Neat B-36 Article in the Star Telegram

[deskpro590]

http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/09/07/5141084/b-36-bomber-brought-peace-in-the.html#my-headlines-default

I can remember when they kept the City of Fort Worth at that outdoor museum(Now defunct) outside the old Carswell AFB gates.

[K5DH]

City of Fort Worth is one of two B-36s that I've seen in person (the other is at NMUSAF). If you've neved been in the presence of a B-36, you can't begin to imagine how utterly huge they are! It's a shame CoFW couldn't remain somewhere in or near her birthplace and namesake town, but despite the efforts of a lot of people, it just wasn't in the cards. Cowtown's loss ended up being Tucson's gain. The crew at Pima Air Museum have done a remarkable job with their restoration (which was no easy task!) and I know she'll be well-cared-for at their fine facility.

[dinghao]

I was lucky enough to visit and pull myself thru the tube on COFW way back late 50's or so.
Also been thru the XC-99 many times over the years. Never could confirm the story that a cracked wing spar was her downfall, ending her flying days. Has anyone else heard the wing spar story?

[maxum96]

Always love this clip from the movie Strategic Command with Jimmy Stewart. Harry Morgan (Col Potter from MASH) is the flight engineer.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGjyH2ulsCk

[JohnB]

I was lucky enough to visit and pull myself thru the tube on COFW way back late 50's or so.
Also been thru the XC-99 many times over the years. Never could confirm the story that a cracked wing spar was her downfall, ending her flying days. Has anyone else heard the wing spar story?

IIRC, the XC-99 was removed from service in 1957, about the same time SAC withdrew the B-36. Probably without the maintenance/depot support for the B-36, it wasn't practical to operate.

[Chief]

Yes. JohnB is correct. We were at Dover AFB in early 1958 when some of the C-99 maintenance and enlisted flight crew members arrived from Kelly AFB. They helped us on the C-124. I worked very closely with a TSgt who had been a relatively junior flight engineer on the C-99. He was from Waynesboro, PA. However, lost track of him over the years.

[Steve Nelson]

I read somewhere that the XC-99 was grounded due to some spar cracks. With the B-36 program already winding down, there was no point in fixing her.

I've seen the B-36s at NMUSAF and the SAC Museum (and been inside both.) The SAC Museum's aircraft is in rough shape after decades of outdoor display, but they're slowly getting her restored. It's a monumental long-term job of course, especially since they've also got a B-52 and B-47 that need almost as much work..but the aircraft are all inside now, so at least they're not deteriorating any further.

SN