I did not know that.
That pic you posted is a silvertone black and white. You don’t see that anymore in the digital format. Pretty cool and that plane is probably the predecessor to the B-52.
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In a sense they took the best attributes of the B-36 and B-47 to come up with the B-52.
When you line the photos up side by side you can see the evolution.
The B-54 belongs in there as well.
They were all based off of the B-29 which you can also see in all of these models.
We were racing ahead so fast in aviation from 45-1970 most of them had a very short service live as we quickly transitioned into the jet age, then the supersonic age and Mach 1+ Age.
It’s truly amazing that the C-130 and B-52 have managed to stay around for three, in some cases four generations of pilots to fly.
Yes the B-52 being still around is pretty astounding. I think though the B-2 Stealth has virtually replaced its role in terms of being a strategic bomber. I would think also that the B-52 will soon be phased out soon.
Not really. It’s still our go to heavy bomber for conventional/smart bombs when we need a big payload so I think right now they are planning to keep it in the inventory for at least 20-30 more years.
What we really need is an expanded fleet of B1 and B2’s and/or a stealth, supersonic bomber with an equivalent bomb load to the B1 which is actually the bomber we have currently that can carry the heaviest load.
If we ever get into a fight with another major power a stealth, supersonic, heavy bomber is going to be a critical need that we have yet to address.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=doYEIVapNtA&feature=emb_logo
The Valkyrie was decades ahead of it’s time and is still faster than the B-1.
Imagine a Mach2+ stealthy version capable of both low level terrain hugging flight as well as edge of space flight above and faster than anything they could put up to intercept it loaded with precision guided hyper-sonic missiles… . ?
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Here is a insane take off! Watch as the wing support wheels fall off. How the hell does this thing land?
Yessir which was the jet version, otherwise they are virtually identical other than the swept wings.
It just rolls to a near stop and tips over. Kinda like a fat lady on a skinny skateboard.
The YB-60 was the jet version. It shared 72% of the parts with the B-36. It was designated as the YB-60.
The nose is different, the instruments are different, the wings are different, the vertical stabilizer is different.
That’s why it was assigned a different designation.
Convair’s Attempt to Build An All-Jet B-36, the YB-60
Convair YB-60 and B-36 parked side by side on the apron
As the advent of jet aircraft began to emerge in the late 1940s and early 1950s, Convair started design on a swept-winged version of the B-36 with all-jet propulsion, known as the Convair YB-60. It also designed and built a prototype large-scale transport plane, the Convair XC-99.
In March 1951, the US Air Force authorized Convair to convert two B-36Fs to B-36Gs . Since the jet aircraft was so different from production B-36 models, the designation was later changed to YB-60 .
The eight-engine YB-60 shared 72% of its parts with the B-36. The fuselages of the two aircraft were nearly identical, although the YB-60 had a longer, pointed nose with a needle-like instrument probe, instead of the B-36’s rounded nose.
End of the Line and Scrapping of the B-36
B-36 Peacemakers in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson in 1958
RB-36H Serial Number 51-13723 of the 72nd Bombardment (Heavy) Wing is in the foreground
By 1953, the Air Force had made the decision to procure the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress and not the YB-60 as its next long-range heavy bomber.
Correct the jet version, I’m typing tired.
They utilized the same airframe and modified it into a jet.
In March 1951, the US Air Force authorized Convair to convert two B-36Fs to B-36Gs . Since the jet aircraft was so different from production B-36 models, the designation was later changed to YB-60 .
Both were literally converted from existing airframes.
Great Photo! Never seen that before!
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It’s basically a powered glider, they land in the same manner; if everything goes well.
I was blown away when I got to Germany for the first time at just how popular gliders are there. They were literally all over the place in the summers constantly on weekends.
I had a German Girlfriend that was a pilot and got me into their club so I could fly when I was in country.
It was only costing me about a 150.00 per “ride” at the time which was awfully reasonable compared to renting a prop plane.
Yes, checked it out in post #158 above. Do you bother to read through a thread before posting?
Here is a Jap B-17.
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One of the highest altitude airplanes developed during WW 2.
I guess getting an aircraft airborne is easier than getting it on the ground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=wX6jCe_IaEE&feature=emb_logo
By some reason I was always fascinated to watch an aircraft land, rather than take off.
That is not only an emergency landing, but a very skillful pilot to be able to land and not hit any cars in the process. Truly extraordinary!
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And to do so without hitting any of the light poles, signs, or over passes!
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