Here are a few interior views of the Convair B36J Peacemaker at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton Ohio.

Responding to the U.S. Army Air Forces' requirement for a strategic bomber with intercontinental range, Consolidated Vultee (later Convair) designed the B36 during World War II. The airplane made its maiden flight in August 1946, and in June 1948 the Strategic Air Command received its first operational B36. Some B36s served as photographic reconnaissance aircraft, and others were adapted to launch and retrieve specially modified RF84F/K reconnaissance planes.

Powered by six Pratt & Whitney R4360 engines, the B36J cruised at 230 mph, but for additional bursts of speed its four General Electric J47s increased the maximum speed to 435 mph. It carried 86,000 pounds of nuclear or conventional bombs. When production ended in August 1954, more than 380 B36s had been built for the U.S. Air Force. In 19581959, the USAF replaced the B36 with the alljet B52. Although never used in combat, the B36 was a major deterrent to enemy aggression. Making the last B36 flight ever, the aircraft on display flew to the museum from DavisMonthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on April 30, 1959.