USAF RB-36 Castle Air Force Base Atwater California B36 RB36

[@dennishinkle5010]

My father was an electronics technician on the B36. He was stationed at Carswell AFB in Ft Worth Texas. He worked on flight simulators and radios. Thank you for sharing.👍

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for the comment

[@MiltonFindley]

My father was a tail gunner on the B-36 from the beginning of the program until 1954. He loved the airplane and I grew up on Carswell AFB.

[@fsj197811]

I've seen that old bird but I didn't get to look inside. My Dad worked on them 'way back when'. Thanks for sharing!

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thanks for the comment

[@marka8947]

I helped pull this thing apart at Chanute in the summer 1990 I believe it was. A crew of about 50 civilians and the Air Force personnel from Castle. It was placed on 15 flatbed railroad cars. We had to remove the canopy structure because it was too high on the flatbed. What an operation that was! I believe there's a KZbin video on it.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you very much for posting. I saw the pictures and video of it being assembled and I was wondering why they took the canopy dome off.

[@johnwatson3948]

I was up at Castle in 1992 to see the parts on the flatbed cars, and again when partially assembled in 1993. Do you have any idea why (at Chanute) the right-rear scanner port had been plated over as if done in the factory? Can only guess they were doing sheet-metal training. It was not plated over in pics when arriving at Chanute.

[@marka8947]

I'll check my pics. But if I remember correctly, it was sheet metal covered when I was with it at Chanute in 90.

[@marka8947]

A side note, I was at Mather in 82 when that Castle B-52G crashed during a MITO. I watched it go in from the flight line. It pitched up, did sort of a hammerhead and went straight in. Horrible day for SAC. If memory serves, it was around Christmas..

[@johnwatson3948]

Yes I’m sure the port was plated over earlier at Chanute - I’ve been wondering if anyone knew how and why it was plated over.

[@bindumiller]

When I was a kid, in the 50s, near Bakersfield, CA, these B-36s would fly over all the time. They had a unique sound, unlike any other plane, that I still remember. It had a deep base note from the recips, accompanied by a much higher note from the jets--but the base sound was much louder. It would shake the whole house if it was low enough--an intense sound! And I found it very exciting when I heard one coming. I would run outside to watch it pass. It was a very pleasant sound, and I still grieve that it will never be heard again.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for that. I can tell from the sound in the Jimmy Stewart movie that they have a deep droning tone.

[@jackterry7664]

I was in Roswell, NM in the early 50's. Walker AFB had one of the wings there. The sound of those things flying over the house was awesome!!!

[@MiltonFindley]

The song of my childhood at Carswell.

[@jewllake]

Awesome! I saw that exact plane at Castle a few years ago. My late father was born in 1936 and was in the Air National Guard. He was stationed at Chanute Air Force Base in IL. There was a B-36 that was on display and used for training excercises there in the 50's. My father took some pictures of him standing by the landing gear. He always liked the B-36 and remembers them flying as a young man. He loved the movie Strategic Air Command with Jimmy Stewart. I wanted to see this B-36 at Castle for the longest time to recreate the picture of my dad with me standing by the front landing gear. Once I came home I was curious about the Chanute B-36 and did some research. Much to my surprise, I learned it was the same plane that was brought over in pieces through rail cars and reassembled at Castle. I also noticed that the three little domes on the belly of the plane that were part of the reconnaissance equipment were missing, probably lost in the move. Thanks for giving me a chance to look inside.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Awesome comment, thank-you. Yes it is the same plane, RB-36. Could you please send me that picture? I would like to see the three domes.

[@jewllake]

@@ontheroadwithnorm2024 Done - sent it to your gmail. Hope it helps.

[@HM2SGT]

20:17 *_two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking and two more unaccounted for!_* 😄

[@allaboutkalergi5012]

My Mum and Dad had a great story about these planes. Back in the mid-fifties a squadron was flying from the USA to RAF Burtonwood in England, UK. When they arrived they possibly had too much fuel to land, but anyway whatever the reason they circled the airfield, fairly low for a long time in the middle of the night. Being incredibly noisy this obviously woke everybody up in the nearby villages and brought everybody out of their houses to see. They were massively relieved to eventually find out they were friendlies bound for Burtonwood.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for the story. Good info

[@Ncollins99]

What an awesome piece of history! I can only imagine the thousands of hours that went into designing and building that beauty.

