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| The first intercontinental bomber, the Convair B-36 originated from a specification issued on 11 April 1941 which called for an aircraft with ability to carry a maximum bombload of 32659kg and, of even greater importance in view of the state of affairs at that time, to deliver 4536kg of bombs on European targets from bases in the United States. An unrefuelled range of 16093km was a prime requirement, with a maximum speed of 386-483km/h and ceiling of 10670m. Selected from four competing designs, the Consolidated Model 36 featured a pressurised fuselage, and 70.10m span wings with a root thickness of 1.83m to permit in-flight access to the six pusher engines. The aircraft was designed originally with twin fins and rudders, but by the time the XB-36 prototype was ready to be rolled out at Fort Worth, on 8 September 1945, single vertical tail surfaces had been substituted.
First flown on 8 August 1946, the XB-36 had single 2.79m diameter main wheels, also a feature of the YB-36 second prototype on which they were replaced later by the four-wheeled bogies adopted for production aircraft. In this form the aircraft was designated YB-36A and also differed from the first aircraft by introducing a raised cockpit roof. On 23 July 1943 100 aircraft were ordered but it was more than four years before the first of the 22 unarmed crew-trainer B-36A models took off on its maiden flight, on 28 August 1947. Production of the B-36 continued for almost seven years, the last example being delivered to Strategic Air Command on 14 August 1954, and the type was retired finally on 12 February 1959.
| CREW | 16 |
| ENGINE | 6 x P+W R-4360, 2575kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 162162 kg | 357508 lb |
| Empty weight | 72051 kg | 158846 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 70.1 m | 230 ft 0 in |
| Length | 49.4 m | 162 ft 1 in |
| Height | 14.3 m | 47 ft 11 in |
| Wing area | 443.3 m2 | 4771.64 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 696 km/h | 432 mph |
| Cruise speed | 362 km/h | 225 mph |
| Ceiling | 13700 m | 44950 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 16000 km | 9942 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 12-16 20mm machine-guns, 32600kg of bombs |
| F David Thompson, e-mail, 15.11.2010 05:58 the model you show I believe is a B-36D yet you only show specs for the model without the 4 j-47 jet engines. Why? reply | | Jon, e-mail, 07.11.2010 22:38 As a pre-teenager, I would run outdoors whenever I heard the drone of this remarkable aircraft to see it flying overhead near Guthrie, Louisiana, a water stop for the locomotives on the Arkansas /Louisiana /Missouri rail line (between Bastrop and Monroe). Later, a fried of mine who helped maintain the planes, said that if you flew them, they would need to be visually inspected for missing bolts, rivets, etc. If you didn't fly them, the metal might become fatigued. It was a fine experience to inspect a B-36 in a museum setting near Dallas. reply | | Bill Grubb, e-mail, 07.11.2010 17:58 I was stationed at Loring AFB Maine and had the privilage flying on this outstanding plane. It was a hair raising experience I will never forget. Served as a fire control Tech. ( tail radar an retrack turiets). reply | | Glenn Shuck, e-mail, 31.10.2010 03:17 I had flew on the RB 36 WE HAD PHOTO LAB ECM AND WEATHER my afsc was Tail Gunner but flew all the gunner positions.I LOVE THE B 36 FROM THE MOMENT GOT AND YOU TELL THAT THE DRONING OF THE ENGINES DID'NT GET YOU.THE CREW WERE OUT OF SIGHT. I WAS AT FAIRCHILD AND BIGGS THEN CAME THE B 52 reply | |
| | Donald, e-mail, 23.10.2010 19:43 Bert Rima:
I was stationed at Ellsworth AFB from 1951 to 1954. You mentioned 28th Recky Tech reunionss. Do you have any info. on them? reply | | Donald, e-mail, 23.10.2010 19:39 Bert Rima: reply | | LEONARD HILLIARY, e-mail, 20.10.2010 04:32 I SERVED IN THE 99TH SRW 348 SRS AT FAICHILD AFB 1952-1956
ON B-29,RB36, AND GRB36 UNTIL THEY WERE DECOMISSIONED THEN ON TO B-52'S UNTIL RETIREMENT. I WAS CREWCHIEF AND QC INSPECTOR IN THE 15th, 8th AND 2nd AIR FORCE reply | | vi Bielefeldt, e-mail, 16.10.2010 05:04 I was a navigator crew member on this a /c. Had a great time. You know it never fired a shot in anger. Treated me well. Later as a fighter pilot I flew top cober for a B-36 flying down the Siberian Coast. I flew from Eilson AFB in an F-84 F. reply | | Crawford Hardy, e-mail, 11.10.2010 08:01 Hi Stuart Fields. Was stationed at Ramey AFB Puerto Rico 53-55 in Wing Operations. Since the 72nd Wing was a Recon.
