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B-36 cockpit virtual tour
- Thread starter Sgt. Rock
- Start date
SilvrSRT10
Super Moderator
Where's the door to get in the thing? Looks like it's all business.
Sgt. Rock
Full Access Member
Unlike the B-17 where you had to toss your gear up and pull yourself up as in Twelve O'Clock High..the B-36 access made it a lot easier.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzTzmQhalOI&feature=player_embedded]Convair B-36 Peacemaker - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzTzmQhalOI&feature=player_embedded]Convair B-36 Peacemaker - YouTube[/ame]
TheOl55
Full Access Member
Note that all of the flight engineer’s engine controls are numbered right to left, instead of left to right (like the pilot’s). Helps to reduce errors in those emergency situations…
Sgt. Rock
Full Access Member
Few years back saw one on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum down in Tucson, AZ..only a few left in the world. A time when SAC was a growing force with General Curtis LeMay at the forefront.
SilvrSRT10
Super Moderator
That is correct.
Sgt. Rock
Full Access Member
Beginning with the B-36D, Convair added a pair of General Electric J47-19 jet engines suspended near the end of each wing; these were also retrofitted to all extant B-36Bs. Consequently, the B-36 was configured to have 10 engines ("six turnin' and four burnin' ", as characterized by Airmen Magazine), more than any other mass-produced aircraft.
The jet pods greatly improved takeoff performance and dash speed over the target. In normal cruising flight, the jet engines were shut down to conserve fuel. When the jet engines were shut down, louvers closed off the front of the pods to reduce drag and to prevent ingestion of sand and dirt. The jet-engine louvers were opened and closed by the flight crew in the cockpit, whether the B-36 was on the ground or in the air.
The two pods with four turbojets and the six piston engines combined gave the B-36 a total of 40,000 hp (30,000 kW) for short periods of time.
Other than training missions it was never used in combat.
The jet pods greatly improved takeoff performance and dash speed over the target. In normal cruising flight, the jet engines were shut down to conserve fuel. When the jet engines were shut down, louvers closed off the front of the pods to reduce drag and to prevent ingestion of sand and dirt. The jet-engine louvers were opened and closed by the flight crew in the cockpit, whether the B-36 was on the ground or in the air.
The two pods with four turbojets and the six piston engines combined gave the B-36 a total of 40,000 hp (30,000 kW) for short periods of time.
Other than training missions it was never used in combat.
TheOl55
Full Access Member
The four Turbojets bought the B-36 a few extra years while the B-52 came on line.
Just to help show how big it really was this is the B-36A next to a B-29..
And this is what the Original singular wheel landing gear looked like before they went to
a multi tire arrangement in order to spread out the load and be able to use standard runways.
Just to help show how big it really was this is the B-36A next to a B-29..
And this is what the Original singular wheel landing gear looked like before they went to
a multi tire arrangement in order to spread out the load and be able to use standard runways.
Sgt. Rock
Full Access Member
Back in 1952 a tornado struck Carswell AFB in Texas..check out the vintage B-36 aftermath photos.
B-36 Fleet Destroyed by Tornado
B-36 Fleet Destroyed by Tornado
TheOl55
Full Access Member
Bet someone lost their job over that!!!
