Restoration of the last B-36 Bomber in Ft Worth
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 พ.ค. 2018
- The last B-36 Bomber built in Fort Worth, was restored to museum quality in 4 years and 44,000 man hour plus almost $600.000.00.
The Air Force would not let it stay in Fort Worth unless it was in a building. It would take about $1,500.000.00 to cover it and the money could not be raised. The Air Force moved it to the Pima Air & Space Museum, Tucson Ariz. and it is on display outdoors.
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When you watch this vid realize how many of the faces you see working their craft to restore this proud plant to us have passed away, God Bless them.
Happy Easter sir.
My late father in law worked on this incredible plane.
His name was John Kroll Sr.
He worked on the propellers.
Sadly he passed away December 30th, 2009. At 93.
I some things about planes and jets.
But his knowledge blew mine out of the water.
Anyway, God bless you and yours.
This Marine and family thank you.
My wife just reminded me, her father built the propellers.
My heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who put it all together. i spent many hours in my early twenties as an air crew member (Radio/ECM operator) in RB-36s out of Travis AFB (5th Strat Recon Wing/23rd Sqdn) and Fairchild AFB (99th Strat Recon Wing/346th Sqdn). Many memories and fond friendships. Am approaching 92 years OLD.Iwonder how many of us are still breathing?
Joe Dinento my dad Harold Allen was in your Aircrew with you and Bob Priesing at Travis AFB and Fairchild AFB he is at the Santa Barbara cematery on veterens hill with brother Harry 2nd and his dad Harry Sr. And his uncle Leslie his other two uncles Harold and Edward are buried at sea all were US Navy Check out Bob Priesing RB 36 Aircrewman Northrop N156 hit the view caption it has a picture of the Aircrew of the month with you Bob my dad and your full plane crew
Joe DiMento sorry spelled your name and Bob Preising wrong I did not proof read good before sent it you are an American Hero Sir Craig Allen of Santa Barbara Ca.
That’s awesome!
My Dad was a mechanic on B-36 bombers and a crew chief on F-86 fighters. One story I remember him telling was about the engine overhauls. He said that when it was time to stand an engine up on its end all the mechanics would gather around while they were standing it up. It seemed like a ceremony but in reality it was because when they stood it up, a whole bunch of hand tools and a few parts would come falling to the floor and they wanted to get those that they had dropped but couldn't find when the engine was horizontal!
He would have loved to have been a part of this project. Those people really put their heart and soul into refurbishing this one. My hat is off to them!
That's funny, thinking of Tools I've lost.
I feel so bad for all of the volunteers that worked thousands of hours combined in hopes that this aircraft would be seen in their hometown. The hopes and dreams that they could take their children, grandchildren and friends to their local museum and show them how they had a part in preserving an important piece of American history...
Even though it won't be in Fort Worth, just know that your time was not in vain...Thank you for being true Patriots and taking a part in preserving this wonderful aircraft!
How come boeing would not grab this piece of history for the museum of flight here in Seattle?......
@@mikewilkinson4588 They should.
Boeing is in *desperate* need for some positive PR right now.
@@mikewilkinson4588 Boeing doesn't give a shit about their history unless they can sell it to somebody
I live in Tucson and drive by this plane often. It's a beautiful ship and thank you to all the people who put so much work into restoring it.
James Hoiby I live in Phoenix and have seen it at the Pima A&S Museum several times. For most of this vid I thought “oh cool they have one in Ft. Worth too” then to find it it’s the same plane. Too bad they couldn’t hold onto it, but I’m glad to have it down the road. Magnificent plane at a KILLER museum!
My mother actually flew in a B-36. She was a secretary at Sandia (Albuquerque) and was invited (ok she was hot) to witness an A-Bomb test in Nevada. They flew to Ft Worth in a B-29 and flew to somewhere in California in the B-36 then drove to Nevada in a Packard. I still have her radiation badge that doubled as ID and permission to be there.
Thank you for sharing your personal experience with your mother (and I think you mentioning she was hot is great) flying in a B-36. Great comment!!
Hot girls DO get to go places and do things normal people can't, great story!
Did she come back hotter from exposure to bomb blast 🤔
No pic??
C'mon!
Saying your mum was hot just sounds all wrong.
Thank you for who ever saved this plane and thank you who ever donated the money for the project.
J Leno‘s garage
COLD WAR
WORK OF ART.
