The B-36 is the largest mass-produced piston-engined aircraft ever built, although it was exceeded in span and weight by the one-off Hughes H-4 Hercules. It has the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft. The B-36 was capable of intercontinental flight without refueling.

Responding to the U.S. Army Air Forces' requirement for a strategic bomber with intercontinental range, Consolidated Vultee (later Convair) designed the B-36 during World War II. The airplane made its maiden flight in August 1946, and in June 1948 the,

May 22, 2020 · The Day a B-36 Accidently Dropped the Largest U.S. Hydrogen Bomb on Kirtland AFB. 1148 Hrs. Local, Wednesday, May 22, 1957; Downwind Traffic Leg, Runway 26, Kirtland AFB.

The original B-36 was powered by six Pratt & Whitney 3600 hp, R4360-53 radial piston engines, supplemented by four General Electric 13,500 lb thrust J47-19 turbojets. After conversion, the engines were removed and a new configuration was incorporated.

Jul 26, 2021 · When America needed a club with which to threaten the Russians, Convair produced the six-engine—eventually 10—B-36 long-range heavy bomber. It was the largest and heaviest piston-engine airplane ever to go into production. The B-36 was nicknamed the Peacemaker, with a nod to the infamous Colt six-shooter.

Projected conversion of the B-36 intended for airborne nuclear powerplant testing, following the NB-36H programme. Cancelled and none built. References and external links

The Convair B-36 peacemaker was developed by Convair in service with the United States Air Force (USAF) as a strategic bomber between 1949 and 1959. Produced from 1946 to 1954, the B-36 Peacemaker is the largest piston-powered combat aircraft ever built.

On 6 April 1955, a B-36 launched a guided missile with an atomic warhead from 42,000 feet. The explosion took place 6 miles above Yucca Flat, Nevada. It was the highest known altitude of any nuclear blast at the time. The B-36 is the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft ever built.

Feb 23, 2025 · The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was not just an aircraft; it was a floating fortress of destruction, designed to carry nuclear payloads across the world at a time when the Cold War was heating up. With a wingspan of 230 feet, it remains the largest combat aircraft ever built by the United States.

The B-36 Peacemaker was a strategic bomber developed by Convair for the United States Air Force (USAF) during the early Cold War. It was one of the largest and heaviest bombers ever built and played a crucial role in the USAF's long-range nuclear deterrence strategy.