The massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber was first conceived in 1941 from the B-29 Super Fortress and in 1946 had its first test flight. As the US Air Force’s first inter intercontinental long range bomber, it had a crew of 16 specialists, and was powered by 6 piston ebgines and 4 jet engines. With a 230 foot wingspan, the B-36’s capacity for 21,000 gallons of fuel gave the aircraft a 10,000 mile rangecwith a 4,000 mile combat range. It was only the top of her game for a few short years as the Strategic Air Command took delivery of B-47 pure jet bombers and then B-52s both from Boeing, both of which rendered the B-36 as obsolete.