I had the distinct privilege of growing up with the B-36 and watching her fly, on virtually a daily basis, at Travis Air Force Base in California. My Father was stationed at Travis, following World WarII and I, as his only child, grew up on Travis. Times were totally different back then and my father, who I'm proud to say, was a WWII hero, remained on flight status after the war. My dad, Colonel Arthur Korbett flew B-29's over Germany and continued flying for MATS, (Military Air Transport) and SAC, (Strategic Air Command), for virtually the entire length of his career, 36 years. Prior to careers end, in 1977, he was Deputy Base Commander of Travis and would take me to the yearly air shows, where I was able to enter and explore the famed B-36, among others. I was privileged to be a "military brat" and will always fondly remember the way I was raised. My father passed in '77 and he and my mother are at rest in Vacaville, California. I'm a twice, honorably retired police officer, with 38 yrs. of dedicated public service, but attribute my personal success to my mother and father and the United States Air Force, that assisted in molding me into who I became. God bless the United States of America, the greatest country in the world.
I actually flew on this aircraft; it was assigned to my crew in the 327th Bomb Squadron at Fairchild AFB, Spokane WA.
Around 1973, the original Convair test pilot and I discussed plans to fly it from Greater Southwest airport to Harlingen, TX, then the location of the Confederate Air Force. That never took place and was left to be vandalized. On a mission, and after three days of pre-flight testing, and loading three railroad tank cars of 115/145 gasoline, it was ready for a 30 hour flight. I accumulated over 800 hours in the B-36 . F Hasman
I saw a modified B-36 at Lackland in what looked like a private piece of ground. It was modified to be a transport or some other type of aircraft. This was about twenty-five years ago.
FRANK HASMAN
I w
Alwey Wong you’re actually thinking of the XB-99. It’s a different plane but based on the same model. That plane is now at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH.
@@deansiracusa3966 XC-99. The C for cargo. www.airplanesofthepast.com/convair-xc99.htm
Great to hear from guys who worked with this gargantuan aircraft!
I cannot remember the exact month; but in the wee hours in 1957, I had main gate guard duty at Showa Air Station Japan. The sky lit up with very bright white lights. The guard shack vibrated and sound roared. I didn’t know what was happening. It turns out that B36’s were coming in to land at Yokota Air Base. I learned later the B36 was being retired and they were making the last flight. What a magnificent “bird!”
I am 57 years old and have all the respect towards all of you who work on these rewarding projects and those of you who flew these beautiful masterpieces into battle.. Keep up the awesome work that you do so that my kids and their kids and so on will know what helped to bring them the freedom that they now enjoy.. God Bless
6 turnin and 4 burnin! Magnificent aircraft, the B-36. Even carried her own fighter protection... 🇺🇸😎
Bill Plumblee was the Superintendent over Dept 178 & 175 when I started to work in Flt Test in 1977. The man was a working man's Curtis Lemay. He could get the impossible done with finesse and cunning. He was a wonderful man and I will never forget a story he told me about a kid sleeping in fiberglass insulation in his station wagon. He had a great sense of humor and didn't forget you and gave you credit when deserved
I remember that B36 when it was at Southwest International. What a tremendous story. Been to Pima air museum many times. They do a good job. . Disgusted that Fort Worth didn't provide a home for her there. My dad was stationed at Carswell as Asst. DCM of the 7th Bomb Wing. His squadrons modified the B52D models with wing pylons to be used in Vietnam. I got to see them do the work. Dad also took me out on the flightline the day the B58s made there first MITO take off. I was the only civilian out there. It was awesome. 4 vicks of 3 aircraft rolling 15 seconds apart.Afterwards he took me to the other end of the field to watch four B52s do the same thing. I was a teenager and will never forget that day. It made me feel very proud to be an American.
B-58 MITO? Whoah...
And I'm with you re "mlm Ft Worth." Perot was willing to DONATE acres at Alliance!
It will last longer I'm Tucson
I, too, crawled through that aircraft when it was at Grand Prairie in late fifties or early sixties. Dad helped build it when he worked for Convair. He also worked on B-58 and F-102. No life for a family man. We moved alot between layoffs. He drove his '49 Hudson Commodore out to the missile silos in Roswell, N.M. to work on Atlas missiles. Still have the Hudson. Lived on a pier in San Diego when Elvis was drafted. Dad ended his days at McDonnell/Douglas working on F-4 Phantoms in St. Louis. Like I said, no life for a family man.
Yes, while at A&M we had a trip to American Airlines. A few of us went to the old AA hangar where the B-36 was outside....a sad and lonely place at SW Field. Picked up a turnbuckle off the ground somebody cut out of it. I will treasure it always
I saw it in early "80,s" from afar before they started building DFW Airport. When I learned they were rebuilding it, I was a really excited teenager, I reamenber then landing in Houston, and seeing contrails in skys!
