The Convair B-36 "Peacemaker"[N 1] 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.

Powered by six Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines, the B-36J cruised at 230 mph, but for additional bursts of speed its four General Electric J47s increased the maximum speed to 435 mph. It carried 86,000 pounds of nuclear or conventional bombs. When production ended in August 1954, more than 380 B-36s had been built for the U.S. Air Force.

Apr 8, 2020 · Aircraft like the nearly-forgotten 10-engine Convair B-36 Peacemaker. The B-36 was a huge leap in size and performance over its predecessors. It remains the largest piston-powered combat aircraft...

The development of the Convair B-36 strategic bomber began in 1941 with the XB-36, which was intended to meet the strategic needs of the US Army Air Forces, and later of the United States Air Force with its Strategic Air Command. In 1948, the B-36 become a mainstay of the American nuclear deterrent. It underwent a number of design changes ...

Nov 16, 2023 · Between the legendary B-29 and enduring B-52 bombers lies one of the largest aircraft in history. The B-36 was largely overshadowed by its longer-lasting siblings but was notable for its ten engines, which used a combination of propulsion systems.

The Army Air Corps' specifications for this very long-range nuclear bomber required it to have a top speed of 450-mph, a service ceiling of 45,000 feet, carry a 10,000 pound bomb load, and fly non-stop for 12,000 miles.

In the B-36, the United States had found a powerful deterrent against Soviet aggression. Conceived in 1941, when Germany controlled Europe and was poised to invade Britain, the B-36 was built as a contingency plan.

May 23, 2024 · Summary: The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was the largest mass-produced piston-engined bomber ever, developed during WWII and serving as a nuclear deterrent during the early Cold War. -It...

Nov 4, 2024 · Explore the history, design, and legacy of Convair's B-36 Peacemaker—the largest piston-powered bomber ever built and a key player in Cold War deterrence.

Feb 5, 2020 · The Convair B-36 Peacemaker bridged the pre- and post-World War II worlds. Conceived as a long-range bomber for US Army Air Corps should Great Britain be defeated by Germany, the design was pushed forward to serve as the United States' first dedicated nuclear bomber of the postwar atomic age.