Difference between revisions of "B-36 Peacemaker"
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Revision as of 19:11, September 30, 2008
The B-36 Peacemaker was an American strategic nuclear bomber. Until the debut of the B-52 Stratofortress and ICBMs, it was the Air Forces primary deterrent.
Development
In the early 1940s, the Air Force was in the market for a long-range strategic bomber which would replace the B-17 Flying Fortress. The prototype bomber first flew in 1946.
The B-36 was massive. Its wingspan was 230 feet, and it was 46 feet high. It had a range of 10,000 miles and could carry 43 tons of conventional or nuclear bombs. The maximum takeoff weight was 410,000 pounds.
The aircraft went into service in 1951.
Service
388 B-36 bombers were built altogether, but they were never used in combat (hence the name "Peacemaker."
The bombers were phased out in 1958-1959 in favor of the smaller, less expensive B-52 (each B-36 cost over 3 million dollars.) Only a few still survive.