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09 Boeing XB-47D Stratojet by Kurt's MOCs

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During the late 1940s and early 1950s, turboprop engines were still considered a viable option for long-range bombers, and the USAF was interested in determining the feasibility of producing a high-speed, long-range turboprop-powered bomber. In support of this goal, the Air Force requested that a pair of B-47Bs be converted as flying testbeds to test a jet engine-propeller combination and provide data on installing turboprops in swept-wing aircraft.

In April 1951, Boeing was contracted to modify two B-47Bs (Serial Numbers 51-2103 and 51-2046) as flying turboprop testbeds under the designation XB-47D and assigned company numbers Model 450-162-48 and 450-162-49, respectively. They retained the outboard J47-GE-23 jet engines of the B-47B, but a single Curtiss-Wright YT49-W-1 turboprop of 9,710 equivalent shaft horsepower (eshp) occupied each of the inboard underwing nacelles in place of the paired J-47s. The T49 was a turboprop version of the Wright J65, which was, in turn, an American version of the British-designed Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire turbojet. The turboprops drove four-bladed propellers 15 feet in diameter, having paddle-type blades, each 24 inches wide. The wing flaps had to be modified to accommodate the T49s, and changes had to be made in instrumentation and controls for four engines rather than the usual six.

The program was delayed by problems with the T49 engine, which failed to pass its 50-hour qualification run. Additional problems with the engine-propeller combination and government-furnished equipment shortages delayed progress. It was not until late 1955 that the aircraft were ready for their first flights.

XB-47D 51-2103 flew for the first time on 26 August 1955, with 51-2046 following on 15 February 1956. Surprisingly, the performance of the XB-47D was fairly similar to that of the conventionally-powered B-47, and landing performance was improved with the addition of the fully-reversible propellers of the XB-47D.

In this image, the first XB-47D (450-162-49, Serial Number: 51-2103) conducts a test flight using the new T49 turboprop engines. Although numerous test flights were made without mishap, no further conversions were ordered, and the Air Force did not pursue its idea of a turboprop-powered bomber any further. The maximum speed achieved by the XB-47D during these tests was 597 mph (960 km/h) at 13,500 ft (4,129 m), the fastest yet achieved in level flight by a propeller-driven aircraft.

A western in the pouring rain at Paddington 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1027 Western Lancer leaves a very wet London Paddington with a train to Paighton 50027 stands on the right 29/09/1975..

Class 52,s at Paddington 1974. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1040 Western Queen on the 12:25 from Birmingham New Street,and Class 52 1070 Western Gauntlet with the 08:35 from Penzance. 30/03/1974.

02 Boeing XB-47 Stratojet by Kurt's MOCs

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The B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, strategic medium bomber for the Strategic Air Force (SAC) of the United States Air Force (USAF). Over 2,030 Stratojets were produced between 1951 and 1965, and their primary mission was to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union. The Stratojet was also adapted to other missions, including photographic, electronic intelligence and weather reconnaissance. The B-47 had a wingspan of 116 ft (35.37 m) and was 107 ft (32.37 m) in length with a maximum takeoff weight of 230,000 lb (100,000 kg).

Two prototype aircraft were built by Boeing and rolled out on 12 September 1947. They were built as Model 450-1-1 (Serial Number: 46-065) and Model 450-2-2 (Serial Number: 46-066) and powered by six General Electric/Allison J-35-GE-7 turbojet engines for their first flights. The second and subsequent aircraft were built with the specified General Electric J-47-GE-3 engines; the first XB-47 was later upgraded to the new engines. On 8 February 1949, the XB-47 flew from Moses Lake AFB in Washington State to Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C., averaging 602.2 mph over the 2289-mile transcontinental course, setting a new unofficial speed record. In this image, the XB-47 takes off on a test flight. Note the functional landing gear and flaps.

Courier at Westbury 1974. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1062 Western Courier sets back on to a stone train at Westbury 07/02/1974. 1068 1070 were also photographed that day.

11 Canadair CL-52 by Kurt's MOCs

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The B-47 never served with any foreign air force except one. In 1956, the USAF loaned B-47B serial number 51-2059 to the Royal Canadian Air Force for use as a flying test bed for the advanced Orenda Iroquois turbojet, which were to power the Avro CF-105 Arrow long-range interceptor currently under development in Canada.

After delivery, the RCAF turned the plane over to Canadair Ltd to complete the required modifications. A separate pod for the test engine was installed on the starboard side of the rear fuselage underneath the horizontal tail. The pod was 30 feet long and about 6 feet in diameter The company assigned its own model number of CL-52 to the project. The CL-52/B-47B flew in RCAF markings, but retained the last three digits of its USAF serial number, which followed the prefix "X" to become the RCAF serial number.

The CL-52 spent a total of 31 hours in the air with the Iroquois engine. Most flights were routine, but on its only full-power flight the Iroquois engine suffered a fan blade failure which damaged the elevator and rudder of the CL-52. The aircraft, however, landed safely.

