One of the aircraft which did not see service in WW2, but had an affect on designs of other aircraft during the war was the B-36 "Peace Maker". Designed by engineers in California, then production, because of larger production facility, was moved to Forth Worth, Tex. This move alone caused an addition 20 months before the aircraft was ready for service. This was the first aircraft which used titanium metal extensively though out the various sections of the aircraft.
The titanium "overcast" as it was sometimes called begin design life in 1942, as some people in Washington thought England was going to fall to the Germans and the U.S. needed a long range bomber, capable of carrying up to 10,000 lbs of bombs from Bases as much as 4,000 miles away. This beast had a 10,000 mile ferry distance and normal crew of 16. The crew had sleep bunkers, elect stove in rear compartment as well as a re fridgetor. It had wings which were 7 foot, 4 inches thick at the wing root and a crawway for mechanics to climb out and service engines 2,3,4 and 5.
It had a total of 10 engines, 6 P&W R-4360 radial engines and 4, J-47 General Electric jet engines. The jet engines were used on takeoffs and high altitude flight. The R-4360 was the largest internal combustion engines ever built for aircraft and had 28 cylinders each, arranged in a 7 cylinder around and 4 banks deep. The aircraft had many development problems, one of which was engine cooling for the rear bank of cylinders and during testing, a number of engine fires plagued the aircraft.
The normal cruise speed was 236MPH and the service ceiling published was 41,000 feet, but later RB models which had no guns and a crew of only 8, was rumored to fly as high as 60,000 feet.
One of the "odd" equipment features of the aircraft was a 66 foot long tunnel, which connected the forward and rear compartments together and was pressurized. The crew men would lay on their back on a "mechanics crawler" and pulled themselves with an over head cable system.
The aircraft never saw actual combat, but was on "station" for several years along the USSR borders as RB aircraft during the cold war years and has been credited with be a thorn in the sides of the USSR air defense command.
Guys, many thanks to "Ink" for getting me correct on posting pic's from photo bucket, at least I posted you a pic of this beautiful aircraft!
One of Jimmie Stewarts great movies featured this B-36 and was call Strategic Air Command, which also starred June Allison and Frank Lovejoy! If you get a chance to see it, it is well worth your time.
