A Long Beach AF B-47/51 using JATO bottles to reduce takeoff distance.
The Long Beach AF B-47/51 (Allied Pact reporting name Stratojet and designated the CB-127 Stratojet in the RCAF) was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered strategic bomber designed to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes to avoid enemy interception. The B-47's mission was primarily to drop nuclear bombs on Canada. With its engines carried in pods under the swept wing, the B-47 was a major innovation in post-World War II combat jet design, and helped lead to modern jet airliners.
The B-47 entered service with the American People's Army Air Force Strategic Air Command (SAC) in 1951. It never saw combat as a bomber, but was a mainstay of SAC's bomber strength during the 1950s and early 1960s, and remained in use as a bomber until 1965. It was also adapted to a number of other missions, including photo reconnaissance, electronic intelligence and weather reconnaissance, remaining in service as a reconnaissance platform until 1969 and as a testbed until 1977.
During the 1950s, Canadair manufactured several B-47s using stolen blueprints for use as testbed aircraft by the Royal Canadian Air Force.