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This answer about solid-jet-assisted takeoff links to the page B-47 Jet-Assisted Take Off (JATO). An image there took me to a collection of historical aviation images, apparently from a LIFE Magazine archive.

Browsing there led me to the image below, of what looks like several aviation engineers sitting on a very large format drawing of a B-47 aircraft and its major components.

A reverse image search leads mostly to sites written in Russian, which I can't read.

Does anyone recognize what's actually happening here? It's not scene one would normally see these days.

LIFE magazine B-47 Stratojet Bomber image

source: http://images.google.com/hosted/life/2ce91e390933d837.html

B-47 Stratojet Bomber, Date taken: September 9, 1950 Photographer: Howard Sochurek

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    $\begingroup$ It's still a valuable exercise to work with scale models to plan out large processes like aircraft production. 3D printing has only made that even easier. $\endgroup$
    – fooot
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 14:42
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    $\begingroup$ Thanks man for the picture , it will be on my wall :) $\endgroup$
    – Ali Erdem
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 18:01
  • $\begingroup$ Online translators are actually pretty decent the next time you are stuck like this. $\endgroup$
    – Infiltrator
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 23:52
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    $\begingroup$ @uhoh: It is not a solution, of course. I just mean that it can be the first tool for which you reach. $\endgroup$
    – Infiltrator
    Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 2:35
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    $\begingroup$ @jpmc26 - The guy at the top left (white shirt=supervisor) seems to be grasping his temple and saying "Oh, crap... they did it just like I told them to - I'm going to loose my job!" $\endgroup$
    – jwzumwalt
    Commented Sep 15, 2018 at 0:41

2 Answers 2

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As commented by Anilv, they are examining a factory production layout/plan. They most likely are attempting to resolve a production or supply problem, though as Anilv suggests, they may also be planning the factory layout.

Listed below is an example of the (edit) B-29 Flying Fortress Factory Production Layout used by Boeing in WWII. Note the arrows which show the production procession and parts/sub-assembly entry and exit.

enter image description here Source - Boeing

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    $\begingroup$ Yes, I can immediately understand now, this makes a lot of sense, thank you! $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 3:45
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    $\begingroup$ Those look like B-29's. $\endgroup$
    – Davidw
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 18:58
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    $\begingroup$ They are indeed B-29's, look at the trailing edge of the wings, the inner engine nacelles have a fillet that extends beyond the trailing edge of the wing on the B-29, the B-17 does not. The wings are narrower on the B-29, too. And even the manufacturer can make a mistake and mislabel the image. $\endgroup$
    – Davidw
    Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 3:30
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    $\begingroup$ Good answer, but as to what they're doing (planning or troubleshooting something), we should realize that they may simply be posing for a good photo. :) $\endgroup$
    – TypeIA
    Commented Sep 14, 2018 at 19:41
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    $\begingroup$ @TypeIA - I thought they were from New York and were pitching pennies. Shows what I know... $\endgroup$
    – jwzumwalt
    Commented Sep 15, 2018 at 0:39
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Just to confirm, one of the sites you mentioned says:

Планирование производства бомбардировщиков B–47 на заводе ВВС США №6. Завод ВВС США №6, был построен в 1942–1943 годах в небольшом городке Мариетта, штат Джорджия, для Bell corporation, и предназначался для выпуска бомбардировщиков B–29.

Завод до сих пор остается одним из крупнейших зданий в мире, его площадь под одной крышей составляет 390200 м2. После войны завод был закрыт, но в 50-х годах открыт вновь, вначале для ремонта и модернизации бомбардировщиков B–50, а затем для производства B–47 силами компании Lockheed Martin.

Завод работает и в настоящее время, на нем производится ремонт и обслуживание самолетов ВВС США, в том числе Lockheed/Boeing F-22 Raptor.

That translates to (emphasis mine):

Planning the production of B-47 bombers at the US Air Force plant No. 6.
US Air Force No. 6, was built in 1942-1943 in the small town of Marietta, Georgia, for Bell corporation, and was intended for the production of B-29 bombers. The plant still remains one of the largest buildings in the world, its area under one roof is 390,200 m².

After the war, the plant was closed, but in the 1950s it was reopened, first to repair and modernize the B-50 bombers, and then to manufacture the B-47 by Lockheed Martin.

The plant is currently in operation and repairing and servicing the US Air Force aircraft, including Lockheed / Boeing F-22 Raptor.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you for this! It seems to be quite informative. $\endgroup$
    – uhoh
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 14:03
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    $\begingroup$ @uhoh you can use Google Translate on web pages in languages you can't read, it's not perfect but it gives you an idea of what it's about. $\endgroup$
    – fooot
    Commented Sep 13, 2018 at 15:53

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