The first five Arrows (RCAF serials 25201 through 25205) were all powered by Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojets for the initial flight tests. The first Iroquois-powered Arrow was to be number 25206, which was being readied for its first flight when the entire Arrow/Iroquois project was cancelled by the Canadian government on 20 February 1959. After the termination of the Arrow/Iroquois program, the Iroquois engine was removed from the CL-52 and the aircraft was returned to the USA in August of 1959. The plane was scrapped at Davis Monthan AFB shortly thereafter.

Spotters at Bristol 1976. by kevin connolly

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A group of young spotters look on as Class 52 1021 Western Cavalier arrives at Bristol Temple Meads with 08:00 Cardiff to Plymouth Service. 06/03/1976.

A Western waiting to leave Old Oak Common 1974 by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1012 Western Firebrand Waits for the road at Old Oak Common to go LE down to Paddington. 28/09/1974.

Par 1975. by kevin connolly

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A pair of Western,s 1023 Western Fusilier and 1028 Western Hussar wait at Signals at Par Station while Running LE from Long Rock Depot Penzance To Plymouth Laira Depot .15/07/1975.

Colar CL52 - Indisponível by KariKato

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mluisa.quintas@gmail.com

23 Boeing RB-47K Stratojet by Kurt's MOCs

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The last 15 RB-47E aircraft on order were completed as RB-47Ks. They differed from the RB-47E in being equipped for weather and photographic reconnaissance missions at all altitudes. In addition to the standard set of cameras installed on the RB-47E, the K model has high-resolution and side-looking radars for weather data gathering. In addition, air sampling equipment was provided that could be used to test the atmosphere for radioactive fallout. The first RB-47K was delivered in December 1955.

In this image, an RB-47K of the 338th Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron of the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at Forbes AFB, waits out a Nebraskan snowstorm. The RB-47K was an airborne weather information gathering system and flew worldwide, gathering weather data for the Strategic Air Command (SAC) and sampling the radioactive fallout from foreign nuclear tests. The RB-47K carried eight dropsonde weather sensors released at various checkpoints along its flight path. Data radioed from the dropsondes was logged by the navigator. These aircraft were phased out in the early 1960s.

Long Rock. by kevin connolly

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After arriving with the 13:30 from London Paddington Class 52 1065 Western Consort sits on the Depot at Long rock Penzance. 30/03/1975.

Class 52 1041 Western Prince enters Westbury with a cement train 02/06/1976. by kevin connolly

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Three generations of WR motive power Old oak 1975. by kevin connolly

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Hymek 7018 Western 1023 CL50 50023 at Old Oak Common, 23/03/1975.

A splendid sight at Old Oak Common 1973. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1002 Western Explorer stands at Old Oak. note damaged Hymek 7100 on the right, and a glimpse of 1034 on the left. 02/09/1973.

OM CL52 by LorenzoSSC

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Data immatricolazione: 4-04-1978

Yeomans 71, 81 & 20 @ Hereford by Barney Staples

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Yeomans 71 (CL52 CCL), 81 (MX54 KXY) & 20 (W443 CWX) at City Bus Station, Hereford, on 29-03-2016.

A western at Old Oak Common 1974. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1022 Western Sentinel sits at the back of the carrriage shed at Old Oak Common. 03/08/1974.

Wet again in Cornwall 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1022 Western Sentinel leaves St austel with 14:45 Penzance to London Paddington Parcels 18/07/1975

Westbury 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1065 Western Consort has just come off a stone train and is makeing it,s way onto Westbury Depot. 02/05/1974.

CL52 DCL by Peter

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Cl52 dcl

Class 52 1062 Western Courier Stands in side Plymouth Laira 1974. by kevin connolly

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Other Westerns on Laira that afternoon were 1010 1023 1025 1028 1029 1035 1044 1049 1053 1055 1065 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073,and withdrawn loco,s 1024 1060. I'll always remember the sight in the great hall at Laria wall to wall Western's KC. 02/02/1974.

Class 52 in need of a repaint Westbury 1975 . by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1063 Western Monitor enters Westbury with 15:30 London Paddington to Penzance 29/05/1975.

Back at Swindon for the last time. by kevin connolly

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Withdrawn Class 52 1008 Western Harrier stands in A shop at Swindon awaiting cutting up. 01/02/1975.

Western Viceroy Truro 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1052 Western Viceroy at Truro with a Leeds to Penzance service. 09/07/1975.

Westbury 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1012 Western Firebrand stands in the yard at Westbury with a stone train 03/05/1975.

St Austel 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1052 Western Viceroy enters St Austel with a Penzance to Par ECS train. 19 07 1975. It was a Friday

and i think this was the empty stock for the Saturday Newquay to London Paddington. 1023 1034 1043 1058 were also photographed that day.

Entering Par 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1072 Western Glory runs into Par with the 07:20 Leeds to Penzance. 15/07/1975. Other Westerns seen in Cornwall that day were 1009/11/23/27/28/34/55/63/71.