Wing there won't be a 72nd heavy bomber patch, but I have a patch for the 72nd Strategic Recon Wing, 2nd AF, but have misplaced it now, which is par for the course. Good luck in finding one. The 36's were an awesome machine. reply | | Bruce Freeman Mst. Ret., e-mail, 08.10.2010 23:35 Dallas Love Field TX. !st RBSGP Det 1 Later part of Combat Evel GP. Those 36's would come in and shoot landings and everything shook. We scored simulated bomb runs in Dallas area. lots of 2nd bomb wg activity from Carswell, FT. Worth
I'll attest to the 36's accuracy. reply | | Darlene Howe, e-mail, 04.10.2010 05:40 I grew up in Tucson, AZ, where my mother worked at the Base Exchange office at Davis Monthan AFB. I remember pulling myself along by the rope, on the sled, in the fuselage of the B-36. We were attending an air show at DMAFB and I just had to try it out. Great experience. Thanks for the chance to share this memory. reply | | H. Wayne Wilbanks, e-mail, 25.09.2010 18:12 While attending Radio Tech School at Scott AFB, Belleville, IL, one of our instructors related this story of witnessing a B-36 make an emergency landing at Scott AFB, a fighter base. Of course, the runway was not adequate.
His story:
On his approach, the pilot reversed the engines as he passed over the road at the end of the runway; tires squeeled all the way down the runway 'till it stopped about 6 feet from the other end. Because runway could not support it's weight, they had to move it every couple of hours until it could be disassembled and hauled out.
I don't know if this story is true, but I have no reason to doubt it, anyway it's a fascinating story.
Wayne reply | | James Peters, e-mail, 22.09.2010 15:04 In 1951, the 92nd BW at Fairchild,AFB, Spokane Wash, received their first B-36, and I worked as an electrician in the 92nd BW OMS, (PMS), and in 1953, transferred to the 99th SRW,on the RB and GRB-36 (FICON) on to 1957, when the
99th SRW (BW) sent their aircraft to Tucson,AZ, for salvage.
I am the only person, who so far, who has claimed to have worked on three versions, Bomber,Recon and Ficon. reply | | Mert Rima, e-mail, 21.09.2010 18:20 In 1949 I was assigned to the 718th Strat Recon Sqdn of the 28th bomb wing at Rapid City AFB, which later became Ellsworth AFB. I remained in the 718th for over 6 years. I was witness to the transition from the B-29 to the RB-36. It was a real learning experience and was very rewarding in the knowledge obtained from working on and maintaining this huge aircraft. It did require many man hours of maintenance per hour of flying time. But it was all worth it during the Cold War. The capability this aicraft had was an influence on the conduct of rouge nations at the time. It's name was PEACEMAKER and it never fired a shot in anger. As a Crew Chief I flew many hours in the 36 and accompanied my aircraft on any flight the aircraft commander asked me to, or in most cases I would just ask if it was OK if I went. I accompanied my aircraft to England several times, Guam, Alaska several times, Greenland and Japan. The crew members and maintenance folks I associated with over the years became everlasting friends that one could never forget. When attending reunions of the 28th it has become a depressing odeal as so many of those wonderful friends have passed on. The B-36 remains the center piece of the reunions in the pictures and stories. reply | |
| | Steve Ras, e-mail, 10.09.2010 21:32 I remember the B36 display at Chanute AFB in 1964..I believe about 20 feet was removed from the fuselage ..
Steve Ras reply | | Barbara Martin, e-mail, 27.06.2010 03:07 My husband, Harry Martin was on the 36 crew that flew non-stop from Okinawa to Dayton Ohio in 1953. I have a photo of the crew standing beside the 36---no identifying names, though. He was stationed at Fairchild 1951-1954. reply | | Ron Rayburn (s/sgt discharged , e-mail, 07.07.2010 07:34 I was on a B-29 as ECM jammer for about 6 months, and then
transfered to RB 36s in 1954. Served as radio, ECM,& gunner
thru 56. You have to travel far to find one of the four
remaining planes left. Don't think we'll ever see one fly again. Too bad. reply | | Eugene Haught, e-mail, 13.07.2010 23:35 What was the total story about the B-36 that crashed in Canada carryiny 2 nucler bombs that were not armed and the pilot was never found. It took off from Eilson air force base in Alaska around 1950? reply | | John Lutz, e-mail, 20.07.2010 07:17 My first flight in any aircraft a young 18 year old, was in a B-36 in 1955, as a Bombing Navigation System technician. This was one of the most awesome and memorable events of my life, one I'll never forget. I also went on to become a proud member of the B-36 Hundred hour club... flight personnel who accumulated more than 100 flying hours flying time in B-36's. Later, B-52's replaced the B-36 at Loring AFB, and I went on to fly as a Bomb Nav technician on B-52's before going on to other things in the Air Force, which I made a career of before retiring in November, 1978. reply | | eddie dutson, e-mail, 29.07.2010 23:30 i can remember b 36s comeing into faiford in glostershire in the early 50s what a site masive aircraft very distinctive engine sound i loved them reply |
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