#b 36

[usafphantom2]

Do you recognize this aircraft ? 🩵🩵🩵

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📷©️neng Claraa

@VirginineSionney via X

[stone-cold-groove]

A Convair B-36 Peacemaker and crew.

[dronescapesvideos]

Convair NB-36H Experimental Atomic Bomber with a Boeing B-50 Superfortress, 1955. * Video: B-52 STRATOFORTRESS And The History Of U.S. Giant Bombers: From WWII To The Cold War Link:

https://youtu.be/RLptzCz-87Q

[batbaffle]

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THAT, LITTLE MAN?

[spockvarietyhour]

Convair B-36 Peacemaker

[histonics]

An XF-92 (a design forerunner of the F-106 Delta Dart and the B-58 Hustler) and a B-36 Peacemaker in a publicity photo from Convair

[lifejoy-co]

B-36 Peacemaker

The B-36 came from a Request For Proposal (RFP) in 1941 for a true intercontinental bomber, the first of it's kind. While the B-29 had proven that so called superbombers could exist and prove themselves useful, the USAAC (later USAF) needed a bomber capable of attacking Nazi-Germany if Britain were to ever fall to a German invasion.

Specifications were reaching too far for the time and asked for a 15000 meter fly ceiling (to fly over the AAA and enemy interceptors), a 19000 km max range (with a 9200 km combat radius with a 4 ton payload) and a cruising speed of well over 400 kph with a top speed of almost 700 kph.

Nevertheless, Consolidated (famous for the B-24, later Convair) came up with the B-36. It was the largest piston driven aircraft ever seen apart from the Spruce Goose (which only ever made 1 short flight) and measured a 70 metre wing span. The initial XB-36 prototype didn't even come close to the requested specifications (which had been toned down already to a more achievable goal). However, the XB-36 didn't have the correct Wasp Major engines yet and the following YB-36 prototype convinced enough officials for serial production of the B-36A (an unarmed version used for training, later converter to RB-36E reconnaissance aircraft) and the B-36B.

The Peacemaker had 20400 hp with its 6 Wasp Major engines (each producing 3800 hp). Each engine has 28 cylinders and powered a 3-bladed pusher propeller with a diameter of 2,8 meters. This gave the B-36 a maximum bombload of 39 tons, over 4 times the payload of the B-29! Couple this with its enormous range, immensely large fly time of up to 40 hours and it being the only bomber capable of transporting A-bombs and mark 16/17 H-bombs and you can see why the B-36 quickly grew into the Strategic Air Command (SAC) backbone. No other bomber could match it in its capabilities until the B-52 came along in 1955 and even that didn't have anywhere near the bombload of a Peacemaker.

From the D model onwards, 4 jet engines were installed in 2 pods (one under each wing) these were used for take-off and to dash over the target. Power output was increased to some 40000 hp (2/3rds that of a Fletcher class destroyer) This also gave the B-36 it's nickname: six turning, four burning.

Unfortunately, like many designs from the 1940s and 1950s, the next generation was already being developed and the B-52 was this new generation. Being all jet-powered, it had an edge in speed over the B-36 and although the Stratofortress lacked in other areas, it quickly replaced the Peacemaker, the last of which was retired in 1959. During it short lived career it never deployed for its intended role, nor was it used in its nuclear role but the B-36 still is a very impressive feat of engineering.

Fun fact: mechanics hated replacing the spark plugs of which there were 336

[photoyage]

The YRF-84F flying underneath its B-36 carrier aircraft. FICON modifications included installing a hook in front of the cockpit and turning down the horizontal tail so it could partially fit into the B-36 bomb bay. (U.S. Air Force photo)