Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Convair · United States · first flew 1946 · bomber
The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was the United States Air Force's primary intercontinental strategic bomber in the late 1940s and 1950s, and the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft ever built. It carried nuclear weapons and had sufficient range to strike targets in the Soviet Union from bases in the continental United States.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 49.4 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Massive Cold War intercontinental bomber with six pusher pistons plus four jets (10 engines total — capped display at 4)
- Very long straight wing with rearward-facing pusher propellers
- Largest piston-engine combat aircraft ever built
Unmistakable enormous straight-wing bomber with six rearward-facing pusher propellers on the trailing edge and four underwing jet pods; the sheer size is its most distinctive feature.
Specifications
- The Convair B-36 Peacemaker has a length of 49.4 m (162 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 70.1 m (230 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 700 km/h (435 mph).
- Typical crew: 15.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Conceived during World War II in case Britain fell and US bombers lost their European bases, the B-36 first flew in 1946 and entered USAF service in 1948. Its ten engines — six radial pistons driving pusher propellers plus four underwing jet pods — gave it the motto 'six turning, four burning.' It remained the primary USAF nuclear deterrent until replaced by the jet-powered B-52 in the late 1950s.
Variants
Major variants included the B-36A through B-36J, the RB-36 reconnaissance versions, and the NB-36H nuclear-powered test aircraft; the B-36D introduced the four underwing jet pods.
Where you'll see it
The B-36 served exclusively with Strategic Air Command from 1948 to 1959, acting as America's primary nuclear deterrent during the early Cold War. Several examples are preserved in US air museums.
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- Convair CV-240 family
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- Boeing B-47 Stratojet
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