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-36Wingspan: 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.
eBook editions of Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF |
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My books in the Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF series are now available as eBooks, at a considerably reduced price compared to the print editions. Following World War II, the US Air Force was faced with the need to extend the range of fighter escorts for bomber airplanes. Several programs explored the feasibility of carrying, launching, and retrieving jet fighters from Convair B-36 bombers. In 1948 and 1949, the Air Force tested the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin, which was intended to fit inside the bomb bay of the B-36, in a series of launches from a modified Boeing B-29 Superfortress. From 1949 to 1956, the Air Force explored wing tip coupling, attaching smaller airplanes to the wing tips of larger airplanes, first with a Culver PQ-14 coupled to a Douglas C-47 Skytrain, then with a pair of Republic F-84E Thunderjets coupled to a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, and concluding with tests of Republic RF-84F Thunderflashes coupled to the wing tip of a Convair B-36. From 1952 to 1956, Project FICON (Fighter Conveyer) evaluated carrying Republic F-84s partially enclosed in the bomb bay of a B-36, concluding with the establishment of squadrons of modified Republic RF-84F Thunderflashes and Convair B-36s in Washington State. Each volume is profusely illustrated with vintage photographs and diagrams. They can be dowloaded directly from Lulu.com. |
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Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
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Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Wing Tip Coupling
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LockettBooks Bookshelf |
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BooksMy books are printed on demand by Lulu.com. When you select one, it is placed in your Lulu.com shopping cart. When you place your order, the items are produced, packaged, and shipped directly to you. Books are 8.5" x 11" with perfect binding, white interior paper (60# weight), white exterior paper (100# weight), and full-color exterior ink. |
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Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Project FICON Preview the first several pages of the paperback book. Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Project FICON |
Flying Aircraft Carriers of the USAF: Wing Tip Coupling |
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Project FICON Handbooks |
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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.
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.
Giant Airplanes of the 1940s |
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| 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 the Convair B-36 from Amazon.com |
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Visit the Lockett Books Amazon Webstore for a selection of aviation and space related books and DVDs. |
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You can stream Cold War Peacemaker: The Story of the Convair B-36 for 99 cents.
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.
