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Updated April 6, 2008

This panorama was assembled from a sequence of frames in a panning clip. Although the film was exposed in 1946, this panorama did not exist until 2008.

The tip of the vertical stabilizer rises 46 feet, 9 inches above the tarmac.

The tires of the single-wheel main landing gear were nine feet in diameter.

The XB-36 taking off on its first flight from Runway 17 at Fort Worth on August 8, 1946.

The landing gear of the XB-36 remained extended for the duration of the 37-minute flight.

To emphasize the size of the prototype XB-36 Peacemaker, it was posed next to the previous superbomber, the Boeing B-29 Superfortress. Convair photo 10-1796.

The XB-36 initially had main wheel tires nine feet in diameter. They were later replaced with four wheel bogies like those on late production Peacemakers.

The XB-36 cockpit was stepped in a conventional fashion. The raised greenhouse canopy was introduced on the YB-36.

XB-36 with a C-87 transport version of the Convair Liberator flying chase. Photo courtesy AFFTC/HO.

XB-36 in flight. Convair photo 10-2148.

Color photo of the XB-36 in flight.

Color photo of the XB-36 in flight.

XB-36 photo from an Air Force photo album.

The propellor of the XB-36 was 19 feet in diameter. Hot air from the manifold was piped through hollow steel joints for anti-icing.

This swamp buggy was constructed in 1962 with nine-foot diameter, Goodyear 110 Airplane, 34 Ply tires of the type used on the XB-36. The old tires are in need of replacement. Are there any similarly sized tires available? "It was built from a 3/4 ton truck, has two transmissions and a transfer case, Front transmission has 4 gears, the second has 5 gears plus double reverse, giving you a total of 21 forward gears in low range, and another 21 in high range. For a grand total of 42 forward gears." Photo courtesy Jeffrey Wolfe.

The first B-36A-1-CF, 44-92004 was the second B-36 to fly. It first flew on August 28, 1947, four months before the YB-36. It made one flight in the vicinity of the Convair plant at Fort Worth, during which it was photographed extensively. Two days later it was flown to Wright Field in Ohio for structural testing. It is seen here on its flight to Dayton on August 30 with Col. Thomas P. Gerrity and Beryl Erickson at the controls. Col. Gerrity was one of the Toms of the Tom-Tom project.

The third B-36A-1-CF, 44-92006 was assigned to service testing at Wright Field. Photo courtesy AFFTC/HO.

In September 1948, near Sacramento, my father pulled his car off the road to get a picture of the next to last B-36A-15-CF, 44-92024 as it flew overhead. The first production model of the B-36 lacked gun turrets and bombing systems. They were really just huge training airplanes. Photographer: Richard Lockett, Sr.

The B-36B was the first model to be equipped with combat systems.

Scale models of the B-36 and V-2 rocket are examined by Brigadier General H, Saylor, right, assisted by Dr. R. W. Porter, GE engineer, while Colonel H. M. Toftoy looks on. Photo was taken during General Saylor's visit to inspect GE facilities for guided missiles research. Note the pairs of gun turrets on the forward and aft fuselage. The cockpit canopy does not exactly resemble the production unit.

The insignia red (FS 36116) tail and wingtips of Convair B-36B, 44-92033 indicate that it is one of 18 B-36s assigned to the GEM program. The GEM program investigated the operation of the B-36 in the extremely cold conditions of the forward bases at Goose Bay, Labrador, Limestone, Maine, and Fairbanks, Alaska. The large red surfaces were intended to make the airplane easier to find if it went down on ice or snow in arctic regions.

This photograph of Convair B-36B 44-92033 may have been taken with a red filter to make the red areas on the wingtip and tail appear so bright in comparison to other pictures of GEM B-36s that appear below.

The fourth B-36B-1-CF, 44-92029 crashed at Carswell AFB on February 8, 1955. It was knocked down by windshear while practicing landings. Photo courtesy AFFTC/HO.

B-36B heading to a flyover of Chicago on July 3, 1949. The bulges visible on the top of the wing inboard of the engine nacelles were added to make room for the four-wheeled main landing gear. Photographer: Frank Kleinwechter, former 7th Bomb Group B-36 crew member.