[@jimford795]

Today is my 85th birthday. I received my ground school and flight training at Castle with family in(I believe) 1963 in the KC-135. Even lived in Atwater. It is hard today to tell the stories and remember which were true and which were exaggerated a little bit. Spent my twenty years flying. Great time!

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for your service and go ahead and tell your stories. You can post right here. Most everyone likes to hear real history and it sounds like you were a part of aviation history in California.

[@Antifurries-q2r]

I went to castle air museum when I was going to Fresno!

[@dsmallen]

I was at Chanute for tech in 89, and remember walking around it in awe, huge aircraft. Now I live near the Castle museum and visit occasionally. I hope they have the money to do some more preservation, it's deteriorating fast.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

They need volunteers. Also the B-58 from Chanute is at Castle and it needs some more work to reassemble it. It currently does not have a crew.

[@JackedRado71]

9:30 “whys there such a draft?” *rips a fart 😂

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

sorry....

[@mr.knowitall6440]

In June of 1987, I arrived at Chanute on a Friday evening, having just completed Basic Training. Early the next morning I took a walk, and came upon this B-36. I was amazed at the size of this gargantuan aircraft! They also had a nice B-58 Hustler nearby. Coincidentally, when I finished my Technical Training at Chanute, I went to my Permanent Duty Station at Castle AFB. I recall seeing a bunch of train cars with massive aircraft parts while at Castle, but didn't realize it was that same B-36! They flew in an SR-71 in late 1990, to put in the museum.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for the comment. I'm trying to learn more from 1990 when the SR-71 arrived. I've heard from two people that told me they drained the engine oil then fired the engines back up to seize them. This was for permanent storage per the USAF. Do you know anything more about the story?

[@marka8947]

Yes. And all the SR's blueprints and tooling were destroyed.

[@mr.knowitall6440]

@@ontheroadwithnorm2024 That's exactly what everyone said at the time. I unfortunately missed that, because my girlfriend and I went to the shooting range... 🙄 I do have a picture that a coworker gave me, with my Chevelle in the foreground, and the SR-71 flying by way in the background. 😎

[@robinsites9790]

@@mr.knowitall6440

[@robinsites9790]

I was at Castle for the SR-71 delivery ceremony. Very impressive high speed pass and missed approach before the full stop. The Wing Commander ( I was his executive officer) accepted the plane from the aircraft commander. Very nice and well attended ceremony. It was sort of sad though to see such an amazing aircraft retired to never fly again.

[@arthurmickel2724]

In the mid-60's I was stationed at Loring AFB in Maine, which was one of the B 36 home bases. We had two hangers designed to house the B36 for service. The B 36s were long gone by then. My office was near the flight line, so I had the opportunity to view these hangers, which would have housed up to four B36s; they were huge and made the B52s and KC135s look like toys.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thanks for sharing that.

[@garvinhooper]

my Dad's field office at Loring AFB in 1950-1952 was next to the biggest hanger, I remember the B-36s well flying over our school on base leg for landing and the whole school would vibrate, when that hanger was being built one of the construction workers that flew his Piper J3 to work flew his plane through it and was kicked off the base

[@glennhargrove3299]

I went to tech school at Chanute from November 1966 to February 1967. I remember marching by this old gal every morning five days a week, Many of those days there was ice and snow on the ground. I am glad it was saved. It looks like it could sure use a bath.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

And some paint. And some new skins in a few spots.

[@johnjusko4789]

This old rare bomber looks sad and yet you can see the dirt all over this B-36 bomber .

[@billyc5914]

The picture comparing it to the B29 is amazing. The B36 looks twice the size which is mind boggling. Greaat video!

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Yes I scored the picture from Wiki and added the titles for impact. It is stunning the difference in size.

