peacemaker

Originally ordered as B-36B-20-CF Peacemaker 44-92097, this a/c was completed as the third of four B-36D-1-CF Peacemakers. Otherwise similar to the B-36B, the 81 D Models featured the addition of four GE J47-GE-19 turbojets to increase thrust and decrease the long take off roll of the earlier models.

Makes sense!

Convair B-36B-1-CF Peacemaker 44-92033 "BM-033" during test flight by Convair's test pilot Steve Dillon ca. '47.

Originally Convair RB-36F-1-CF Peacemaker 49-2707, the a/c was modified to be the lone GRB-36F-1-CF used for "TOM-TOM" tests in the captive-carry FICON project (seen here w/ RF-84F Thunderflash 51-1849) ca. '53.

Very cool picture. What are those, rather large, wing tip devices for?

Believe it or not, the devices were there to catch & release the RF-84s from their captive-carry positions on the B-36's wingtips (after they killed a test pilot trying this option on a B-29, they wisely abandoned this awful idea). But in the days before air-to-air refueling, there were several options tried to carry fighter protection and/or recce capability on very long-range missions, incl. the FICON tests with the F-84F and XF-85 Goblin on slings that retracted into the bomb bays. This option worked somewhat better and was actually fielded in the 91st SRS with RF-84Ks stationed w/ B-36Ds @ Larson AFB in Washington state, but not for long...