B-36 Peacemaker: The Aircraft That Defined a Nuclear Era

Convair B-36 Peacemaker. Its wingspan was 230 feet (compared to 185 feet for a B-52), it was 162 feet long (compared to just over 159 feet for the B-52), and it could carry up to 86,000 pounds of bombs. The B-52's maximum bomb load is 70,000 pounds.

The gargantuan B-36, in service from 1948 to 1959, was the U.S. Air Force’s first true intercontinental bomber. It made heavy use of magnesium to reduce weight and was widely known as the “Magnesium Overcast.” Another nickname — “Big Stick” — denoted its role as the strong sword of the SAC in the early days of the Cold War. Manufacturer Convair proposed the name "Peacemaker" and, while not officially adopted, that name came into common use.

Of the nearly 400 examples built, only four intact examples remain. Despite its record size, the B-36 was largely overshadowed by its more famous predecessor, the B-29, and its long-lived successor, the still-flying B-52. The Peacemaker never saw combat and was only in service for 11 years, but its bizarre design is an example of a unique time in aviation history. More importantly, the mammoth aircraft remained a potent deterrent throughout its service, and more than lived up to its nickname, “Peacemaker.”

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⏰ Timestamps
00:00 History
04:13 Operation
08:26 Challenges
12:09 Obsolescence
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