[@thomaspagan4914]

100 Percent Awesome! Nice tour and video. First time I saw the recce version photo compartment. From my reading, the B-36 was 'on the drawing boards' long before the idea of atomic weapons delivery in a cold war... the aircraft would undergo many revisions and threats of cancellation over a ten year period. The original requirement was to conduct a bombing campaign based from the U.S. in the event Great Britain fell. Since that never happened, the bomber descended to lower priority at various times. As WWII ended and a cold war began, the priority for a strategic atomic bomber emerged (likely as a 'stop gap' IMHO as the B-52 was slated to come forward but the development of jet engines to bear it was the huge delay. Finally, to drop weapons you have to have a good idea of where which we did not have. The SAC solution was to have dual capable recce and bombing in one platform so a number were converted. It was not without substantial mods though. It does make you wonder just how viable it was as a bomber. THANKS so much for the share! Incredible! By the way, I applaud all of the veterans who actually crewed this bomber and by no means represent myself as anything more than an interested fan.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you very much for the great comment. I hope you subscribed for more passionate aircraft history hunting. I believe this airplane hit the drawing board (with many others) when Pratt & Whitney announced the development of the 4360 corncob motor. What an exciting time for the engineers and at the same time terrifying for the test pilots. Much respect for all.

[@johnwatson3948]

Nice comment - Norm also said that RB-36s had been converted, but only the first 22 A models were actually converted to Recon, the other 120 or so were built as RBs in the factory.

[@MachoMateoMuchacho]

The interior shots with Jimmy Stewert were in a mockup on a sound stage. They made the cockpit much larger so that it projected better on the movie screen.

[@AviationMoviesWithNorman]

And the B-47 shots in that movie were shot in a cutaway training piece that is currently sitting in the March AFB Museum California. You can walk right up to it and look inside. It's indoors with some B-52 sims and the SR-71. Thank-you for your comment.

[@B36HPeacemaker]

I am building a B-36, where this video features an RB-36. The bomber's radio compartment was much less crowded due to the lack of the low frequency ECM (Ferret) equipment that is found in the RB-36. My radio compartment wall (bulkhead 4.0) will consist of basically a much smaller area that contains strictly radio equipment. Thank you for thinking of me. This videos answers a ton of RB-36 questions.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank you for the comment and your work!

[@Lowrider2905]

One of my most favourite airplane. Seems like this has serious fuselage corrosion, hopefully this will be preserved.

[@ChevyBM]

Oh man thats a cool Stepside Chevy also! And holy crap is the B-36 one big aircraft!

[@dwmzmm]

I was born at Eglin AFB in March 1956, at the time the base hospital was next to the flight line. My mom told me in the 1960's that (during our stay at the hospital) B-36's were parked on the tarmac at Eglin, they were clearly visible from the hospital.

[@johncashwell1024]

At about the 3:45 to 4:00 minute mark, "it smells wonderful in here"... I opened up a can of mil-spec Aero-Shell and I was right there with you!

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Hahahaha, exactly!

[@bobfresno7134]

I remember seeing a B36 at the Greater Southwest Airport, in Ft. Worth, TX. (Formally the Amon Carter Airport) in the late 1960's. We were allowed to go all over the plane, and yes the sliding tube from the middle to the back was working. If I recall correctly, there was a rope tied to each end of the sliding platform. After you laid on the sliding platform, someone on each end would pull the rope to the other end. As a kid, it was fun, and of course I said then: when I grow up, I want to be on this aircraft. LOL. Here is a little history on that aircraft. The Last B-36: Of 386 B-36's built from 1946 to 1954, only four survive. B-36-J-III 52-2827 City of Fort Worth was built in Fort Worth, Texas in 1954, and was retired in 1958. It was displayed at Amon Carter Field, later Greater Southwest Airport, from 1958 until the late 1970s, when it was moved to Carswell Air Force Base. Exposed to the extremes of Texas weather, the giant aircraft slowly deteriorated. In the early 1990s the aircraft was disassembled and moved indoors to hangar space at the factory where it was built, donated by Lockheed Aircraft. A group of dedicated volunteers, many of them retired Convair employees who had worked on the original B-36 assembly line, spent 40,000 man-hours restoring the plane. The aircraft is officially owned by the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF), but was on loan to the B-36 Peacemaker Museum. In 2006, it was agreed that the Peacemaker Museum did not have the proper resources to restore and exhibit the aircraft, and the aircraft was trucked to the Pima Air & Space Museum (PASM) in Tucson, Arizona where it is being restored and will be exhibited after restoration. In the Tucson climate it is possible to display aircraft outdoors without the kind of deterioration that occurred in Fort Worth. The National Museum of the United States Air Force still retains ownership of the aircraft.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you very much for the comment

