The "Aluminum Overcast"

[PALADIN85020]

During the annual meeting of the Smith & Wesson Collector's Association this July in Tucson, a number of us took a side trip to visit the Pima Air Museum, which is a repository of many historic aircraft. I took along a camera.

One of the aircraft that was really impressive was the B-36. This gargantuan bomber served in the early cold war years as our prime intercontinental A- and H-bomb carrier. Powered by six "pusher" Pratt & Whitney prop engines of 3800 hp each and four GE J47 jets with a thrust of 5200 lbs each, its size prompted its informal nickname of the "Aluminum Overcast." It had a wingspan of 230 feet, and a length of 162 feet, which is more than half the distance of a football field. It could achieve an airspeed of 435 mph, and climb as high as 45,700 feet. It could carry a bomb load of 86,000 pounds, and had a range of 10,000 miles.

It was in service from 1946 to 1958, and there were 385 of them built at an average cost of $3,701,000 each. These planes made the Russians tremble, for sure.

Few remember this behemoth today, but this one still exists as a reminder of the transition years between props and jets, and of the size which aircraft could obtain and still fly. I believe it still holds the record for the largest U.S. military aircraft ever flown.

Thought you might like to see a pic I took of that giant:

 

[Walker45]

Hope the AC works well, I can only imagine the heat penetrating through the cabin while waiting for take-off. Really a unique bird, reversed props and inverted wingspan.

Great pic...

 

[Bullseye 2620]

I remember this bomber. I saw one circa 1955 at Chanute AFB near Rantoul, Illinois, IIRC. The other bomber from that era I remember seeing there was the B-47. I built Revelle models of both.

Actually, there's a B-47 in the background of Paladin's photo, just to the right of the B-36's nose. Cool stuff.


Bullseye

 

[JcMack]

I remember those in the news when I was a kid. Height of the cold war. "Duck and Cover" was taught in grammar school. I think the Russians had a similar aircraft to deliver The Bomb. Looking back I had no idea what was going on.

 

[cmort666]

I remember those in the news when I was a kid. Height of the cold war. "Duck and Cover" was taught in grammar school. I think the Russians had a similar aircraft to deliver The Bomb. Looking back I had no idea what was going on.

The Soviets never had anything to compare to it. It was large enough to (unsuccessfully) carry a parasite fighter for self-defense, then a full sized reconnaissance fighter for extended range recon missions.

It was originally designed to bomb Germany from the continental United States. You often see them in "what if" artwork of post 1945 combat with Germany, along with B-32s.

I've got the Squadron-Signal book on the B-36, which has a lot of useful information on the type.

 

[Big Cholla]

This thread reminds me of a story from a fellow pilot; He was landing at Tucson Int. which is a joint use civilian/USAF airport. The Tower Controllers are usually USAF. My friend was flying a civilian Cessna 310 and was No. 1 to land with a USAF F-5 on a long straight in. The tower controller came on and asked my friend If he could 'expedite' his landing for a developing emergency landing. My friend said that he would land long and take the last exit ramp. The Tower Controller then ordered the USAF F-5 to "go around" for a USAF B-52 landing with one engine out. The F-5 pilot said, "WILCO, anything to help out with that dreaded 7 engine landing." . My friend said the silence on the radio was deafening while everyone watched the B-52 make an uneventful landing. Then the F-5 pilot declared "On Final, and I don't have enough fuel on board to go around again." There was a terse, "Cleared to Land". .........And off we go into the wild blue yonder......... Big Cholla

 

[Big Cholla]

