Convair B-36 Peacemaker
| B-36 "Peacemaker" | |
|---|---|
| Beginning with the B-36D (B-36J shown), the Peacemaker used 6 radial piston engines and 4 jet engines. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Strategic bomber |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Convair |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
| Number built | 384 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1946–1954 |
| Introduction date | 1948 |
| First flight | 8 August 1946 |
| Retired | 12 February 1959 |
| Variants | Convair XC-99 Convair NB-36H |
| Developed into | Convair YB-60 Convair X-6 |
The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker" is a strategic bomber built by Convair and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) from 1949 to 1959. 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.
Entering service in 1948, the B-36 was the primary nuclear weapons delivery vehicle of Strategic Air Command (SAC) until it was replaced by the jet-powered Boeing B-52 Stratofortress beginning in 1955. All but four aircraft have been scrapped.