Soplata B-36

[B36Terry]

Does anyone have any photos of the Soplata B-36 while the USAFM was scrapping it?

[APG85]

A shame the NMUSAF didn't keep this plane as it was historically more important than the B-36 they currently have in my opinion...

[mustangdriver]

Yeah I never got that either? I mean the one we have is pretty historic, but not sure why no effort to save this one. Although it was a much different time.

[Steve Nelson]

Showing my ignorance here, but what's the NMUSAF's current B-36's claim to fame? Did she set some sort or record, or was the last one retired or something?

SN

[APG85]

Different time is the key. Some effort should be made to at least get the nose section to a museum...

[mustangdriver]

The current B-36 flew missions with SAC and went through the featherweight conversion. The flight to the museum was the last flight by any B-36.

[Steve Nelson]

Thanx! Did the museum's B-36 actually land at Wright Field after its final flight?

SN

[mustangdriver]

Yeah it did.

[Steve Nelson]

Now THAT would have been something to see!

SN

[mustangdriver]

Yeah I always wished I could have seen that, and the XB-70 land as well. I got to see the C-141 land as well as the Nc-131. I also hope that the B-36 nose(atleast) is sent to a museum. Imagine what a cool display that could be made out of it.

[Second Air Force]

Sorry this was so late...

[Steve Nelson]

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Thanks for the pic, though!

SN

[Steve T]

Sad pic. Doubly sad that the same fate, precisely, befell USAFM's record-flight B-52B "City Of El Paso" about 14 years later. Walt was less quixotic by then...but still rescued the nose section and a few other bits from the Stratofort.

Here's the B-36 as she looked in summer 1982...


...and on a similar topic, is there any recent word on NMUSAF's B-47E that was parked out by the Annex at Wright-Pat? Hoping she hasn't got the chop as well...

S.

[mustangdriver]

There are a couple of museums interested in it, so it is going to a good home. With the addition of the Belle and the Swoose along with C-99 parts, there just is no room for the that other B-47. They hope to get it to a good home.

[Steve T]

MD--

Thanx...glad to hear that. (Haven't been to NMUSAF myself in far too long...the Beaufighter and the CF-100 were still under restoration last time...2004, I think it was.)

Cheers

S.