Storm clouds loom over Carswell AFB flightline in 1949. Photographer: Frank Kleinwechter, former 7th Bomb Group B-36 crew member.

B-36B of the 7th Bomb Group runs up its engines while visiting Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base (now Travis AFB) on May 14, 1950. Photographer: Frank Kleinwechter, former 7th Bomb Group B-36 crew member.

B-36B-1-CF, serial 44-92036, which has been modified with a pair of large pods on either side of the fuselage. Frame 22854 of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc #1.

The pods were used to carry extra built-up R-4360 radial engines to deployment bases. Frame 22774 of National Air and Space Museum Archival Videodisc #1.

Two pairs of J-47 jet engines were introduced on the D-model of the B-36. Photo courtesy AFFTC/HO.

B-36F-5-CF 49-2683 on the old South Base flightline of Edwards Air Force Base. Behind it to the right are a Boeing C-97 Stratocruiser and B-47 Stratojet. On the left is an RB-36. Note the difference in the placement of the bomb bay doors on the RB-36. Rogers Dry Lake can be seen in the background. Photo courtesy AFFTC/HO.

Featherweight B-36 has no nose turret. It is parked on the Edwards Air Force Base flightline. In the background is a modified B-29 Superfortress, a B-52A Stratofortress, B-47 Stratojets and F-100 Super Sabres.

Convair B-36, Boeing B-52B and B-47E at Eglin AFB firepower demonstration.

In the early 1950s, the RB-36 was one of the primary intelligence gathering airplanes in the Air Force inventory. Where standard B-36 bombers had four bomb bays, the forward bomb bay of the RB-36 was converted to a pressurized camera compartment. The camera compartment was connected to the forward crew compartment by a tunnel through the turret bay and to the aft crew compartment by a tunnel through the bomb bays. The RB-36 was typically equipped with fourteen cameras with focal lengths up to 1200 mm. They used film that was up to 9 inches by 18 inches.

The pressurized sections of the B-36 were skinned with aluminum. The bomb bay and the gun turret bays were skinned with magnesium. RB-36s can be spotted by the shinier aluminum camera compartment with a pair of windows in front of the wing.

RB-36D-1 44-92088 was ordered from Consolidated-Vultee as a B-36B bomber without jet engine pods. Before it was built, the order was converted to build it as an RB-36D. It was the first RB-36D to come off the assembly line with the camera compartment already installed. It made its first flight without jet engine pods on December 18, 1949. Jet engine pods were installed on 44-92088 in early 1950. It made a demonstration flight for President Truman at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida on April 22, 1950. Later, 44-92088 tested the Boston camera, which used 18" x 36" film. It had a 240" (6,000 mm) focal length. Photo courtesy Kathy (Dragoo) Matelski.

RB-36D-10-CF 49-2688. Note the three electronics intelligence antennae under the fourth bomb bay. Courtesy Air Force Flight Test Center History Office.

RB-36F-1-CF 49-2708 of the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing on the ramp at Fairchild AFB. Photo courtesy Fairchild Air Force Base Heritage Museum.

This picture shows the original bomb bay configuration of the RB-36F. The aft bomb bay was sealed and electronics intelligence equipment was housed in the space. Three electronics intelligence antennea were housed in radomes mounted on the underside of the bay. Photo flash bombs were housed in the second bomb bay and an extra fuel tank was installed in the third bomb bay. The second and third bays were equipped with a single pair of doors.

RB-36 of the 99SRW (H) at Fairchild Air Force Base in 1953. Photo courtesy Don Gasvoda, former 99th A & E Q-24 Radar/Bomb computer mechanic.

In June 1954, the primary role of the RB-36 fleet was changed to heavy bombardment. Technical Order 1B-36(R)-216 directed that the aft bomb bay should be converted to a functional bomb bay. The electronics intelligence gear and antennae were moved to the aft crew compartment. A short pair of doors covered the second bomb bay. The third and fourth bomb bays were equippped with a single pair of doors.

