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Convair B-36 Peacemaker
An XNB-36 (foreground) alongside a B-29 during trials.
By Staff Writer
If developed a few years sooner and the B-36 could have very well taken part in the Second World War. The initial designed was put forth from a United States Army Air Corps requirement for a large intercontinental bomber capable of taking off from locations on American soil and delivering its payload over targets in Europe. The first prototype flew in August of 1946.
From an exterior point of view, the mammoth B-36 shared some commonality in design with the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress before it. The large single tail rudder was reminiscent of both and the sleek pencil-like fuselage was very much the B-29. The B-36 trumped both in sheer size however, as anyone having a chance to see the B-36 in person can attest.
The B-36 began as the XB-36 prototype, becoming the developmental YB-36 trials model. Pusher propellers (the engines appear to be mounted on backwards) were instituted into all base designs with General Electric engines added later in the development and maturation of the series. The B-36 - now dubbed ironically as 'The Peacemaker' - required a crew of 11 personnel to maintain all systems and weaponry on the aircraft with 4 'relief' personnel flying along as well. Defensive armament consisted of sixteen 20mm cannon emplacements in the nose, tail and throughout the fuselage in barbettes - though this defensive armament was not added till the B-36B models. B-36A models were developed as 22 crew and flight trainers.
By the end of its production run, the B-36 had amassed in the hundreds, delivering such types as reconnaissance models and built-in fighter protection schemes. From model series to model series, the aircraft employed minor developments that included reinforced landing gears, redesigned flight decks and improved electronics to go along with more powerful engines. Several nuclear and full-jet powered designs were brought forth but neither developed in production numbers.
The B-36 series, as a whole, was a true stepping stone in heavy and high-altitude bomber design during the early years of the Cold War. Effectively, the system would become the world's first intercontinental bomber capable of generating its flight from home soil and delivering mass quantities of payload in a target area halfway around the world.
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Last Revision: 9/8/2009
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| Specifications for the Convair B-36D Peacemaker |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 162.07ft (49.40m)
Width:229.66ft (70.00m)
Height: 46.75ft (14.25m)
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| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 439mph (706kmh; 381kts)
Max Range: 7,500miles (12,070km)
Rate-of-Climb: 0ft/min (0m/min)
Service Ceiling: 45,197ft (13,776m; 8.6miles)
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| Structure: |
Accommodation: 15
Hardpoints: 0
Empty Weight: 171,035lbs (77,580kg)
MTOW: 418,878lbs (190,000kg)
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| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 6 x 3,500 hp Pratt & Whitney R-4360-41 air-cooled radials plus 4 GE J47-GE-19 turbojet engines. |
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| Armament Suite: |
12 x 20mm cannons in nose, tail and fuselage barbettes
Up to 86,000 lbs of bombs held internally.
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| Pictures of the Convair B-36 Peacemaker |
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Aircraft Quick Profile |
Image courtesy of the United States Air Force.
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| 1947 |
Designation: Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Classification Type: Long-Range Heavy Bomber
Contractor: Convair - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Production Total: 300 |
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| Variants |
Model 36 - Consolidated Development Series Designation.
XB-36 - Prototype Series Designation; featured pressurized fuselage equipment and R-4360-25 (3,000hp) engines.
YB-36 - Service Trials Model Designation; extruded cockpit from fuselage.
YB-36A - Redesigned landing gear units
B-36A - Initial Production Model Designation; designated as an unarmed crew training aircraft of which 22 were produced in this fashion.
B-36B - Fitted with R-4360-41 (3,500hp) engines; 104 produced; defensive armament implemented into design featuring 20mm cannons in nose, tail and fuselage positions.
B-36D - Revised B-36B models for strategic reconnaissance duty; 4 x General Electric J47-GE-19 (5,200lb thrust) turbojet engines added; 64 produced as reconnaissance models; 22 produced with turbojet additions.
B-36F - Improved B-36 with increased engine power and improved electronic subsystems throughout; 34 produced; 3,800hp R-04360-53 with J47-GE-19 engines.
B-36H - Redesigned cockpit interior; 83 produced.
B-36J - Reinforced landing gear; 33 produced.
RB-36D - Reconnaissance Version
RB-36E - Reconnaissance Version
RB-36F - Reconnaissance Version
RB-36H - Reconnaissance Version
GRB-36F - Featured a tag-along fighter for instant fighter escort protection over bombing area.
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