B47stratojetAssoc

The B-47 Stratojet Association

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B-47/KC97 Refueling Operations

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Jet aircraft operated more efficiently at higher altitudes, whereas reciprocating engine powered aircraft operate better at lower altitudes. Even with turbo supercharging, a KC-97 tanker could not match a B-47s altitude performance.

As a consequence, jet bombers - B-47 or B-52 - had to descend from their optimum operating altitudes around 30,000 + feet to the KC-97 refueling altitude of 17,000 to 19,000 feet. The tanker was pre positioned ahead of the Bomber and a radio beacon onboard the tanker served as a homing device. Refueling sometimes took place in a shallow formation dive (known as tobogganing) with the two aircraft connected via the refueling boom.

As the bomber became heavier with more fuel, it had to fly faster to preclude stalling so the tanker would accelerate as it descended to keep from being undershot by the bomber.

The refueling usually terminated at an altitude of about 12,000 feet with both aircraft climbing back to their optimum altitude.

(Ref: Boeing's B-47 StratoJet, Alwyn T. Lloyd)

The B-47 Stratojet Association was formed in 1996 to preserve the legacy of the B-47 and to honor the men who flew and maintained it throughout the darkest days of the Cold War.