Convair B-36 Peacemaker at PIMA interior tour

[ad356]

i wonder how close this thing is to being airworthy. looks pretty complete. would cost a huge fortune to put one of these back into the air. something that only the government could afford to operate

[JetMechMA]

Thanks for making this video and slide show.

[JetMechMA]

Uh....tradition changed! Crew Chief emptied the can on B-52s.

[JetMechMA]

From the looks of it, I doubt very seriously that actual vandals ever got their hands on this aircraft. It was more likely veterans who just wanted to take a little souvenir. Again, I've seen it on active B-52s. Overall, things look pretty good inside this pre-restoration aircraft, in my opinion.

[JetMechMA]

The pre-restoration pictures don't look that bad. Believe me, I served on active B-52's that didn't look much better. I personally made an effort to beautify my aircraft when I had the time after more pressing duties. Other Crew Chiefs got jealous and did the same.

[JetMechMA]

1:49....looks like the Millenium Falcon from Star Wars. Muts be where they got the inspiration for it's design.

[admmaddog1]

The jet engines ran on standard aviation fuel/// A good book to read on the B-36 is Magnesium Overcast. one b-36 had ten miles of wiring in it just an amazing aircraft/// what is it there is only 5or6 b-36$left out of 359 or something like that the one at Pima is a b-36 J AM I Wright and that is the last one to roll off the production line i hope i am right on that if not please let me know. thanks.

[SaucyJake]

What if they made a passenger aircraft variant of the B-36....?

[stuntmanmike37]

@SaucyJake They did. It was called the XC-99.

[vanamonde2]

Thanks for posting this! I worked on the restoration with the old guys back in the mid-1990s on this B-36. I'm glad to see the interior we worked on remained intact! There was virtually nothing remaining inside this plane when the restoration began. It was gutted. We pieced together the interior with what we had available and did our very best to get it as close to original with what we had. The plane was in storage for years after we finished. I'm glad it finally found a home out in Arizona.

[UAL012]

This plane looks like it's ready to fly right now. Very impressive.

[MrRonnieG]

@completeaerogeek ~ Subsequent to my first posts I have learned that the original B-36 was not equipped with the J47 jet engines. Beginning with the B-36D the jets were added and then retrofitted to all existing models. I've read there were also alot of problems keeping all six 4360's turning and that engine fires were a common problem because the "pusher" design did not allow adquate air flow around the engine for cooling purposes. Your VID is interesting and enjoyable. Thanks........

[danielcarro100]

Congratulations!! Y enjoy very much the tour in this giants.

Amazing job, gentlemans.

[MrRonnieG]

MORE QUESTIONS: Was it possible for a mechanic to access & repair the 4360's during flight? Anyone know the range of the B36, inflight refueling not withstanding? Does anyone know what kind of power the 4360's were rated at? And how about the jets? Were they strictly for takeoffs or were they also used in flight? And the rated thrust of the jets?

And, finally, does anyone know what the tail gunner actually did to kill 10 or 12 hours at a stretch? Cause I doubt that he ever shot at anyone.

[completeaerogeek]

@MrRonnieG - The B-36 had a 10,000 mile range and about a 4,000 mile radius.The 4360s usually put out about 3,500 HP and the jets about 5,000lb each. The jets were used for take off and for dash speed over the target. I have readb that the fight engineer could access some aspects of the engines in flight but what could be done due to the compact design of the 4360 would be fairly limited. I certainly wouldn't want to be near one when it is running!

[turboslag]

@MrRonnieG

There was no physical access to the engines in flight, it was difficult enough for the ground crew to do servicing ! All guns were remotely controlled by gunners operating a fire control system, so no crew were actually stationed in the turrets. Some of the turrets were concealed until needed and were then hydraulically deployed.

[MrRonnieG]

Great, but a few questions if someone can answer. First off, as a retired commercial airline employee (not a pilot) who logged more than 400,000 nautical miles in 747 jumpseats ~ the forward panel of the 747 had 4 rows of instruments (EPR, fuel flow, EGT and a secondary EPR of somekind). The forward panel for this B36 also had 4 rows of 4, BUT there are SIX 4360 radials plus 4 J47 (I believe) jets. So, what gives. Was there a flight engineer station with more instruments?

[completeaerogeek]

@MrRonnieG - The B-36 had a huge Flight Engineer station behind the pilots facing aft. If you google an image you will see what I mean. Also watch Strategic Air Command with James Stewart. The whole movie is about the B-36 and has awesome footage inside and out. The flight Engineer was one busy guyb on these aircraft and the B-36 carried 2 on duty at all times

[laurent2012]

great job guys !!!!!!!!!!! respect

[timmytyphoon]

Thank you so much for posting this. My dad was a bombardier in B-17s, B-29s, B-36s and B-47s. He always had a great deal of fondness for both the B-17G and the B-36. I was born after his retirement from SAC so I never got to see all the cool stuff my brothers and my sister saw. They actualy got to tour the flight line on a regular basis and probably got to see the interior of the B-36 befor anyone else in the public did. I never got to so I am glad to see this. Thank you again.

[macieksoft]

Beautifull interior

[ancientastronomer]

My VERY FIRST View of the "Guts" of a B-36. I have ALWAYS wanted to see this for myself since my very first encounter with the B-36 sitting inside the A.F.Museum back in 73'. I was a 14 Yr old kid then. My father had just retired from the A.F. a couple of Yrs Previous. Just before Vietnam wound down. I personally spent 23 Yrs in the A.F. as a flyer,( C-141s & C-5s ). I

am now a 51 yr old retiree myself, & THIS is my VERY FIRST glimpse of

the innards of this once majestic bird. Thanks!

[Greenhornet270]

a Beautiful aircraft...I actually went INSIDE one when I was only 5; my Dad was a USAF Line chief....I loved the Air Force.

[Contrajoe]

Who took the pictures?