Will never forget sounds of those engines!
What really gets MY goat, is she was named"City of Ft. Worth", and got evicted!
Bad reflection on city pride in history in my opinion.
Years ago before it was moved, but work had been finished, I went thru the forward fuselage section. As a LM employee I was able to go to the Run Station hangar where it was just sitting in LARGE pieces waiting for a home. It was an amazing restoration. Fooey on Fort Worth and surrounding cities for not providing a home for her.
When I was a teenager in the 1950s, my Dad was a sergeant in the Air Force stationed at Westover AFB in Massachusetts. I watched B-36s take off and land every day, and the sound was literally visceral as well as audible. Simply incredible! Then, SAC made the transition to the B-52, and for a period of a few months, both of these huge aircraft operated at the base. It was a marvelous time for a kid who already loved aviation. Pima Air Museum is a terrific place to visit and take in the sights of our aviation history. Don't pass up the chance to go if you can.
Who doesn't feel their heart rate increase when looking at this fantastic aircraft,and who cannot but feel so proud at being American? She and her sister aircraft kept us safe for years. Now it is our turn to keep her safe. With gratitude.
When I was a kid, I laid on my back in the yard watching these fly over. Being near the base they were not very high, I could feel the ground vibrate, I was in awe.
When I was a very young child, my parents lived on the lake across from, what was probably, Convair. Never failed, when I would play on the beach, a B-36 would take off directly over our house and scare the pee out of me (literally). The sound and physical size was overwhelming.
What a tribute to the patience and dedication of those involved in her restoration. She is a remarkable and beautiful aircraft. Thank you.
My son (stationed at DM) and I visited the Pima museum July 2016; glad I came upon this video tonight...it gives our visit to this fantastic airplane even more meaning! As a kid in the 1950's, it thrills me to see and hear the unmistakable sound of this long-time favorite of mine. Thank you VERY much for all the hours spent to bring this sweetheart back to life. As we said while I was in the FLY NAVY community years ago: Bravo Zulu!
I saw one over our farm in Tenn. I was 10 years old and I recognized it immediately from the pusher props and the 2 jets on each wing tip. I later worked on every moon shot which continued my dreams.
I worked at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for 10 years and the sounds of the hanger of men working brought joy to my heart! I hope they put it in a covered hanger.
Many planes at Pima are outside including the 36 and the 52s. I believe it is their intention to provide indoor display when they are able.
I was born on Carswell AFB in July of 1952, my Daddy was a crew chief on a B-36, he was a hydraulics specialist. We moved to El Paso in 1955, to Biggs AFB. My Dad was assigned to the new B-52 Squadrons and was transferred in Aug of 1957. I remember he was in the 28th Field Maintenance Squadron. I remember sitting in the Cockpit of a B-36 I don't know which one. I also remember there being a Flying Wing that came onto the base one time as well. My Dad did 20 years from Dec. 1942 to Jan. 1963. He died in 1983, I watched the last B-52 leave Ellsworth and do a wing dip flyover Rapid City in 1987. I left Rapid City as well in that year for good. The B-36 is a mix of memories from my childhood. But they will never make a bomber like that again!... Good Work! Keep that proud Lady flyin'! P.S. I remember that 'interior green' I could never forget it - that was where all the really interesting stuff was!
How can we ever properly thank all the people who put so much into restoring such treasures of history? As a boy, I sat in the pilot's seat of this beautiful airplane as it sat west of runway 36. They closed the inside access a couple of years after that. My uncle was a design engineer at Convair/GD and later went to Lockheed. He arranged for my dad and I to get the grand tour of the facility. Their home was just south of Carswell, and I still remember the amazing sound and vibration the '36 made when they took off to the south. My aunt hated all the shaking, but my cousin and I loved it.
Wow !! My dad, George E. Burch (Col, USAF Ret) flew the last one out of Carswell on May 30, 1958,...4 days after I was born. He did a formation fly by with a B-58 and a B-52 (he transitioned to B-52s immediately after) and then flew on to the Davis-Monthan boneyard with it !! I have the photo of the formation flyby.
Cool. I know an old boy in my neck of the woods (Col, USAF Ret) who, like your dad, started on the B-36 and after three years transitioned to the B-52D. He flew the B-52D until they retired the D model in 1983. Your dad and my old boy acquaintance were part of, in my opinion, the greatest era of the USAF.
I Started out so happy that this was being restored and the amount of effort that went into it, then I got severe depression when I found out it is sitting out in the weather again.
higgydufrane dollypartonandphotoI
But this time in Arizona! The weather if much better there so it will last longer.
