I once worked in this factory and saw this old photo there. It was interesting to find it on the web. This is what they did to get a B-36 out the door due to its tall tail.

That is a very neat photo.

Just saw today on Military Channel that the motors were piston engines. I had assumed that they were turbo props.

quote:

Originally posted by Burlington Rd:
Just saw today on Military Channel that the motors were piston engines. I had assumed that they were turbo props.

Also known as the "Wasp Major", 6 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-53s of 3800 hp each powered that bird.

If you search the internet there is a listing of all the B-36 crashes. They make for interesting reading. It had to one of the worst turkeys of all time.

quote:

Originally posted by buckshot:

quote:

Originally posted by Burlington Rd:
Just saw today on Military Channel that the motors were piston engines. I had assumed that they were turbo props.

Also known as the "Wasp Major", 6 Pratt & Whitney R-4360-53s of 3800 hp each powered that bird.

Almost - she also had four J-47 GE urbojets with some 5500LB/Thrust eeach. A former B-36 plane Capt that used to work for me said it was about normal to report the pilot that he had "Two turning, two burning, two loafing and two smoking" whilst they were in flight with this monster. He also said it would stay in flight for so long the crew used a calendar insteqd of a clock. I really don't know how long it would fly but the stories he told were remarkable. I do recall seeing a couple of these things fly over and they would truly shake the earth.

I remember them flying over northern Utah when I was a kid. I presumed they going from Texas to Alaska and back. They were very high up and the sound they made was very distinctive.

One of them crashed in northern B.C. still carrying nukes! There was a special about it on TV a while ago very gripping story. One they managed to eject over the ocean but the other would not go. Luckey the Nukes were safe as it crashed in some of the best big game hunting area in B.C.

In the mid or early fifties (more likely) I saw a B-36 which may have been landing at Midway airport. But as their runways are more like whatever fits into a square mile at a diagonal I don't know if that was enough. On the other hand I did see an XB-49 with gear down heading for what was likely runway 240 (or thereabouts). A large flying wing is definitely weird looking configured for landing.