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: | 1945 - 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 | 22 | |
| 1948 | Model 36 | B-36B | 62 | Total: 084 |
| 1949 | Model 36 | B-36D | 26 | |
| 1949 | Model 36 | RB-36D | 24 | Total: 050 |
| 1951 | Model 36 | B-36F | 36 | |
| 1951 | 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: 385 |
| 1947 | Model 37 | XC-99 |
1 |
Grand Total: 001 |
B-36 PRODUCTION
XB-36
Prototype strategic bomber, swept wing, unarmed.
Produced 1945 - 1946
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 42-13570 | unknown | 1 | Total: 001 |
YB-36
As XB-36, service test aircraft, bubble cockpit.
Produced 1947
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 42-13571 | unknown | 1 | Total: 001 |
B-36A
As YB-36, crew trainer, modified u/c.
Produced 1947 - 1948
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 44-92004 / 44-92025 | 1 / 22 | 22 | Total: 022 |
B-36B
As B-36A, engine upgrade, armed.
59 later modified to B-36D standard.
Produced 1948 - 1951
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 44-92026 / 44-92087 | 23 / 84 | 62 | Total: 062 |
| 5 additional airframes cancelled. | |||
YB-36C - Proposed prototype with new engines, cancelled.
B-36D
As B-36B, additional 4 jet engines in wing pods.
Produced 1949 - 1951
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 44-92095 / 44-92098 | 92 / 95 | ||
| 49-2647 / 49-2668 | mixed 96 to 135 | 26 | Total: 026 |
RB-36D
Strategic reconn. version of B-36D.
Produced 1949 - 1951
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 44-92088 / 44-92094 | 85 / 91 | ||
| 49-2686 / 49-2702 | mixed 100 to 132 | 24 | Total: 024 |
B-36F
As B-36D, main engine upgrade.
Produced 1951 - 1952
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 49-2669 / 49-2685 | mixed 109 to 170 | ||
| 50-1064 / 50-1082 | mixed 171 to 193 | 36 | Total: 036 |
RB-36F
Strategic reconn. version of B-36F.
Produced 1951 - 1952
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 49-2703 / 49-2721 | mixed 136 to 169 | ||
| 50-1098 / 50-1102 | mixed 174 to 194 | 24 | Total: 024 |
B-36H
As B-36F, minor changes.
Produced 1952 - 1953
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 50-1083 / 50-1097 | mixed 195 to 214 | ||
| 51-5699 / 51-5742 | mixed 218 to 300 | ||
| 52-1343 / 52-1366 | mixed 304 to 350 | 83 | Total: 083 |
RB-36H
Strategic reconn. version of B-36H.
Produced 1951 - 1953
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 50-1103 / 50-1110 | mixed 199 to 217 | ||
| 51-5743 / 51-5756 | mixed 221 to 247 | ||
| 51-13717 / 51-13741 | mixed 249 to 297 | ||
| 52-1367 / 52-1392 | mixed 301 to 349 | 73 | Total: 073 |
B-36J
As B-36H, strengthened airframe, extra fuel.
Produced 1953 - 1954
Convair Fort Worth, Texas (CF)
| 52-2210 / 52-2226 | 351 / 367 | ||
| 52-2812, 52-2813 | 368, 369 | 19 |
B-36J-III
Guns deleted for Project Featherweight.
| 52-2814 / 52-2827 | 370 / 383 | 14 | Total: 033 |
|
Grand Total: 385 |
XC-99 Super Transport
Transport version, double-deck fuselage.
Produced 1946 - 1947
Convair San Diego, California (CO)
| 43-52436 | unknown | 1 | Grand Total: 001 |
X-6 - Projected prototype for nuclear powerplant testing, cancelled.
B-36 CONVERSIONS
USAAF / USAF
| YB-36A | 1 | B-36A(44-92004), 1948-1952, undercarriage modification. |
| ERB-36D | 1 | RB-36D, conversion to carry the large "Boston Camera". |
| GRB-36D | 10 | RB-36D, 1953-1956, conversions for F-84 parasite fighter program. |
| RB-36E | 22 | 1 YB-36 / 21 B-36A, 1950, jet reconn. conversion, similar to RB-36D. |
| GRB-36F | 13 | B-36F, 1952-1953, conversions for F-84 carry and retrieve system. |
| (JRB-36F) | 13 | 1955, redesignation of GRB-36F. |
| EB-36H | 4 | B-36H, conversions for tests. |
| (JB-36H) | 4 | 1955, redesignation of EB-36H. |
| DB-36H | 3 | B-36H, 1953, director aircraft for Bell "Rascal" air-to-ground missile. Later redesignated as EDB-36H then 2 as JDB-36H. |
| JRB-36H | 2 | RB-36H, conversions for high-altitude atomic tests. |
| XB-36H | 1 |
Convair Crusader B-36H(51-5712), 1955-1956, test-bed for nuclear powered aircraft. |
| (NB-36H) | 1 | 1956-1958, 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 version with redesigned tail. 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.