Tucson has sun 360 days a year.
IVAN IVONOVICH @
@@59Kona The sun is just as damaging over time. I worked with the restoration of aircraft at the Flying Leatherneck Museum at MCAS Miramar, and baking under the sun for years on end, along with bird droppings and yes, even rain... will slowly ruin this plane again.
In 1957 I was 12 years old and living in the Mission Hills area of San Diego, California. I heard this amazingly loud airplane noise and looked up to watch what was one of the last flights of the B36 fly over. Beautiful and really awesome.
My dad took me an air show in 1956 when i was 11
I remember they had a B36 there, I stood there in awe looking at the nose guns which were pointing at me I also remember seeing a YB 49 flying wing in the san joaquin valley at I think was Castle AFB a year or two earlier.
Likewise as a teenager in the early 50's I used to hear (If I couldn't quite see) them fly over northern Indiana. What thrill to hear & sometimes see this magnificent bird!
Thank you to all the people who assisted in putting this fine plane back into the museum for all Americans to see and marvel at.❤
You old school guys are a great contribution to the restoration of this instrument to keep the peace when I was in diapers. I'm 58 now and I love that design. I was 7 when I went to Wright Patterson AFB Museum and that Great Plane was every where in that Museum.
Shorty454 I was a baby in my mom's arms when the WPAFB B-36 was landed in Area B. It was left there in anticipation of the building of the current museum building. The B36 at the previous museum was determined to be unlovable to Area B.
When I was about eight years old I saw one of these war birds fly right over my house maybe just a few thousand feet up. The ground shook and the sound was massive grinding rumble. This was an airplane that only the United States of America could build or fly. Present! Arms!
In the late 1950s one flew over my house in Watford, southern England flying south. It seemed so low but then, it was huge and probably at a safe height to overfly an urban area but underneath the stacking area for London Airport. Several did visit the UK. That was the only one I ever saw.
Same memory in San Diego, CA, when Convair Plant on Pacific Highway was making some modifications. Took off over Loma Portal and my back yard. Only few hundred feet elevation!
I've had the good fortune to see this gorgeous lady in Pima, the RH-36 at Castle AFB, and the specimen in Dayton. My AFJROTC Aerospace instructor was a flight engineer in the B-36 during his active career and regaled us with many tales of long missions and keeping this bird in the air. I have a special place in my heart for this magnificent beast.
I'm the guy ( Aqua shirt ) at roughly 0:35 leading the plane to Run Station #1. I had to design the "Pull Mechanism" over a weekend because they couldn't get documents in time to me. So, it was "My" plane until i got it to the Run Station!
DWBCHALLENGER thats a big job?? How many hours did you have in that??
DWBCHALLENGER ... Just watched this video what's the latest
do you know? Share it with us.
Good job!
Good job. I can't imagine how nice it must be to have something like this you could call your own.
Bill Barry ....well.... it was a lot of responsibility. For one, it still had 50 year old tires on it. Would they hold? I had them pumped “up” though to decrease the contact patch. Low speed tow wasn’t going to heat them up. Also, I had “nothing” to go on for the method of pulling it out of a field. It was sitting on concrete pads but it had to roll across grass to get to the street. So the design was purely my own. Had to design it strong enough. How much pulling force will be required across that grass field? So, design it Friday night and part of Saturday. Then the thing had to be built on Sunday for use on Monday. It wasn’t the “hours” in this case. It was the responsibility and the unknowns that could bite me with an enormous plane blocking ALL the traffic into the manufacturing plant.
I don't see any youth here. Just the old armor who got the job done when it needed to be done. Hats off, boys! Because of you, I'm here today.
Wow,I racked up over 3000 hrs in the RB 36 as an airborne weather equipment operator, Fairchild & Ramey AFB,s What memories this brings!!
@@edbrown8810 Glad to hear.
The highest of praises to all those incredible people who tried to bring that old girl back to life! Ftw deserves a kick in the ass!
Saw this proud lady in Tucson in 2014 - amazing machine. Beautiful restoration.
Excellent presentation and work. I remember seeing it on static display at Greater Southwest Airport (which is no longer there) and felling sad it had been so vandalized . Now thanks to your great efforts it has been restored to its just glory. Excellent work thank you for your gallant work. JOB WELL DONE!!!!
Great watching the older gentlemen working on this labor of love. Love watching fine craftsmanship used to create something beautiful. People are awesome!
