Aircraft - Aviation - Balloons - Helicopters

Feb. 26 A.C. World fastest bomber was carried beneath the belly of the world largest bomber today in one of the most unusual air transport operations in history. Convair Division of General Dynamice Corporation, builder of both planes, used a B-36 bomber to haul a B-58 supersonic bomber from Fort Worth, Texas, to Dayton, Ohio. The delta-winged B-58 minus its four jet engines and other equipment was partially tucked into the B-36 bomb bay for the nonstop flight to Wright Patterson Air Force Base. There the Air Force will put B-58 through extensive Static tests to determine its strength. To make room for B-58 airframe, it was necessary to remove the two inboard propellers of the ten engine B-36. The flight to Dayton was made on the B-36 four remaining piston engines and its four jet engines. With the parasite B-58 in place, the B-36 could not retract its landing gear during the flight. Wingspen of the B-58 is about 55 feet. By comparison, wingspen of the B-36 is 230 feet. Washington, D.C. 12 March 1957. Official U.S. Air Force Photo, Released by Dept. of Defense

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Airframe B-36 Belly Builder Comparison Convair Dayton Delta-winged Dept Determine Extensive Fastest Haul Inboard Minus Necessary Nonstop Ohio Parasite Partially Patterson Piston Propellers Remaining Remove Retract Static Supersonic Tests Tucked Worth

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