Front Ends Class 47 D1717 {47126} Class 52 1034 Western Dragoon Old Oak Common 02/09/1973 by kevin connolly

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Westerns at Old Oak 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52,s 1047 Western Lord 1033 Western Trooper sit by the turntable at Old Oak Common Depot 28/08/1975. other loco,s on the depot were 50003 50005 50025 50027 50050 47061 47064 47074 47080 47086 47093 47243 47510 7029 31110 31121 08793 08108 08109. 26/08/1975.

20 Boeing JB-47E Stratojet (ARDC) by Kurt's MOCs

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The USAF’s Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) was established in 1950 and was responsible for many ambitious aircraft and missile prototypes, focusing primarily on weapon system acquisition. During the long development process of the Stratojet, the ARDC would test new weapons, targeting and firing, and ECM systems. Several aircraft served with the ARDC from 1950 to 1961 when the ARDC was redesignated Air Force Systems Command (AFSC), and the B-47 was being phased out of service with the last of SAC’s medium bombers entering storage on 11 February 1966.

In this image, a B-47E (B-47E-20-LM, Serial Number: 52-0221) assigned to the ARDC’s Air Force Test Center (AFTC) performs a test flight over the California desert. This aircraft suffered substantial damage during a crash on 25 July 1955 in Florida. It was rebuilt as JB-47E and returned to service with the ARDC, Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) at Edwards AFB. It was withdrawn from service on 8 December 1961 and sent to Davis-Monthan AFB for scrapping three years later. JB-47E images are hard to come by, so this Stratojet was based on Hasegawa’s 1/72 scale model released in 2014. Note the high visibility fluorescent orange paint, the ARDC shield on the nose, and the “Ad Inexplorata” (Toward the Unexplored) AFTC shield on the tail.

Class 52 1072 Western Glory waits to be cut up in the yard at Swindon Works 19/03/1977. by kevin connolly

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Courier Swindon . by kevin connolly

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Back in A shop at Swindon Works is Class 52 1062 Western Courier thankfully not for cutting up. 01/02/1975.

D7079 and cl52 Swindon Shed June 65 by Burleyonian

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Heading for Warminster Bank. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1026 Western Centurion banked by Class 46 46008 leaves the yard at Westbury with a stone train the 46 will go as far as Warminster. 30/05/1975. 1010 1025 1046 1052 1063 also went into my camera that day.

Class 52 1022 Western Sentinel passing Laira 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1022 Western Sentinel make's a fine sight as it speeds past Laira Depot with the 11:30 London Paddington to Penzance service. 09/10/1975

Westbury 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52,s 1071 Western Renown 1028 Western Hussar spend the weekend at Westbury Depot . 26/04/1975.

A Western after a rain storm Plymouth 1974. by kevin connolly

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A rain soaked Western 1034 Western Dragoon at Plymouth with the 12:45 Penzance to Crewe parcels and perishables train, at this time this was a solid Class 52 working. 06/10/1974.

Bodmin road 1975 . by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1009 Western Invader at Bodmin Road with the 07:20 Leeds to Penzance service.16 07/1975.

PICT0633c by Ron 1514.

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Volvo FH12 Tilt, CL52 PSL, Pollock Scotrans Ltd, Bathgate.

Class 52 Westerns at Westbury 1031 1057 1034 06/06/1974. Other loco,s there that evening were 1005 1015 1023 1049 1063 47032 47063 47085 47097 47137 7026 46010 46028 33017 33030 31110 31286. . by kevin connolly

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Par 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1037 Western Empress leaver Par with the 10:23 Penzance to Leeds Service. 06/07/1975.

Western line up 1975. by kevin connolly

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Lined up for the weekend at Westbury are Class 52,s 1001 Western Pathfinder 1052 Western Viceroy 1069 Western Vanguard 03.05/1975. Other loco,s at the Depot were 31156 31256 33017 46013 46041 47029 47061 47194 47112 47152 47257 1036 1037 1040 1048 1054.

Class 52 1073 Western Bulwark stands outside Plymouth Laira Depot 1974. by kevin connolly

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Other westerns on Laira that Morning were 1023 1029 1030 1034 1040 1043 1046 1048 1056 1067 1069 1070 1071. 14/04/1974

A shop Swindon 1974. by kevin connolly

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Withdrawn Class 52,s 1062 Western Courier 1014 Western Leviathan stand side by side in A shop at Swindon Works,1062 will survive 1014 will not.19/10/1974.

Westbury change over 1975. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1055 Western Advocate lays a smoke trail as it comes off the stabling point at Westbury to take over a stone train thats standing in the station with Class 33017. 29/5/1975.

Class 52 1053 Western Patriarch sits inside St Blazey roundhouse 13/07/1975.other loco,s on the Depot that day were 25306 25236 25274 08576 by kevin connolly

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Old Oak turntable 1974. by kevin connolly

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Class , 52,s 1055 Western Advocate 1005 Western Venturer sit side by side around the turntable at Old Oak Common, other Hydraulic,s on Old Oak that afternoon were 1025 1070 7000 7001 7018 7026 7028 7031 7032. 20/06/1974.

Old Oak 1973. by kevin connolly

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Class 52 1003 Western Pioneer and Class 31 5814 stand by the turntable at Old Oak Common 07/10/1973.

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