RB-36F-1-CF 49-2709 at Fairchild Air Force Base on August 28, 1956. The 99th has become a Heavy Bombardment Wing. RB-36F 49-2709 has had white anti-flash paint added to its undersides. The electronics intelligance antennae have been moved aft in accordance with Technical Order 1B-36(R)-216. Photo courtesy Fairchild Air Force Base Heritage Museum.

In the foreground is the pit that was used to load Republic RF-84K Thunderflashes into GRB-36D carrier airplanes of the Fighter Conveyer (FICON) squadron. FICON operatoins had been suspended in January 1956. The wedges served as permanent wheel chocks

From 1952 to 1956, the Project FICON investigated the potential of carrying various models of the Republic F-84 in the bomb bay of a Peacemaker to perform reconnaissance missions into areas that were too heavily defended for the RB-36 to penetrate.

The "Convair Crusader" NB-36H, 51-5712 was equipped with a functioning air-cooled nuclear reactor and a lead shielded crew compartment. The reactor did not power the airplane. Tests were conducted to determine the effects of radiation on instrumentation and equipment.

The YB-60 page shows the all-jet competitor to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.

The Yonezawa Company of Japan manufactured this Convair B-36 tin litho toy. The friction drive is connected to all six propellers, and it has a wingspan of 26 inches.

This Convair B-36 ashtray was manufactured by the Allyn Sales Company of Los Angeles.

Gary Jones' electric powered B-36 model. It flew indoors at the Southwest Aeromodeling Conference in Arlington, TX on May 18 and 19, 2001. The airplane weighs less than 13 ounces, ready to fly. Its wingspan is 51.5 inches. It is constructed mainly of styrofoam. The jet engines were carved from balsa wood.

Gary Jones' electric powered B-36 model in flight. These pictures were taken by Gary's brother, Clevis Jones, Jr.

Will Shea's B-36B model has a 113" wingspan and is powered by .46abc engines.

Will Shea's even bigger NB-36H model has a 210" wingspan. It is powered by six G-23 engines and was featured in the Oct. 2001 issue of RCM Magazine.

In 1964, Fairchild Stratos Corporation proposed a modification of the B-36 Peacemaker for transporting the second stage of the Saturn V, much the way Conroy modified the Boeing Stratocruiser into the Pregnant Guppy to carry the third stage of the giant rocket.

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Project FICON - Fighter Conveyer

2020 calendar

You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring historic Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites.

A dozen Air Force and Convair photographs of Project FICON Convair GRB-36 carrier aircraft and Republic F-84 parasites from 1952 to 1956:

Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic F-84E Thunderjet 49-2115 at Forth Worth, Texas and Eglin Air Force Base, Florida
Convair GRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic YRF-84F Thunderstreak 49-2430 at Fort Worth, Texas and Dayton, Ohio
Convair GRB-36D 49-2962 and Republic RBF-84F Thunderflash 52-7266 over Washington State
Convair GRB-36D 49-2694 and Republic RF-84K Thunderflash 52-7258 at Edwards Air Force Base, California

Put a copy of the Project FICON - Fighter Conveyer: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.

Wing Tip Coupling

2020 calendar

You can buy a 2020 calendar featuring photographs of Air Force projects investigating the coupling of smaller airplanes to larger airplanes' wing tips.

In the early years of the cold war, the US Air Force attempted to increase the range of airplanes by carrying fuel in hinged wing panels that supported themselves attached to their wing tips. The initial tests used a piloted light plane to simulate the hinged panels. Soon the scope of the experiments expanded to include towing a pair of jet fighters on the wing tips of a giant bomber. Photo sources: Bud Anderson, Air Force, General Dynamics, Lockheed-Martin:

Douglas C-47A 42-23918 and Culver Q-14B 44-68334
Project Tip-Tow: Boeing EB-29A 44-62093 and Republic EF-84D Thunderjets 48-0641 and 48-0661
Project Long Tom: Beechcraft XL-23C
Project Tom-Tom: Convair JRB-36F 49-2707 and Republic RF-84F Thunderflashes 51-1848 and 51-1849

Put a copy of the Wing Tip Coupling: 2020 calendar in your Lulu.com shopping cart for $14.95.

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B-36 CD-ROMs

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.

Go to the main Convair B-36 page.

Go to home page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.

Send a message to Brian.