[@olpaint71]

Gorgeous pickup truck!

[@therandomytchannel4318]

Gosh yes, growing up in the 80s they were everywhere, a family friend drove one with a 4 speed manual and the 4.3 V6 engine

[@bobh9526]

I would occasionally see these fly over when I lived in Oregon in the 50's. I was just a kid, but I appreciated how cool the plane was. It was easy to recognize because of the propellers being on the back of the wings. I was in the Air Force in the late 60's, but the biggest plane I ever got to work on was one C-130 that landed on our base with with its radios out. Mostly worked on Phantoms. But I would have loved to be able to work on a beauty like the B-36.

[@nicoquattro3950]

Uff. So can afford to live in sunny california, driving this beautiful black C10 and has the key to open the gate to all the cool planes. And he has the key to this behemoth of a cold war bomber? Can this gentleman please adopt me?

[@jeremyfowler1519]

😂 me too. Wish the C10 wasn’t flare sude though. But I won’t complain. Will go well with my T-Top foxbody and gran National.

[@rileyk99]

Atwater is not an expensive place to live.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

It is about to get busier. It will be the maintenance base for the new high speed rail. Google is still developing their self driving car there and other large commercial projects are looking at the space available at the old SAC air base.

[@rileyk99]

@@ontheroadwithnorm2024 that's great, I bet the jobs in the area will be welcome.

[@johnschwedes3588]

​@@jeremyfowler1519that's not a flare side, that's a step side

[@DougStewart-eg6wl]

This B-36 was at Chanute AFB in Rantoul, IL for decades before being disassembled and sent by train to Castle. I remember seeing it during open house at the base. Grew up 5.miles from Chanute AFB.

[@bobmac95]

I went to Tech School at Chanute in the summer of '86. This aircraft was still there at that time; however, it was in the process of being disassembled to be moved.

[@robertspence831]

Super neat that it it still has the guns. I hope they can do some restoration on it. Also, that guy's Chevy truck is sweet!

[@theobster]

9.28 sounded like a bit more than just a draught was getting in😂 What a fabulous machine!!

[@rayborg7378]

Fantastic aircraft wonderful feature .Hope it get preserved for future generations to see this formidable warplane.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you

[@Rocketman88002]

Maybe the only "intact" B-36 around. Most museum displays are gutted and have no instruments or controls. What a jewel! I'd guard that airplane with my life!

[@167curly]

Wow, some classic aircraft there.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Huge collection. Over 70 aircraft. It's a long walk to see them all. 4 more under restoration this year, two are new additions. A F117 and a black Playboy F4

[@michaelgrey7854]

If you went down the crew tunnel you would have got to the ECM compartment. Would of been very interesting.

[@TheGryxter]

Right...and what's a little dirt for a look see? I would have! Also it appears that there was another one on the left side, maybe the trolley was there?

[@t.r.campbell6585]

There is a B 36 on display in an indoor enclosed hanger at the SAC Aerospace Museum located between Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska on interstate 80.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

That museum is on my bucket list.

[@paulcoinc]

I gotta say the only reason I stopped to watch this video was Castel AFB. I can't tell you how many times my family stopped for dinner at the NCO Club. I'm glad I did stop great video.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you

[@Bulldog1653]

Could you imagine if one of these things were restored to flying status? I would LOVE to see that.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

There is one cargo version of this plane with an even bigger interior that is sitting at Davis Monthan in pieces. It was disassembled in Fort Worth years ago but it is a complete airplane. Perhaps it is outside the USAF museum fleet? They never let their planes fly after decommissioning.

