Pima B-36 now on it's gear

[Chris]

I'll try again. I wonder what the Air Force recors show about flying time vs maintenance time

[valdez25]

Wasn't there a very restrictive limitation on prop times? What about the rumor Perot was involved in getting it flying? What ever happened to the '36 in Rantoul, IL?

[Jerry O'Neill]

The Rantoul B-36 is restored and on display at Castle AFB in California.
Jerry

[RickH]

The only ones who can assign any of the B-36s is the NMUSAF. They own all of them. They say where they will go or where they will stay. By law their aircraft don't fly. The only exception is a one time move such as Shoo Shoo Baby or the B-47 ferry flight.

[Jerry O'Neill]

If you don't count Walter Soplata's B-36!
Maybe that might fly someday! (in the hold of a AN-225!!!)
Jerry

[RickH]

Well, Airdales, how much B-36 does Soplata have ? Gonna need some wings, and motors, and control surfaces,....and a lotta money. Did I mention a LOTTA money ?

[PhantomAce08]

Well, Airdales, how much B-36 does Soplata have ? Gonna need some wings, and motors, and control surfaces,....and a lotta money. Did I mention a LOTTA money ?

Yeah, he doesn't have the wings does he?

[Connery]

Here is what she looked like in 1972 at the last airshow held at the Amon Carter/Greater Southwest airport. This was just before the volunteers got her ready to fly for the hop over to Carswell or Meacham.

[tom d. friedman]

some real rare ones.... cool!!! especially like the storch in italian markings!! italian ww 2 aviation is much ignored!!!

[Jerry O'Neill]

Actually Rick, Walter Soplata has most of the B-36. The wings are there, but the enigines, propellers and Landing gear had all been scrapped by the time he intervined. It's in pretty bad shape, but it could make a nice musuem display as a cutaway or some other creative display.

Like I said, it'll only fly if it's inside another airplan!
Jerry

[peter]

Is this the same B36 that was made ready to fly and is now back on her gear again?

[tom d. friedman]

soplata has the wings with his 36, however the magnesium has all but deteriorated. i'm 5 ft 9 inches & 1 of the wings came up to my neck laying on the ground at it's thickest point while standing next to it!!!.

It's great to see the progress they are making on that B-36 in Arizona. It's teriffic to see that it will be preserved.

It is a shame that the USAF nixed the return to flying status of that magnificent aircraft back in the 1970s. I remember contributing $5.00 to the "Peacemaker Foundation" back about 1971 or 72 hoping to help that flight happen.

If there is any plane I would like to have seen and heard in flight - it would be the B-36. That scene of that B-36 overflying the baseball stadium in the movie "Strategic Air Command" always sticks in my mind.

Well at least we know that they will create a first class static display if this airplane in Arizona.

Jim C.

[Second Air Force]

A good friend of mine brought this composite photograph in to work today and thought you all would find it interesting. The picture was taken in 1986 or so at the little park/museum south of the Convair plant at Carswell.


Scott

[B17news]

I love static display aircraft that aren't capable of flying, but why in the world would you make a capable of flying aircraft a static display?

The real irony is the first paragraph of the home page of their website...

"Welcome
Pima Air & Space Museum, where history takes flight, is one of the largest air and space museums in the world, and the largest non-government funded aviation museum."

B