The bomb bay of the B-36 almost seems more reminiscent of the interior of a giant cathedral than a space designed to carry 86,000lb of a conventional or nuclear payload (almost 10x that of a B-17!). This B-36 is on display at the incredible National Museum of the USAF.

This is the only surviving reconnaissance version of the B-36 and was assigned to the 28th SRW at Rapid City AFB, SD (Ellsworth AFB after June 1953) from 1952 to 1957. In 1957, it was reassigned to Chanute Air Force Base, IL, and was used as a ground instructional airframe. After retirement, it was placed on display at the Chanute Aerospace Museum but now resides at the superb Castle Air Museum.

Hundreds of people walked to the north end of SFO for a first look at the huge B-36. It was part of the San Francisco Air Fair celebration.

Quite a bit of progress had been made on the restoration since my last visit to the museum in April 2007.

Second prototype B-36 converted to RB-36E status. Sold by USAFM when it moved to its new site and large sections of the aircraft are believed to survive in the private Soplata Collection.

This aircraft was the last B-36 delivered when it went into service on August 14, 1954 and the last B-36 in service when retired on February 12, 1959.

This aircraft was the last B-36 produced and has been beautifully restored by the folks at Pima Air & Space Museum.

Strategic Air Command B-36H 52-1363 on final approach to RAF Burtonwood (Lancashire) in October 1956 as part of a rare deployment of 16 B-36's to the UK. SAC band on nose. A small window in the forward fuselage causes the '6' appear to be an '8'.

Last B-36 built. Displayed at Fort Worth since 02.59, and transfered to nearby Carswell AFB in 1977. To Pima Museum at Tucson in 2005 and now fully restored there.

Strategic Air Command B-36H on approach to RAF Burtonwood (Lancashire) as part of a rare UK deployment of 16 of these noisy monsters. SAC blue band on nose.

The enormous B-36 was originally designed to bomb Nazi Germany from Newfoundland if necessary. Four auxiliary jet engines were added to the production aircraft which, though still slow, fulfilled an important role until the advent of the B-52.