ABOUT THE B-47

The Boeing B-47 Stratojet jet bomber was a medium range and size bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds and primarily designed for penetrating the Soviet Union. A major innovation in post-World War II combat jet design, it helped lead to the development of modern jet airliners. The B-47 was the mainstay of U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command in the 1950s.

The XB-47 was an attractive aircraft that looked unlike any contemporary bomber. The 35-degree swept wings were shoulder-mounted, with the twin inboard turbojet engines mounted in very neat pods, and the outboard engines tacked under the wings short of the wingtips. With the exception of a change from the shoulder-mounted wing configuration to being under the fuselage, most future airliners would use a similar configuration, with the engines mounted in under-wing pylons.

The bicycle landing gear dictated by the thin wing consisted of a pair of large wheels fore and aft of the bomb bay, with small outrigger wheels carried on the inboard twin-jet pods.

The performance of the Model 450 design was projected to be so good that the bomber would be as fast as fighters then on the drawing board, and so the only defensive armament was to be a tail turret with two .50-cal Browning machine guns, which would in principle be directed by an automatic fire-control system. The two XB-47s were not fitted with the tail turret as they were engineering and flight test aircraft, and in fact the prototypes were not fitted with any combat equipment at all.

Fuel capacity was an enormous 17,000 U.S. gal compared to 5,000 U.S. gal on the B-29. Early jet engines did not develop good thrust at low speeds, so to assist in takeoffs in heavily loaded condition, the XB-47 prototype had provisions for fitting 18 solid-fuel rocket-assisted takeoff (RATO) rockets with 1,000 lbf thrust each. Fittings for nine such units were built into each side of the rear fuselage, arranged in three rows of three bottles.

B-47 bombers apparently performed training missions in which they penetrated Soviet airspace in numbers. The facts behind these missions remain controversial, with some claiming that Curtis LeMay ordered them without presidential knowledge or approval.

The B-47 was the backbone of SAC into 1959, when the B-52 began to take over and the B-47 wings started to be cut back. Actual B-47 production had ceased in 1957, though modifications and rebuilds continued after that.

General characteristics - Crew: 3 - Length: 107 ft 1 in - Wingspan: 116 ft 0 in - Height: 28 ft 0 in - Wing area: 1,428 ft² - Airfoil: NACA 64A(0.225)12 mod root and tip - Empty weight: 79,074 lb - Loaded weight: 133,030 lb - Max takeoff weight: 230,000 lb - Powerplant: 6 General Electric J47-GE-25 turbojets, 7,200 lbf

Performance - Maximum speed: 607 mph - Cruise speed: 557 mph - Combat radius: 1,749 NM - Ferry range: 4,037 NM - Service ceiling 33,100 ft  - Rate of climb: 4,660 ft/min - Wing loading: 93.16 lb/ft² - Thrust/weight: 0.22 - Lift-to-drag ratio: 20.0

Armament - Guns: 2× 20 mm M24A1 cannons - Bombs: 25,000 lb of ordnance, including: 2× nuclear bombs, or 28× 500 lb conventional bombs

This Bomb Sight I'm selling was yellow-tagged as serviceable in April of 1962.  The "Horizontal Periscope" as it's called was a very high tech piece of equipment in its day - costing our military well in excess of $100,000.  This bomb sight comes with it's protective cover over the glass ball which protects the optical equipment.  (shown below)

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The serial # on this "Yellow Tag"  matches the serial number on the bomb sight.

This picture of the outside the bomber end of the sight, (with it's protective cover removed) gives you an idea of the condition of this sight

This close up picture of the instrument taken through the protective glass bubble, shows the beauty and intricacy of the machined parts inside the Bomb Sight.

This picture is of the bombing navigators work station on a B-47.  You can see the eye piece of the bomb sight. 

The navigators station is located at the front of the bomber, on the lower deck below the pilots cabin. 

This picture shows the later K-4A system.  The site I'm selling is a MA-7A bombing system

This photo shows the eye piece, focus knobs, illumination control, and to the right the filter selection lever.  The filter selection and power magnification devices seem to be working perfectly as this is an instrument that carries a yellow service tag (Meaning that it was serviceable as of April 1962)  Even the rubber on the eyepiece is soft and pliable.  I have personally looked through this viewer of this bomb sight and know that the optics are functional - even the without electrical power the magnification knob allows you to select 1, 2, or 4 times magnification.

This is a very unique item.  The optics work, and can be used to view distant objects.  The sight has reticle adjustment, focus, magnification adjustment, optical filters, and can be connected to a camera for photo recon.  We recently sold a vintage radial engine to England to be used as a glass table decoration.  In my opinion the internal intricacies, design, and manufacture of this bomb sight combine to make this a very desirable and functional display piece.  (and its very unlike your neighbor will have one - unless he owns a B-47).

This bomb sight weighs between 150 and 200 pounds and is 66 inches long and about 15 inches wide.

As you can see in the picture, all of the cannon connectors are capped and protected.  The finish is in excellent condition (military satin black)

The Bomb Sight has 840 hours and is very clean.  It comes with the protective metal cover for the optical sight and also the steel braces for mounting in a shipping case.

I'm Selling this Bomb Sight for $2,300.  The buyer paying shipping from Washington, Utah. 

A protective case made of plywood will be needed for adequate protection on shipment and will cost $200.00.  Buyer is welcomed to pick-up the bomb sight at my location in Washington Utah.

If you have any questions please email me at b52parts@msn.com and I will answer you promptly!  Sold and shipped only within the United States.  No international bidders & no funds accepted of non-us origin.  Because of its size the Bomb Sight is not returnable!   I accept cashiers checks/money orders/personal checks - No Paypal.  If you don't intend to pay for this item within 7 days of purchase - Please don't purchase.

Happy

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