I love watching these old very talented craftsman restoring this plane it's great thanks guys you rule
I'm sure the late Jimmy Stewart would be proud of this achievement.
- because ?
@@saemushailstorm3135 It's because the actor Jimmy Stewart served in his air force. Both in WW2 and the reserves in the fifties. He appeared in the film Strategic Air Command, which featured many early cold war jet bombers, including B36's.
Col. James Stewart.
@@Dive-Bar-Casanova He retired as Brigadier General, and flew his last bombing mission in Vietnam in 1966.
@@saemushailstorm3135 he stared in a movie called Strategic Air Command and after WW2 he stayed in air force reserves for years and retired a 2 star General
Living in River Oaks in the 1950s I saw and heard the B36 many times. I remember being in the front yard one day when the ground suddenly shook for a a few seconds. A B36 had crashed on the runway at Carswell. I am ashamed of my hometown Ft. Worth for not providing a home to this wonderful bird.
That plane is badass, I'm glad to see people cared enough to restore and preserve it. Good for them.
Should have been crushed for scrap while a teaching lesson was given to kids about this murder scheme of an aircraft.
I went through this plane with my brother who works at Lockheed-Martin. So sweet. Thank you all for the love.
Thank you for all the hard work getting her into great shape again
Incredible work these men did! So glad they saved this beautiful and historic aircraft!
My Dad was the Radioman on RB36’s from 1950-1954 with the 72 SRW; I was born on Ramey AFB, Aguadilla, PR in 1953. We PCS’d from Ramey to Carswell AFB, TX with the 7th SBW, where my younger brother was born. I haven’t seen a ‘36 since 1957, and, sadly, I remember nothing of RAFB. Some day I’d love to see an operational ‘36 - ‘six turnin’, and four burnin’!’ - and the place where I was born. Thank you all for your enormous efforts in resurrecting this very beautiful and important aircraft. Maybe some day I’ll get lucky and get to see her. 👍🏼🤙🏼
I lived in White Settlement and was first inside this very aircraft with my dad, a T29 maintenance chief and flight engineer. I'm so glad to see it restored.
Let's get this out on the runway......nice!
Well worth the time and money spent restoring this Cold War bird back to life. This propeller/ jet hybrid was/is an engineering masterpiece.
as a child living in northern Maine in 1950 my father was working on the Lorring Air Force base the B-36's used to make their base leg for landing right over our school and can remember how the whole building would shake and vibrate those planes were huge
dave estes he
I was born in 47' and when I was a child, sometime in the 50's, I got so used to hearing the B-29 and B-36 'crawl up the sky over our farm. We were between Portland, and Salem. I don't know if they landed at Portland, but I am sure they operated out of McChord AFB. The drone of the engines was distinctive and I would recognize them today, music to my ears. A B-29 exploded in midair around 55' north of our farm near Wilsonville, Or. That was quite sad.
What an amazing effort. Beautiful. Thank you to all who were involved.
Just a really incredible plane, crew must have felt like gods.
When I was a kid there were lots of those things flying around. You always knew when one was in the vicinity, as it had a sound like no other airplane ever. I can't describe that sound but is was a unique droning purr. I would love to hear that sound again.
Not My favorite heavy bomber, but I would have lovingly volunteered to rebuild this beauty ! Wonderful work restoring this Ole Gal.
I've been in that very plane from nose to tail. She was on static display for years at Ammon Carter field. My parents and I lived not far in Irving and went there numerous times. Enjoyed the video and very happy that she was restored and saved!
Back in 1976 this B 36 was a gate guardian at the old Greater Southwest Airport. I worked as a volunteer and helped remove the engines and the jets. I was not there when they finally did the first moved to the Museum which was locate just before General Dynamics gate. It is a pity that this plane which was such a large part of the history of Fort Worth could not stay there.
Thank God for the "Great Generation" to restore history. Well done well done.
Yes, thank you from a grateful American citizen for rescuing and preserving this piece of history.
And, thank you to all of those volunteers who worked so hard on it.
Well done, gentlemen. Well done.👍👍
WOW! Just WOW! Congratulations (and thanks) to all for their tireless work on this piece of history.
Always loved this plane. Was interesting seeing the one in the US Airforce museum with my dad. He recognized the tail number as one that was from his unit when he was a mechanic with the AF. That moment will always stick with me.
Its always sad to see historic aircraft in derelict condition. It always cheers me to see them being restored.
I went to school for aircraft electrical repairman at Chanute AFB in Illinois, late 1973 into early 1974. I remember seeing the B36 they had there on static display, thinking wow!!! Went on to go from there to Grand Forks AFB, N.D...spent the time there on B52's and KC135's. Thinking there too, wow!!! Long time ago!!!
