Nothing special here... just the promised version with a functional JATO rocket pack of my earlier B47 Stratojet (description at https://www.simpleplanes.com/a/8r9ae6/Boeing-B-47-stratojet).

Originally, the B47 was equipped with internal JATO rockets. But nobody felt really comfortable with these things so close to the plane's fuel tanks, and the rockets weren't always used -so often they were just adding weight and taking up space.

Later models of the B47 didn't have the internal JATO boosters; for "heavy" take-offs, they were equipped with packs of external JATO bottles mounted on a frame (there seem to have been several versions of "split vee" and "horsecollar" frames) that was jettisoned after takeoff, thereby saving weight.

To the original build I added a "horsecollar" with 45 "Aerojet" rockets. The system is functional, although its actual use means a few additional actions on takeoff.

JATO TAKEOFF PROCEDURE:

• Go to the ground weapons tab, and make sure the "0x JATO bottle" is selected rather than the "4x 5000 lb bomb".
• Lower flaps approx 50%
• Throttle up to 100%; once the plane starts rolling, press AG7 (arms the JATO boosters) and press ALT to ignite. Note that you'll have to keep ALT pressed for several seconds to make sure all rockets are lit.
• The B47 should now take off all by itself; don't rotate. Once airborne, you can opt to make a steep climb.

Originally these boosters would burn for only 15 seconds or so; I gave them a slightly longer burn time, though not by much. Unfortunately, setting the burn timer in SP means the rockets will stop providing thrust after a set amount of time, but they will continue to give off fire & smoke. In any case; the frame release is on a timer as well, so shortly after takeoff it will detach automatically. It could also have been a manual release (AG5 and 6 are free) or based on altitude, airspeed, or a combination of factors. The detacher is easily accessible at the back of the JATO frame, so feel free to experiment if you like.

RECAP OF THE CONTROLS

AG1 : approach chute
AG2 : brake chute
AG3 : freezes the plane’s pitch & yaw controls and activates the gyro for added stability. Pitch & yaw now control the tail barbette; don’t forget to select cannons from the weapons display. When the plane is parked, AG3 will toggle the front wheel chocks.
AG4 : drop external fuel tanks
AG5 : (unused)
AG6 : (unused)
AG7 : arm the JATO pack and start the JATO detach timer
AG8 : toggle lights
VTOL up : open bomb bay doors
VTOL down : flaps
Trim : pitch trim