NEW volumes COVER A VARIETY Of make subordinates HISTORIC AVIATIONS'S BOOK OF THE MONTH The plane they called the Peacemaker The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was the ultimate statement of American airpower at the beginning of the gelid War.NEW volumes COVER A VARIETY Of make subordinates HISTORIC AVIATIONS'S BOOK OF THE MONTH The plane they called the Peacemaker The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was the ultimate statement of American airpower at the beginning of the gelid War. An intriguing mix of proven World War sum of two units concepts and early 1950s high-tech, the B-36 would spark more polemics than any weapon system until the Star Wars program of the 1980 Magnesium Overcast by dint of Dennis R. Jenkins (Specialty Pres $3495) is the outcome of the author's extensive research at various archives and the part uncovers new and previously unpublished details about the giant bomber and its many variants. Among these are the first-ever photographs of the never-flown inferior prototype of the YB-60 which was an all-jet progression in a continuously ascending gradation of the B-36 built to cope with the Boeing B-52. recent photographs illustrate the radar-equipped nose, cockpit layout, and defensive armament. A Convair proposal for a flying boat version of the giant XC-99 cargo aircraft designed for Pan American World Airways is also detailed while technical information and drawings of the stillborn Variable Discharge Turbine B36C variant are included. The bulk (which includes over 500 excellently reproduc black and white photos and 53 color photos) includes extensive photographic coverage of a devastating 1952 Texas tornado that almost wiped disclosed a good portion of the B-36 creek A detailed serial number list disguises each airplane and its final disposition, and a chapter details the efforts to reclaim and scrap the aircraft as they were taken on the outside of service. Other interesting bits are the first-ever photographs of the male Duck decoy drone that was designed for the B-36 and coverage of various propos turboprop-powered versions. The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 - the in the greatest degree powerful piston engine to equip an American bomber - is also detailed. There had always been questions as to whether the B-36 could accomplish its assigned mission. No common denied that the aircraft was inactive although sometimes it was hard to ascertain just to what degree slow it really was in comparison to other aircraft of the era - politics, security, and an aversion to allowing one's weaknesses to be seen contributed to that confusion. However, the B-36 flew in like manner high that it probably did not really matter - at least initially. small in number fighters of its era could climb as high, and operational surface-to-air missiles were still in the time to come The aircraft had very lengthy legs, a necessary attribute for the first plainly intercontinental bomber. It is difficult to imagine a modem aircraft remaining airborne pair days without refueling, but it was not particularly unusual for the B-36 to do in the same manner After all, it took a lengthy time to fly 10,000 miles at 250 mph! The work can be ordered from Historic Aviation through calling 800-225-5575. BY GEORGE HULETT Copyright Challenge Publications Inc. Mar 2002 |
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