Convair B-36, XC-99, and YB-60 |
(Download a new display by clicking on any picture below.) 
The B-36 Variants Display illustrates
some of the different types of Convair B-36 Peacemakers.
Convair B-36 VariantsWingspan: 230 feetLength: 162 feetWing Area: 4770 square feetMaximum Take-off Weight: 410,000 poundsMaximum Bomb Payload: 2x 42,000 pound Grand Slam bombsPowerplant: 6x 3500 hp R4360 radial engines, 4X 5,200 pound J47-GE-19 turbojets |
The YB-60 page
shows the all-jet competitor to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
The XC-99 Transport and Model 37 Airliner
Display. The XC-99, serial 43-52436 was the double deck
transport variant of the B-36. The Model 37 was a proposed
204-seat transatlantic airliner version of the XC-99.
The B-36 Survivors Display tells
where to find them.
The B-36 Accident Reports and Wreck Sites
Display tells where to
find some less pristine examples.
Meet B-36 Veterans at the B-36 Era and Cold War Forum:
The B-36 Links Page.
Parasite Fighter Program Displays |
Three programs were undertaken in the late forties and early fifties to exploit the capability of the B-36 Peacemaker to carry and launch smaller airplanes. Initially, the idea was to provide a fighter escort that could be released by the Peacemaker when it was threatened by enemy fighters. Later programs aimed at extending the range of a fast reconnaissance or nuclear warhead delivery airplane.
In
1948 and 1949, a pair of McDonnell XF-85
Goblins were test flown from a Boeing EB-29B.
From 1952 to 1956, the Fighter Conveyer
(FICON) program investigated the potential of carrying
various models of the Republic F-84 in the bomb bay of a
Peacemaker.
Hobbycraft has released a
1/144-scale model of the FICON composite aircraft system. I have
prepared an illustrated review
of the kit.
In 1955 and
1956 Project Tom-Tom explored an
alternative method of attaching a Republic RF-84F Thunderflash to
each wingtip of a Peacemaker.
Giant Airplanes of the 1940s |
||||||
| First Flight | Wing Span | Length | Wing Area | Gross Weight | Engines | |
| Bristol Brabazon | 1949 |
230ft,00in |
177ft,00in |
5,317 |
290,000 |
8 x 2,650hp Bristol Centaurus |
| Hughes Flying Boat (Spruce Goose) | 1947 |
320ft,00in |
218ft,06in |
11,430 |
300,000 |
8 x 3,500hp R4360 |
| Convair XC-99 | 1947 |
230ft,00in |
185ft,00in |
4,772 |
320,000 |
6 x 3,500hp R4360 |
| Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing | 1947 |
172ft,00in |
53ft,01in |
4,000 |
194,000 |
8 x 3,700 lb J-35 |
| Convair B-36 | 1946 |
230ft,00in |
162ft,01in |
4,772 |
370,000 |
6 x 3,500hp R4360, 4 x 5,200 lb J-47 |
| Lockheed R6V Constitution | 1946 |
189ft,01in |
156ft,01in |
3,610 |
184,000 |
4 x 3,000hp R4360 |
| Blohm und Voss BV-238 | 1945 |
197ft,05in |
142ft,8in |
3,930 |
176,400 |
6 x BMW 801 |
| Douglas DC-6 | 1946 |
117ft,06in |
100ft,07in |
1,463 |
97,200 |
4 x 2,100 hp R2800 |
| Douglas C-74 Globemaster | 1945 |
173ft,03in |
124ft,02in |
2,506 |
145,000 |
4 x 3,000hp R4360 |
| Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter/Stratotanker | 1945 |
141ft,03in |
110ft,04in |
1,738 |
120,000 |
4 x 3,000hp R4360 |
| Lockheed 049 Constellation | 1943 |
123ft,00in |
95ft,02in |
1,650 |
86,200 |
4 x 2,000 hp R3350 |
| Martin JRM Mars | 1942 |
200ft,00in |
117ft,00in |
3,683 |
144,000 |
4 x 2,000 hp R3350 |
| Douglas DC-4 | 1942 |
117ft,06in |
93ft,10in |
1,460 |
73,000 |
4 x 1,350 hp R2000 |
| Douglas XB-19 | 1941 |
212ft,00in |
132ft,00in |
4,492 |
164,000 |
4 x 2,000 hp R3350 |
| Tupolev Ant-20bis | 1940 |
206ft,08in |
111ft,11in |
5,231 |
99,200 |
6 x 1,200 hp M-34FRNV |
| Blohm und Voss BV-222 | 1940 |
150ft,11in |
120ft |
2,744 |
108,000 |
6 x 1,000 hp BMW-Bramo Fafnir 323R |
Books about B-36 Peacemakers available from 
Dennis Jenkins has produced another large B-36 book: Magnesium Overcast.
Meyers Jacobsen has authored
another book about the Convair B-36 Peacemaker: A Photo Chronicle.
Convair B-36 : A Comprehensive History of America's
'Big Stick by Meyers K. Jacobsen. Mr. Jacobsen has been
compiling this history for at least a quarter of a century.
Warbird Tech: Convair B-36 Peacemaker . This volume by Dennis Jenkins contains a
surprising amount of information that did not get into "The
Big Stick".
The history of the efforts to preserve B-36J, 52-22827 at Fort Worth is well documented in "B-36: Saving the Last Peacemaker"; Second Edition, an html book on CD. This CD-ROM is viewed with your internet browser.
B-36: Moving the Last Peacemaker. These 875 photos show photographically the effort expended by all of the volunteers over a nine year period to save the aircraft. This CD-ROM is a self contained slide show that does not require a browser to view.
Send a message to Brian.
Go to home page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.
