The Stratojet: The Jet That Launched the Jet Age
In the lineage of legendary aircraft bearing the number 47, few have had as profound an impact on military aviation—and the modern world—as the B-47 Stratojet. Introduced in the late 1940s, the B-47 was not just a bomber. It was a revolution.
Developed by Boeing and first flown in 1947, the B-47 Stratojet was the U.S. Air Force’s first jet-powered strategic bomber, and it reshaped the entire concept of long-range aerial warfare. With swept wings, six turbojet engines, and a sleek, futuristic design, the B-47 looked like science fiction in the skies—and it flew like it too, reaching speeds over 600 mph and altitudes above 35,000 feet.
More importantly, it changed how wars would be fought.
At the dawn of the Cold War, the B-47 gave the U.S. its first true nuclear deterrent, capable of reaching targets deep within the Soviet Union at unprecedented speeds. It was the backbone of Strategic Air Command throughout the 1950s, flying continuous patrols and proving that jet bombers could not only replace propeller-driven aircraft—but make them obsolete.
The Meaning of 47: A Number That Signals Transformation
The B-47 didn’t just advance aviation—it defined the jet age. Every modern bomber and airliner owes something to the innovations pioneered by this aircraft: swept wings, podded engines, in-flight refueling, and high-speed bombing tactics. Its legacy lives on in today’s B-52, B-1, and even the upcoming B-21 Raider.
With that in mind, the number 47 begins to take on a deeper symbolism. Across history, every major aircraft with “47” in its name—C-47 Skytrain, P-47 Thunderbolt, CH-47 Chinook, X-47, and now the F-47—has represented a turning point. These aren’t just machines; they’re inflection points in the evolution of American air power.
The B-47 was one such turning point. It ushered in an era where speed, altitude, and strategic reach redefined deterrence and national defense. It turned the skies into a chessboard of global strategy. And it did so while carrying the same number that seems to echo through every major breakthrough in U.S. military aviation.
The B-47 Stratojet was the harbinger of the jet age. The P-47 symbolized dominance in WWII. The CH-47 continues to define tactical lift. The X-47 tested the boundaries of autonomous warfare. And the newly announced F-47 now looks poised to bring all those capabilities together in a single, hybrid platform.
All connected by one number: 47.