The giant XB-36 dwarfs the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, yet a mere three years separates their design genesis.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boeing B-29 Superfortress - СШАUSA - 1942Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Один GRB-36F FICON задействовали в проекте "Tom-Tom". На снимке - к крылу носителя пристраивается один из двух истребителей F-84F, доработанных в рамках этой программы, фотосъемка выполнялась с борта самолета Lockheed T-33.
С появлением таких мощных дальних самолетов, как B-36, возникла необходимость в столь же дальних истребителях сопровождения. Однако испытания "прицепных" и буксируемых истребителей закончились неудачей.
Project Tom-Tom, involving wingtip attachment of a pair of RF-84Fs, was abandoned after wingtip vortex problems.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946Lockheed T-33A - СШАUSA - 1948Republic RF-84F Thunderflash - СШАUSA - 1952

The tiny McDonnell XF-95 Goblin was designed to fit into one of the B-36’s bomb bays, to be deployed for defence over enemy territory and then retrieved in flight.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin - СШАUSA - 1948

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: McDonnell XF-85 Goblin - СШАUSA - 1948

A FICON (Fighter Conveyor) RF-84F is attached to a trapeze in the bomb bay of a B-36D. Usually the fighter would take off separately and rendezvous for mating.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946Republic F-84F Thunderstreak - СШАUSA - 1950

Flamboyant unit markings were a feature of all B-36 Peacemakers in SAC service; this example wears the insignia of the 4925th Test Group Atomic. This particular B-36, along with others, was used by the Special Weapons Command in connection with the Continental Nuclear Test Program at Indian Springs AFB, Nevada, in March 1953.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Imposing its characteristic drone on the populace below, the XB-36 is seen here over Lake Worth, Texas, with the future home of production aircraft, Carswell AFB, below.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

An early model B-36B at Carswell AFB, Texas, wears the black-and-gold emblem of the 7th Bomb Wing on its nose.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

This view of a Wasp Major engine being installed on a B-36 at Carswell AFB in Texas gives a graphic impression of the sheer size of the aircraft and the complexities of maintaining it.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Never produced in a bomber version, the 22 RB-36Es were re-engineered from the YB-36 and 21 B-36As. This particular RB-36E was assigned to the 72nd Bomb Sqn of the 73rd Bomb Wing based at Ramey AFB. The unit was attached to the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Travis AFB from 1952 to 1955.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

B-36Ds on the mile long assembly line at Fort Worth. So great was the wing span that they had to be canted after installation of the outer wing panels in order to move down the line.
Slimline snap bomb doors on this B-36D are shown open. Note the 20mm forward cannon, the undernose radome, and the sequence number on the nose covered for secrecy.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The B-36D was the first production variant fitted with four General Electric J47 turbojets, improving take-off performance and increasing speed over the target. Note the distinction between the dull magnesium panels and the shiny aluminium ones.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The formidable 3,500 h.p. Pratt & Whitney Wasp Major engine brought together two double-row 14-cylinder R-1830 Wasp radials.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Their intakes here covered by iris enclosures and suspended in podded pairs on pylons beneath the outer wings, General Electric J47 engines became standard on B-36D and subsequent bomber and reconnaissance versions.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Piloted by Bill Erickson, the XB-36 lumbers into the air on its first 37min flight from Fort Worth, on August 8, 1946. At almost 9ft diameter, its two single mainwheel tyres were claimed to be the largest ever produced for an aeroplane.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

This B-36D, 44-92095, was put through the Featherweight programme which sought to reduce weight and increase operating altitude by removing all armament except the tail guns and reducing the crew to nine. It purportedly added 12 m.p.h. to the top speed.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Developed by the USAF for soft runways, the track-tread landing gear was employed on the XB-36 for only one flight, which took place on March 26, 1950; it shed pins and debris in its wake, and was abandoned.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Самолет B-36 был реальным средством устрашения, которое США демонстрировало всему миру. В полете из конца в конец самолета экипажу приходилось добираться через туннель длиной 24,83 м, проходивший над бомбоотсеками.
Six 28-cylinder piston engines, four jets: the B-36 was difficult to ignore

