Fellow EAA staffer Chris Henry and I recently took a road trip to Omaha to visit the Strategic Air & Space Museum. Restoration Manager Mark Hamilton was kind enough to give us access to the colossal Convair B-36J "Peacemaker." With a wingspan of 230 feet, length of just over 162 feet, and standing over 46 feet tall, this thing is enormous! If you ever get the chance to stop in at the Strategic Air & Space Museum, do so - it's a fantastic place!
Have you ever noticed that so many cold war era military aircraft are just so aesthetically challenged, aka ugly.
One man's ugly is anothers beauty! I think she is a beautiful bird! A B-29 on steroids!Originally Posted by Floatsflyer
Interesting! Zack, the picture that shows the controls on the ceiling panel appear to show the four jet engine controls over the pilot's position.
In B-36 video, I've seen the pilot command the copilot to go to "100% on the jets" at takeoff -- and then watched as the copilot moved the throttles forward. They appeared to be over his -- not the pilot's -- position.
I wonder why the difference?
Thanks for the pictures, Zack!
The B-36 was initially designed during WW2 with the intention of bombing Berlin from North America. When it looked like Britain would not fall after all, the emphasis shifted to bombing Japan. First roll-out was September 1945. Cold war bomber, World War design.
An amazing machine, and HUGE!!
Was there just after AirVenture, really good collection, including a B-1 and Vulcan(!) out in the back parking lot.
Definitely worth the trip.
Possibly my favorite airplane of all time. An amazing transitional aircraft between the prop and jet ages. I just wish I had gotten the opportunity to see one fly.
Pima Air Museum this past summer. B-36 tire as big as my 10 year old son.
And remember, those are the 'smaller' tires.big as my 10 year old son
The prototype flew with a singular wheel on each leg that was nine feet in diameter!
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