I was watching all the guys doing work with their hands, painting, welding, riveting and even beating a panel. Today all that labor is accomplished by robot and the skills witnessed here are passing into history. I recently watched a guy making part of an air scoop for a P-35 and he was using an English Wheel. He would wheel it and check the shape and then check the fit. Wheel some more. He did not have any kind of a template, only the opening he needed to fill. I have so much respect for these craftsmen.
THIS IS MY ALLTIME FAVORITE AIRCRAFT!!!!!!
I try not to abuse "awesome", but this project truly is. I thought "Doc" and the UK's last Vulcan were astonishing projects, but this was both of them in one. I do hope that after all that dedicated effort, the machine is being properly looked after and not left to rot again.
Parrot Raiser She is, because, the staff at Pima take great pride in caring for "City Of Fort Worth", just like the Air Force Museum will take good care of the "Memphis Belle."
Thanks. Good to hear that.
doc is flyable.....huge difference......I am not sure about the vulcan.
There's obviously a difference between museum quality, taxiable and airworthy, but they're a lot closer to each other than "derelict hulk". The Vulcan flew for a while, but maintaining airworthiness became too expensive.
No it did not become too expensive, though in time it would have done. BAE amongst others withdrew their approval otherwise the Vulcan would have flown for a couple more years.
It was never expected to be a permanent return to flying indeed 15 years was hoped for at the start of the project but soon it became clear that 8/10 years was more likely and so it turned out.
Awesome video. I love seeing beautiful pieces of history come back to life again.
My dad used to take us to Ft. Worth to see this plane. As I watched the video, I was hoping it would be placed in a museum in Ft. Worth. It is a magnificent aircraft. Thanks to those who restored it.
I remember seeing it when I was stationed at Carswell AFB. It sat off to the side of the runway from what I remember. Awesome aircraft. I think one was in the Jimmie Stewart movie "Strategic Air Command". Col Potter from Mash was a flight engineer and the filming of it taking off and in-flight was fantastic for the era. That was also filmed at Carswell AFB, Ft Worth.
They had squadrons of them in the James Stewart movie. 6 turning and 4 burning. Amazing long range, but relatively slow speed. Before air refueling had been perfected. And nuclear weapons were huge and heavy. Flew at such a high altitude, Anti-Aircraft guns and rockets were not effective against it, and most interceptors could not operate at that altitude.
Great movie, now available on Blu-Ray with the original VistaVision resolution. Amazing footage, and not a bad story. Certainly explains the MADD doctrine well - a history prof buddy used a clip in his Post-WW2 US History class.
I remember when it was abandoned at the old Amon Carter field north of Arlington. That was in the mid to late '70s In fact I think my brother was able to get inside the cockpit once. He said it had been vandalized. All the glass broken out and lots of graffiti.
Yeah, the whole flight panel was gone, plus lots of other damage.
No instruments at all. I came out one day; the guys said they'd stopped a dude trying to up the trolley into his trunk.The red alarm bell on the nose was just for show.
See the FB group: facebook.com/groups/345029672370518/
and
th-cam.com/video/VykzdDTOHmU/w-d-xo.html
I was part of the preservation crew at the time. The vandals really did a number on her. The entire cockpit had been stripped. No seats or pilot instrument panels. Not all the glass was broken, but a lot was.
"Two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking and two more unaccounted for." 😉👍
I saw the B-36 at GSWAP in 1972 just before the last airshow there. I'm glad this piece of history was preserved.
As a boy, in the mid 60's, I was fortunately along with my Father, and we toured this plane, interior and all. It's something I've always remembered the reverse position of the pusher props. This video is a great milestone for me to remember what I saw as a boy.
Well done, she is a beautiful piece of history
When I was a kid I used to go out to Greater Southwest Airport where this aircraft was originally kept. There was a radio station KZEW, that broadcast from the closed down airport. (Stories about that in You Tube.) I used to crawl all through this beast when they did the first attempt at restoration where they got 5 of the six pistons started and roaring. The back section started to buckle so they shut it down and after that it was move to Carswell and that's where she fell apart so badly. Someone must have stripped all the cobbled together instruments and all. I got to know how to start the pistons and a lot of history was passed down from the CV guys that did the most of the work. So glad to see she got the love she needed and totally bummed that FW couldn't come up with the money to store such an important part of her history.
My father was a B36 crew member in the Korean war. He would have loved to have been a part of this project. He loved the B36 and I loved him
I saw it in the 60s & still remember the Whow I felt walking around it. So glad y’all did this. Amazing airplane.
