Years In Service: 1948-1959
Initial Flight: August 1946
The B-36 is the largest bomber ever built and served as America’s airborne nuclear deterrent in the 1950’s. On 6 April 1955, a B-36 launched a guided missile with an atomic warhead from 42,000 feet. The explosion took place 6 miles above Yucca Flat, Nevada. It was the highest known altitude of any nuclear blast at the time. The B-36 is the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft ever built. It had the longest wingspan of any combat aircraft ever built.
Aircraft Specifications
Height: 46′ 9″ Wingspan: 230′ Length: 162′ 1″ Crew: 9-15 Armament: Eight to Sixteen 20- millimeter cannon Payload: 87,200 lbs. of bombs in internal bomb bay Horsepower: 3,800 hp. No. of Engines: 6 Cruise speed: 230 mph Max Speed: 435 mph Ceiling: 45,000 ft.