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.

Responding to the U.S. Army Air Forces' requirement for a strategic bomber with intercontinental range, Consolidated Vultee (later Convair) designed the B-36 during World War II.

The B-36 was described as a "lumbering cow" and a "billion-dollar blunder," and the Navy claimed it had at least three jet fighters that could leave the monster behind at 40,000 feet.

Apr 8, 2020 · Only in service for 11 years, the B-36's incredible size and unique engine layout is a bizarre sight to this day. Here's a look at the past and present of Convair's Peacemaker.

Just sitting on the runway, the B-36 turned heads. The 163-foot-long behemoth, with its 230-foot wingspan and six rear-facing compound radial engines, dwarfed every other warplane in America’s arsenal, including the B-29 Superfortress.

Apr 5, 2025 · The most unique feature of the B-36 was its unusual hybrid propulsion system, combining both propeller and jet engines. When the B-36 entered service with the U.S. Air Force in 1948, the bomber ...

B-36J “Peacemaker” The B-36 was first conceived in 1941 as a transatlantic bomber to strike Europe from bases in the United States. By 1943, the focus switched from the European Theater to the Pacific for use against the Japanese home islands.

Jul 26, 2021 · When America needed a club with which to threaten the Russians, Convair produced the six-engine—eventually 10—B-36 long-range heavy bomber. It was the largest and heaviest piston-engine airplane ever to go into production. The B-36 was nicknamed the Peacemaker, with a nod to the infamous Colt six-shooter.

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.

Feb 23, 2025 · The answer was the Convair B-36 Peacemaker, the largest combat aircraft ever built by the United States Air Force (USAF). With a massive 230-foot wingspan, an unmatched intercontinental range, and the capability to carry thermonuclear bombs, the B-36 was a game-changer in strategic bombing.