CONVAIR B-36 PEACEMAKER

B-36 SERVICE

Manufacturer: Convair Aircraft Corp., San Diego, California, USA
Models: Model 36, 37
Designations: B-36; B-60, C-99, X-6
Names: Peacemaker; Convair Crusader (XB-36H), Super Transport (XC-99)
First official flight: (XB-36) 08/08/1946
Factory production period: 1946 - 1954
Primary service period: 1948 - 1959
Last official flight: (B-36J) 04/1959

B-36 VARIANTS

1946 Model 36 XB-36  1  
1947 Model 36 YB-36 1 Total: 002
         
1947 Model 36 B-36A 21  
1948 Model 36 B-36B 62 Total: 083
         
1949 Model 36 B-36D 26  
1949 Model 36 RB-36D 24 Total: 050
         
1950 Model 36 B-36F 36  
1950 Model 36 RB-36F 24 Total: 060
         
1952 Model 36 B-36H 83  
1952 Model 36 RB-36H 73 Total: 156
         
1953 Model 36 B-36J 33 Total: 033

Grand Total: 384
1947 Model 37 XC-99

1

Grand Total: 001

B-36 PRODUCTION

XB-36
Prototype strategic bomber, swept wing, unarmed.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

42-13570 ? 1 Total: 001

YB-36
As XB-36, service test aircraft, bubble cockpit.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

42-13571 ? 1 Total: 001

B-36A
As YB-36, crew trainer version, modified
undercarriage.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

44-92004 / 44-92025 ? 21 Total: 021

B-36B
As B-36A, engine upgrade, armed.
62 later modified to B-36D-CF.
Produced
 Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

44-92026 / 44-92087 ? 62 Total: 062
5 additional airframes cancelled.

YB-36C - Propsed prototype with new engines, cancelled.

B-36D
As B-36B, additional 4 jet engines in wing pods.
62 also modified from B-36B-CF.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

44-92095 / 44-92098
- Factory converted from B-36B-CF. 		?    
49-2647 / 49-2668 ? 26 Total: 026

RB-36D
Strategic reconn. version of B-36D.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

44-92088 / 44-92094
- Factory converted from B-36B-CF. 		?    
49-2686 / 49-2702 ? 24 Total: 024

B-36F
As B-36D, engine (6 turning) upgrade.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

49-2669 / 49-2685
- 2 airframes factory modified as YB-60. 		?    
50-1064 / 50-1082 ? 36 Total: 036

RB-36F
Strategic reconn. version of B-36F.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

49-2703 / 49-2721 ?    
50-1098 / 50-1102 ? 24 Total: 024

B-36H
As B-36F, redesigned cockpit interior,
equipment changes.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

50-1083 / 50-1097 ?    
51-5699 / 51-5742 ?    
52-1343 / 52-1366 ? 83 Total: 083

RB-36H
Strategic reconn. version of B-36H.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

50-1103 / 50-1110 ?    
51-5743 / 51-5756 ?    
51-13717 / 51-13741 ?    
52-1367 / 52-1392 ? 73 Total: 073

B-36J
As B-36H, strengthened airframe, extra fuel.
Produced
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)

52-2210 / 52-2226 ?    
52-2812, 52-2813 ? 19  

B-36J-III
Guns deleted for Project Featherweight.

52-2814 / 52-2827 ? 14 Total: 033

 

Grand Total: 384

XC-99 Super Transport
Transport version of the B-36, double-deck fuselage.
Produced 1947
Convair San Diego, California (CO)

43-52436 ? 1 Grand Total: 001

X-6 - Projected prototype for nuclear powerplant testing, cancelled.

B-36 CONVERSIONS

USAAF / USAF

YB-36A 1 YB-36, 1948-1952, redesignation after undercarriage modification.
GRB-36D 10 RB-36D, 1953-1956, conversions for F-84 parasite fighter program.
RB-36E 22 1 YB-36A / 21 B-36A, 1950, jet reconn. conversion, similar to RB-36D.
GRB-36F 13 B-36F, 1952-1953, prototype for F-84 carry and retrieve system.
(JRB-36F) 13 1955, redesignation of GRB-36F.
DB-36H 3 B-36H, 1953, director aircraft for Bell "Rascal" air-to-ground missile.
XB-36H 1 Convair Crusader
B-36H(51-5712), 1955-1957, test-bed for nuclear powered aircraft.
(NB-36H) 1 1956, redesignation of XB-36H.
GRB-36J 1+ B-36J, conversions for FICON test flying.
YB-60 2 B-36F(49-2676 / 49-2684), 1952-1954, factory modified all-jet,
swept-wing version of B-36. Original designation was YB-36G.

Project Featherweight
 1954, B-36D/F/H/J's, conversions for weight reduction to improve
 performance. Designated Class I, II and III depending on requirements.