https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/19b8a7f7-170b-462e-9105-d98589f6678e Created by Boeing Aircraft to document activities at their Wichita plant in 1956, this film includes footage of both the B-52 Stratofortress and B-47 Stratojet, including a look at the extensive maintenance and modifications performed on both bombers. The maintenance of the B-52 involves 119 changes and 3,500 separate jobs, including a major modification to the wing trailing edge structure to prevent deterioration from sonic vibrations. The new wing design, developed by Boeing in 1956, features bonded panels and honeycomb construction, providing greater fuel storage and weight reduction, which enhances the aircraft's range and performance. B-47 modifications shown include Project Crossbow, testing the B-47's missile carrier capability, and delivery of RB-47K model planes to monitor weather data, and development of the KB-47 tanker aircraft. • 0:11: The task of washing a B-52 is described as extraordinary. • 0:12: The B-52 has 17,43 feet to cover on the outside alone. • 0:15: This area is equivalent to approximately 64 automobiles. • 0:17: Within a few hours after the airplane reached the modification position, the area became very busy. • 0:23: The B-52 would remain in this position for the entire period of rework. • 0:25: One crew removed the eight jet engines. • 0:29: Another crew began dismantling control surfaces. • 0:46: The landing gears were removed. • 0:52: The B-52 started to lose its identity, but there was a purpose behind it. • 0:57: This was the first time the new bomber underwent such extensive maintenance. • 1:06: The B-52 had flown 686 hours of strenuous flying. • 1:12: Before redelivery, 119 changes and 9 technical orders would be completed, requiring about 3,500 separate jobs. • 1:27: The most extensive modification was a major change in the B-52 wing trailing edge structure. • 1:36: This change involved replacing the conventional structure with bonded panels and honeycomb construction to eliminate deterioration from sonic vibrations. • 1:55: The first major engineering responsibility for the B-52 bomber came to Boeing Wichita in 1956. • 2:02: The assignment was for the design and development of a new wing as part of the B-52 model improvement program. • 2:11: The new configuration would become a self-contained fuel tank, eliminating the self-sealing cells. • 2:25: The panels, measuring 80 feet in length, were the largest single extrusion ever produced. • 2:35: Mockups were used extensively for engineering evaluation and testing. • 2:46: The new wing would provide greater fuel storage and a notable weight reduction, resulting in increased range and performance for the B-52. • 3:04: In 1956, a 100,000-pound Boeing-developed fatigue testing machine was installed. • 3:19: Greater versatility was achieved in electronic computing with the Boeing analog computer. • 3:44: Automatic potentiometer readout system and a unique hold condition. • 4:01: A centralized computer console was introduced. • 4:03: A complete patch board system allowed problems to be patched up in 30 to 45 minutes. • 4:22: August 20, 1956, the last B-47 rolled from final assembly. • 5:00: The Wichita B-47 production program officially ended. • 5:11: Since 1952, Boeing Wichita had full design responsibility for the B-47. • 5:36: Project Crossbow was approaching the flight test phase. • 6:18: Longitudinal stability of the airplane during high altitude and high Mach number flight was evaluated. • 6:55: During these flight tests, the B-47 maintained satisfactory performance. • 7:31: By December 1956, modification of two B-47E gravity bombers to a DB-47 director bomber configuration. • 8:27: Launchings of the G63 Rascal from a DB-47 configuration airplane. • 8:51: Early in 1956, 15 RB-47E airplanes were modified and delivered to the Air Force as RB-47K models. • 9:22: The B-47 continued to prove its mettle, and other modification possibilities were under investigation. • 10:04: In the wind tunnel, another version of the B-47 was being prepared for its first flight. • 10:46: The tanker version of the B-47, designated the KB-47, equipped to refuel two fighters simultaneously. • 12:10: The installation and operation of Boeing Wichita's first supersonic wind tunnel were notable. • 13:08: Field service engineering ordered the first in a series of photographs for a complete revision to the B-47 maintenance handbook. • 13:56: Boeing and Air Force crews logged a total of 3,544 hours performing production and experimental flight tests on the B-52 and B-47. • 14:59: In review, 1956 at Boeing Wichita presented a picture of intense activity and progress. This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQjHJhAm3hk Mirrored from Periscope Film (https://www.youtube.com/@PeriscopeFilm) Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:22:57 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.dngr.us https://peertube.dngr.us/lazy-static/avatars/41a6fee9-7f57-42d0-a5fc-5db4f1af2e31.png https://peertube.dngr.us/videos/watch/19b8a7f7-170b-462e-9105-d98589f6678e All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.dngr.us/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.