It Was How Big?

[Subdeacon Joe]

To really put the scale of the B-36 into perspective, here is a P-47 Thunderbolt next to a B-36's propeller. It had six of these. https://planehistoria.com/b-36-peacemaker/

 

 

[Utah Bob #35998]

The Peacemaker. I don’t know if it made peace but it kept if for a few years.

 

[watab kid]

wow that puts things in perspective 

[Subdeacon Joe]

1 hour ago, watab kid said:

wow that puts things in perspective 

 

For a better perspective on the size of the P-47

 

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

Kicker is, the B-36 should never have been built.  It was actually obsolete before the first one rolled out of the factory.  Had it not been for Steward Simington, we would have had a fabulous Flying Wing JET bomber before the first b-36 was completed.  What a Maroon!!

[watab kid]

21 hours ago, Subdeacon Joe said:

 

For a better perspective on the size of the P-47

 

and that ads a lot more perspective 

[Trailrider #896]

The problem with the jet-powered flying wing was stability. The B-1 has the same problem, as will the B-21. The difference is the latter two have advanced stability augmentation that wasn't available with the earlier ones.  Jack Northrop's flying wing was just too far ahead of the technology that made the B-1 and will make the B-21 work.  The Convair YB-60 was essentially a jet-powered B-36. But with the B-52 on the drawing board, USAF didn't go with the B-60. 

[Rip Snorter]

Don't forget the YB 49.  I can recall seeing one in the air. I must have been 5 or 6.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

Ok, now the B36 was 230’ wide, 162’ long, and 46’ 9” tall.

 

The H4 Hercules, aka Spruce Goose, was 319’ 11” wide, 228’ long and 79’ 4” tall, yeah it never flew operationally.

[Colorado Coffinmaker]

YEA, well the Hughes H4 Hercules ONLY flew once, and not much more than a couple of miles.  Also obsolete before it ever left the water.

 

Trailrider,  the B-49 was actually stable.  It did suffer from minor "yaw" which gave the bomb sights for convention dumb bombs a bit of a problem, but since the Air Force was looking for Nuclear delivery, the yaw was inconsequential.  With Nucs, "close" really does count.  The problem wasn't the Air Force, the problem was Stewart Simington being "owned" by Consolidated Aircraft.  Stewart Simington was demanding Jack Northrup merge with Consolidated and Northrup told simington to go pound sand.  So Simington killed the B-49 in retaliation.  Simington was a Buffoon and very impressed with himself and his position of "power."

Edited May 9 by Colorado Coffinmaker
Fix a fat finger boo boo

[Dusty Devil Dale]

As a young kid in Elk Grove Ca, I used to watch AND HEAR B-36 bombers flying over the house from Mather AF Base near Sacramento.  Their drone could be heard for at least 20 miles.  

Then later on, living in Clovis, near Fresno, I watched B-52s out of Castle AFB fly over low practicing touch and go landings.  Both of those huge aircraft were unforgettable.  

Edited May 10 by Dusty Devil Dale