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Проблемы с шасси. На прототипе XB-36 стояли основные опоры шасси с колесами диаметром 2,80 м - самыми большими в истории авиации. Для эксплуатации самолета были пригодны лишь аэродромы с бетонными ВПП с толщиной покрытия не менее 59 см. Попыткой расширить количество доступных аэродромов стало использование гусеничного шасси. Такое шасси спроектировали и испытали, но от него отказались в пользу менее экзотичных многоколесных опор.
In a quest for an alternative undercarriage for soft runways Convair installed a US Air Force track-tread landing gear employing a continuous-loop caterpillar gear with a belt running along independently suspended bogies.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The first production B-36A-1-CF Peacemaker carried the new semi-glazed nose and glasshouse crew dome for the first time, features that would be a characteristic of all production types. 44-92004 was the second B-36 to fly, followed by the XC-99 transport variant in November and the YB-36 in December.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The last B-36A during final assembly in Convair’s Fort Worth Plant, Texas. This and the first two B-36Bs behind on the line are skewed to allow the wing tip sections to be installed, thus allowing the 230ft wing span to be accommodated in the 200ft-wide assembly plant. Note that for rollout (more closely resembling an extraction!) the nose of the aircraft will have to be lifted, allowing the fin and rudder to clear overhead structure, and the aircraft dragged crab-like through the doors.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Later versions of the B-36 carried a control yoke;

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The jet control panel for the four J47 turbojets fitted from the B-36D onwards;

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The weather observer’s seat (right) and the photo-navigator’s sighting station (left);

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

The engineer’s station.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

A USAF illustration of the B-36’s forward cabin area. One pilot reported that flying the Peacemaker was like “sitting in your bay window and flying your house”.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

A USAF official illustration of the camera compartment - more like a full-sized photographic laboratory - in a reconnaissance RB-36.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Convair B-36D

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair B-36 Peacemaker - СШАUSA - 1946

Radically re-engineered with a completely new wing and tail assembly and eight turbojet engines, Convair’s YB-60 was a desperate attempt to compete against Boeing’s B-52.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair YB-60 - СШАUSA - 1952

На основе бомбардировщика B-36 был спроектирован транспортный самолет Convair XC-98. Он позиционировался как пассажирский, но единственный построенный экземпляр ограниченно использовался ВВС США, базируясь в Келли, штат Техас.
The Convair XC-99, at the time the world’s largest landplane, about to land after its first flight on November 23, 1947. It is seen coming over San Diego into Lindbergh Field after a flight lasting one hour.
Convair’s XC-99 heads for a landing over the heads of admiring spectators. Note the early design of single mainwheel under each wing.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

Capable of carrying at least 400 fully-equipped troops, the XC-99 was flown for the first time on November 24, 1947. The sole example built, seen here after conversion to four-wheel bogie undercarriage, saw service with the US Air Force between 1949 and 1957.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

Later in its career the XC-99 was fitted with a protruding nose radome.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

The galley and bunks in the forward upper deck of the XC-99 immediately behind the flight deck.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

The rear two-thirds of the XC-99’s 130ft upper deck. Seen in the background is one of two 1,500gal water tanks used to trim the aircraft during flight tests.
The cavernous interior of the XC-99 could carry 101,000lb of cargo and up to 300 stretcher cases. Plans to adapt it as an airliner never came to fruition

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair XC-99 - СШАUSA - 1947

Ядерная энергия. Ядерная реакция, способная генерировать огромную энергию из малого количества вещества, одно время рассматривалась в качестве средства обеспечения почти неограниченной дальности полета. Самолет Convair NB-36H летал с действующим реактором для проверки систем защиты, но так никогда и не питался от ядерной энергии. Полеты выполнялись с заводского аэродрома "Convair" в Форт-Уорте над безлюдными районами штатов Нью-Мексико и Техас. Буква "N" в обозначение NB-36H указывает на экспериментальный статус самолета, а не на наличие на его борту ЯР. Свой последний полет NB-36H выполнил 28 марта 1957 года. С учетом приобретенного опыта на фирме "Convair" велось проектирование атомного стратегического бомбардировщика WS-125A, но предпочтение получил самолет North American XB-70. На Х-6, прототипом которого являлся NB-36H, предполагалась установка ЯР General Electric Р-1. Все работы по "атомным" самолетам свернули в начале 1961 года.
The Convair NB-36H was the first aeroplane to fly with an operating atomic reactor aboard.
Intended to measure the radiation effects of a working inflight nuclear reactor, the NB-36H was converted from a B-36H.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Convair NB-36H - СШАUSA - 1955