Beginning with the B-36D (B-36J shown), the Peacemaker used 6 radial piston engines and 4 jet engines. 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.

DAYTON, Ohio -- A museum visitor looking inside the Convair B-36J Peacemaker during the open aircraft day on Aug. 20, 2021 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Although never used in combat, the B-36 was a major deterrent to enemy aggression.

The B-36 Peacemaker is the largest production bomber ever built. Pilots referred to it as the “Magnesium Monster”. Although the B-36 was the largest bomber ever built and held the greatest combat unrefueled radius, it never dropped a bomb in combat.

Mar 25, 2025 · The Convair B-36J "Peacemaker" was a colossal U.S. strategic bomber designed during WWII to strike Germany from American soil, though it didn't enter service until 1948.

During production of the Peacemaker, Convair and the Air Force evolved the plane to the B-36B, B-36D, B-36F, B-36J and B-36H models. A major change to the original, basic B-36 design was the addition of jet engines.

A B-36J Peacemaker in flight. The development of the Convair B-36 strategic bomber began in 1941 with the XB-36, which was intended to meet the strategic needs of the US Army Air Forces, and later of the United States Air Force with its Strategic Air Command. In 1948, the B-36 become a mainstay of the American nuclear deterrent. It underwent a ...

The B-36 is the largest bomber and the last piston engine powered bomber produced by the United States. First designed to meet a World War II requirement for a plane capable of hitting targets in Germany from bases in the United States the prototype did not fly until August 8, 1946.

Feb 12, 2025 · Convair B-36J 52-2827 is one of 14 “Featherweight III” high altitude variants. It was built without the six retractable defensive gun turrets of the standard B-36, retaining only the two M24A1 20 mm autocannons in the tail.

It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built, at 230 ft (70.1 m). The B-36 was the first bomber capable of delivering any of the nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal from inside its four bomb bays without aircraft modifications.

Jul 1, 2024 · Convair B-36J 52-2827 is one of 14 Featherweight III high altitude variants. It was built without the six retractable defensive gun turrets of the standard B-36, retaining only the two 20 mm autocannons in the tail.