Boeing XB-56 - Design and Development

Design and Development

The B-47 was equipped with six J-47 turbojets, each rated at 5,200 pounds-force (23 kN) thrust. The engines were mounted in four nacelles slung from the high wing, with two engines in the inboard pod and one engine in the outboard nacelle. To reduce complexity and increase commonality, it was proposed that a higher-rated engine be selected such that one engine could be mounted in each nacelle.

The Allison J35 turbojet engine was being developed during the late 1940s, and it was provisionally rated at 8,500 lb_f (38 kN) or 9,700 lb_f (43 kN) with afterburner. Thus 4 × 8500 lb_f = 34,000 lb_f (150 kN) using that engine, as compared to 6 × 5,200 lb_f = 31,200 lb_f (139 kN) in the production B-47. So the conversion would be lighter, simpler and more powerful.

A contract was signed with Boeing in January 1950, calling for rework of one aircraft. A B-47B-20-BW (s/n 50-082) was earmarked for the conversion. The date for first flight was projected as April 1951.

A combination of delays and less-than-expected performance of the J35 led to the consideration of other engines. The Allison J71 was proposed, however problems with this engine meant that this was not feasible for the by-then redesignated B-56A. The Pratt & Whitney J57, eventually rated at 17,000 lb_f (76 kN) thrust, was also considered, but that engine was still in development, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, which was being concurrently developed (first flight was April 1952), had priority for this engine.

The B-56 program was canceled in December 1952 before conversion of the prototype was started. The unconverted B-47 was relegated to a ground instructional airframe and in the late 1960s was in use at the Naval Air Facility El Centro as an egress trainer.