Saw it at Pima, great restoration job, it looks astonishing.
Pima air and space???
This is one plane I would love to see fly in my lifetime.
This video shows up every once in awhile. Even though, I know, I've already seen it, I have to watch it again.
Thank you to all involved in this fantastic project. I'd love to come see it sometime.
Quel remarquable restauration, de passion et de patience pour l' énorme B-36 Peacemaker! Chapeau bas pour ces bénévoles et d' autres équipes j' en tire ma révérence très respectueuse pour ces passionner! Merci pour cette vidéo formidable...
I saw this amazing aircraft in Pima. Magnificent! Truly a shame that all those tireless and dedicated volunteers had to watch their "baby" go...
When I was a boy we lived under the glide path for the number one runway at Warner Robins AFB in Warner Robins Georgia. In the early fifties a wing of SAC was stationed there and many times I stood in the front yard of my home and watched and listened as a B-36 roared low overhead on final to runway number one. It was a sight and sound I will never forget. Families under the glide path used to complain to the Airforce about cracked windows from the B-36s roaring overhead. What a shame to see the last one so mistreated.
They were unbelievably loud. Especially for the crew. A lot of hearing loss for them.
I had forgotten that those were piston engines. I guess turboprops had not come along by then. It was, after all, a prewar design. They did get re engined with turboprops later. I'm guessing my memories are from about 1954/55. I would have been 10 or 11 years old, I expect the crews wore hearing protection and still had hearing loss. One interesting detail; the turboprop engines had hollow square bladed props and some of the engine exhaust was routed through the props to keep them from icing up. Each blade had a small exhaust port near the tip.
One foot in the past, one foot taking a big step to the jet age. 6 turning 4 burning.
AR15 nut you are wrong that they were re-engined. The earliest planes had just the piston engines, and the jets were added all of those, but the 28 cylinder radials were in all of them for the 10 years that they were in service.
I stand corrected. What I meant to say was that the engines were changed from carburetion to fuel injection and when that occured the props (not turboprops) were were changed to square blades. The B-36 did run with the R4360 piston engines during their entire career.
I live in Tucson and have the pleasure of seeing her on the way to work, and when I visit the museum. She looks beautiful. But the PASM could not have done a thing without all the work those in Forth Worth put in. Thank You to all whose labors in Texas, gave her live in Arizona.
6 a turning and 4 a burning. This plane actually sat at the entrance of Greater Southwest Airport off of Highway 360 and Airport Freeway. As kids , we use to play inside of it. The airport was closed for passenger service in 1974 with the opening of DFW Airport. The airport remained for several years as a training facility for America Airlines until a crash during touch and goes. American Airlines Corporate Headquarters still remains across Highway 360. The airport was destroyed and Amon Carter Blvd lies on one of the two runways.
A great plane and it is a giant. Glad to see it restored , I wanted it to stay in Fort Worth where it was originally built at Consolidated.
There is a fully restored B-36 at the SAC Aerospace Museum just west of Omaha on I-80. It is inside one of the buildings and is incredibly huge. Also, they have a cut open engine showing how complex the piston engine was. This is just one of the aircraft they have there. You could spend all day at this museum.
And a Goblin.
Congratulations to all who helped achieve this wonderful restoration!!! Now, on the preservation part: Even sitting outside in Tucson AZ, basking in the sun, will severely damage this precious aircraft over time. I understand that it will take at least 1,5M to put her inside. But then again, with today's possibilities for crowdfunding and a (worldwide) community of aviation enthusiasts, it seems to me like an achievable target to raise that kind of money, even if it takes a couple of years.
Would be cool to see all the aircraft at Pima A&S be put inside. An interesting, unmentioned one that sits partially scrapped is the Budd RB1 Conestoga, a stainless steel aircraft built for WW2, and is the only surviving example
Incredible workmanship and love of this great aircraft. Thank you for all that was done and thank you for sharing!!!
Remember seeing one up close at the SAC museum at Offutt AFB in 1978. An awesome piece of machinery. Shame it became obsolete so quickly after entering service. Even with the added jets it was no match for the jet age.
Good to see there’s enough people who care enough to restore one
As a young boy, I actually got to get in one (not the cockpit) while it was on display along with a B-52 at loring Air Force Base in, Limestone, Maine. I also hot to see the inside of both planes. Walked across the wings. They had long rubber mats layed out so as not to harm the plane. I am thinking it was during a 4th of July. Not sure of the year it was but, I am 73 and very soon 74. My Step-Father worked on building that base when he worked for, Lane Construction.
albert reed, now that is cool.
