 47,000 feet. On the Might ceiling though I think they could reach 50k.
More likely they could not fly slowly enough to intercept the B36.
More likely they could not fly slowly enough to intercept the B36.
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 678
That movie still has some of the best flying sequences ever filmed, the B-36 takeoff sequence is amazing.
Strangely Stewart was demoted to Lt. Col. in the movie as he was in reality a “full bird” in the air force reserves at the time. I wonder how many people also know that he flew a combat mission in Vietnam?
As for June Allyson, she really was the perfect american wife.
Strangely Stewart was demoted to Lt. Col. in the movie as he was in reality a “full bird” in the air force reserves at the time. I wonder how many people also know that he flew a combat mission in Vietnam?
As for June Allyson, she really was the perfect american wife.