And that reminds me of a landing at Tucson of mine that could have been very memorable if it hadn't been for the standard landing clearance used by the military controllers; I was landing a Beechcraft Bonanza and was No. 1 to land and had just turned on to final. The Tower Controller asked me to make a 360 to allow a USAF trainer with an emergency of some sort to cut the pattern and land. I started the 360 and pulled the gear back up. I came around and was on final again. The Tower's clearance to land was slow in coming and I was getting pretty close to the end of the runway and the spot where I wanted to touch down. I asked if I was in fact cleared to land. The Tower controller came back quickly and gave the usual military; "Cleared to Land, check gear." I looked at my panel and was looking at three red lights indicating the gear was up and locked! I quickly dropped the gear about 30 seconds before actual touchdown. I was shook to the core knowing if the Tower Controller had just said, "Cleared to Land" , that I would have landed gear up. On the taxi channel I thanked that Tower Controller profusely. ..... Big Cholla

 

[m657]

Circa 1956~57 I was an airplane buff jr. high student, standing out on Lucky Peak Dam overlook, under construction. Suddenly there was an immense throbbing beast in the sky.....low pass B36 flying upriver from Mtn. Home AFB on some (probable) training mission.

It was one hell of a thrill then, and that wonderful humongous pulsatile throb remains somewhere deep within my very being to this day.

There was a video going around a few weeks back on an actual take off procedure with the B36. I'll see if I can still find the link.

 

[MK]

One of my uncles used to fly those things back in the 50's.

 

[bishopm14]

I need to make it to Pima one of these days. Seen the '36s at the SAC museum in Nebraska and the NMUSAF in Dayotn. Might as well make seeing all the remaining ones left a goal or something. Think there's only six or so.

 

[cussedemgun]

During the korean conflict era, my uncle told me "the three most profoundly exhilarating experiences are a sneeze, orgasm, & bowel movement! the way to experience all three at once is make a night carrier landing"

As a kid I wanted to fly BAD, but flunked the flight physical 3 times.


Jim

 

[Iggy]

I can remember those B-36's flying over as a kid. They were so high and so big that it didn't seem like anything could fly that slow.

They were a sight to see.

 

[m1gunner]

I can remember those B-36's flying over as a kid. They were so high and so big that it didn't seem like anything could fly that slow.

They were a sight to see.

I am guessing you never saw a low pass by a RAF Vulcan bomber. I kept looking for the kid with a kite string running down the runway.

As to the remarks about military air controllers, those guys know what they are doing, and what the guys in the cockpits are doing. I still want to buy a beer for that controller that had me "flight following" the dark night I was flying (past) the island airport that had and inop rotating beacon......

 

[sjmjax]

I visited the Pima air museum several years ago. Truly a must see for any aviation buffs.

It's a shame the Chapman Fighter Museum in Mesa is long gone. That was also quite the treat.

 

[max]

Hey Bullseye 2620, I grew up 30 miles south of Rantoul.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

For some great videos, just type in B-36 videos in either Google or You Tube. Info on the Pima Museum:

Home

 

[Bullseye 2620]

Hey Bullseye 2620, I grew up 30 miles south of Rantoul.

. . .and I spent most of my childhood in Danville, Max, you know, home of Dick Van Dyke, and as the billboard outside of town used to say, "Jacket Capital of the World." Those airmen from Chanute had another moniker for it, though. . .

Go Illini!


Bullseye

 

[BUFF]

There is a B-36 (an RB-36H, actually) at the former Castle AFB near Merced, California. It is indeed huge!

The museum there is tremendous. Castle was a SAC bomber and refueler base and has an outstanding bomber collection but also has quite a few fighters and transports.

In addition to the B-36, they have a B-24, B-25, B-26, B-29, B-45 (really rare), B-47, B-50, B-52, B-57 and an Avro Vulcan! They also have a Douglas B-18 and a B-23, bombers based on the DC-3/C-47.

I recommend it to any airheads passing through the area.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Stopped at the museum at Dayton Ohio, just had to see thier P-38 Lightning, and there it was the B-36, I was in awe, what a huge flying machien. I knew they were big but ya gotta see one to appreciate how big they are! A bit like the King Tiger tank, same thing you can see pictures but when you stand beside one you know.

 

[BUFF]

I can't find it now but I have seen a photo of a B-36 with a B-29 parked next to it. The -36 dwarfs the Boeing!