I am proud to have been a part of it's restoration in Fort Worth. Too bad our city wasn't.
Great to hear from guys who worked with this gargantuan aircraft!
Was the restoration functional? Everything I've read, it wasn't clear if all the wiring and systems were restored back to air worthy status. Cold you elaborate?
Absolutely fantastic!!
I saw this aircraft at PIMA a few years ago. It was the one aircraft that I just had to see! It was the absolute highlight of my visit.
I was able to see this great historic aircraft not only in pieces at Pima but fully restored and on display. Brought back many memories when I helped put the 36 together when I lived in Merced close to Castle AFB.
Thank you, For making this part of American History come back to Life for future generations to be with... Grandpa was in WW2 and Korea. Thank you Grandpa would be Proud.
A+ job to everyone involved with this project.
In 1979 this aircraft was just outside the perimeter fence of Carswell AFB. As a 10 year old kid my family drove up on it and we got out to take a look. The team working on it let up have the run of the aircraft. I even got to walk into the wings, and use the trolley to the rear sleeping quarters and tail gunner. You can imagine what it was like for a 10 year old aviation geek with TANG F-105s doing pattern work nearby. I've never heard a louder jet than the Thunderchief. What a treat. I always wondered what happened to this aircraft. I was so excited to see it again from the I-10 here in Tucson Az where I now live.
This is a great story of dedication to a singular task. Congratulations to all concerned. I was in the 1st Grade (1950) when one landed and overnighted at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. The next morning all the students in the school were marched outside to see "we knew not what". We formed the word "Clinton", the name of our school, on our 5 acre grass playground (which doubled as a city park) and waited. Finally, we could see the 36 actually take off from Hill a few miles away and the huge bomber turned and flew low over our demonstration tipping its wings. This was an early 36 and did not have the jets on the wing tips. 6 or 7 years earlier my Dad was attending Cal Tech in Pasadena (where I was born) and worked in the Guggenheim sub-sonic Wind Tunnel. It was their task to test all of the airfoils used on all the American fighting planes during WWII but Dad said..."we even tested the B-36 years before it actually flew." So these two experiences in my personal background have created a bond between me and this aircraft. Later...about 25 years later...I got my own pilot's ticket which I'm sure was inspired partially because of the awe generated that day back in 1950.
I love these old planes!
I am only 61 years old but I remember Jimmy Stewart in the movie. I am gutted by this. My dad worked for Electric Boat and before that aircraft as an engineer. He told me about 6 turning, 8 burning long before I saw the movie. I have been to Loring for LSR stuff....far as I know that base was built for those aircraft
At least she wasn't scrapped, eh? Pima is doing well by her. I just hope that they give credit where credit is due to the Texas crew who preserved her from 1959 to 2005.
I actually just watched SAC on Amazon a few days ago. Still a great movie.
You mean 6 turning and 4 burning. Only had 4 jet engines.
Thet are NOT jet engines ...28 cylinder pratt and whitney R-4360 RADIAL PISTON engines
It had NO ...."JET" engines...6 pratt and whigney r 4360 radial piston engines (gasoline engines) ie. av. Gas........!!!???
So cool to see all these old guys working on this. They are the ones who have the skills to fabricate all those unobtainable parts. They did everything by hand in their day and that's how it needed to be done.
Amazing job, thanks for doing this. Our children and grandchildren will appreciate the effort for years to come.
I remember seeing this plane sitting in a fenced in area just outside of Carswell AFB in the late 1980s. There were several planes there too including a B-52 and maybe a B-58 as I remember. I remember them being in kind of an out of the way spot and basically neglected.
Good! Very Good. Unlike many other country’s,.....preserving our history,... we have learned has many far reaching benefits,...not the least of which are the young. Who want to know The Who’s what’s and why’s,.........you don’t get that from a picture and a paragraph. If they see it,...amaze at it size,....they get older,..and learn more. Makes them consider a life of service....and respect for those who did. Loved the one in Dayton.....bigger than you think.
Dad was Career USAF MSgt; I remember PLAYING in a B-36 at Offut AFB; I think I was 5...Loved the trolley back to the gunners station; I ended up flying in Vietnam; I am Air Force Silver and Blue for life!
My dad was a navigator/bombardier on the B-36 stationed at Carswell AFB. One of the crewmembers was one of the Dolittle Raiders.
Beautiful job!
Mike, my dad was the radio operator on B/RB-36s at Carswell, Ellsworth and Ramey (where I was born in ‘53. 🤙🏼