[@johnschwedes3588]

I visited The Pima Air and Space Museum, and the story they tell about their B-36 is it was being restored, and the engines were being fired up to eventually fly again for airshows and the Air Force came and took the plane and brought it to PIMA in pieces and its on display there now with several B-52s and and a lot of other aircraft. ​@ontheroadwithnorm2024

[@Donut42k]

This is sooo cool!!👍👍

[@michaelallen1396]

I saw the one in Dayton Air Force Museum, it looks like you could back it out and take off.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

It's been indoors since restoration. The SAC Museum in Nebraska has an indoor one too. Pima's is outside but recently restored. Complete paint and 57 new sheets of 2024 aluminum skin

[@philrussell8516]

This aircraft was the first in US history to employ the new technology of the constant speed drive (CSD) transmission. The CSD took the variable speed of the aircraft engines and geared it to a shaft that output a constant speed which was input into an electrical generator. The CSD was a genius technology invented and manufactured by Sundstrand Corporation in Rockford, Illinois.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

This is really great information that is going to require more research. Thank-you

[@andyerwin3535]

What an awesome musium, Been there a few times, whet I got my ppl, I would fly up there , walk to the musium and just enjoy the planes. I just wish everything was under cover, the sun has really taken its toll on the planes

[@DavidSmith-jj5pr]

I worked on this and the B-58 at chanute. so neat to see her again

[@s.marcus3669]

I was kinda shocked at seeing the B-18 Bolo sitting outside in the elements...

[@KittyDad]

My wife was visiting the air museum back in the early 90s when they had recently set this aircraft up on the property. She was allowed in both the front cockpit and rear compartment. She was gifted a huge model but due to requiring surgery to both her hands, she was unable to complete it. Years later she donated the model to the museum but she never found out if it ever got built.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

They've got a building behind the gift shop full of stuff. Plus the maintenance hangar has a ton of stuff.

[@bobr7380]

My father God Bless his soul was a MP at Biggs Air Force Base in Texas and among many of his duties was guarding he flight line of fully loaded B36s.. It was said you could take a Piper Cub off of the wing span of that plane. Thank God it never had to drop it's payload.

[@tom1263]

So COOL!!

[@williamhilbert8324]

Sweet truck

[@stem172]

my dad was stationed at castle, 1968 and retired in 1972. I got my first job as a dishwasher at the officers club.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Cool. Thanks for posting

[@MrShobar]

15:15. Those panels are Al Clad.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you

[@carlosbrites8201]

Exelent,

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you

[@rubenpeck3442]

I was going thru fire school at Chanute, winter of "79/79". Marched or walked by the RB-36 4 times a day on the way 2&from the dorm & school...3342nd training sqdn. There was also a B-17, a B-29 painted "Enola Gay" parked next 2 the B-36. The B-58 Hustler was parked across the street from the base library.

[@rubenpeck3442]

That was supposed 2 say winter 78/79...that was a cold as day at the hose pad...-70°

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

This museum also got that same B-58 from Chanute. I did a movie on it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbXoXd4h82kqqcsi=FuQa-LX89cYfb2yh

[@brianatkinson6600]

I used to study (sit) under this plane when it was at Chanute in 1980 (I was there for airframe school... proceeded on to the Phantom (F-4E / RF-4C) and Eagle (F-15A, B, C and D). It was parked out on base as a static display. I always wanted to go in it, but it was never open (that I know of). This is so unusual..... seeing it on video, at a closed base, 44 years later. It was sitting on Chanute for over 20 years when I saw it. What a monster this thing is. I wonder how it was for the airframe guys? There was a B-52B across the street (I can't believe they scrapped that thing in place).

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank=you for the comments

[@DennisRobart]

Russians cried about too many B 52 being intact and insisted they be reduced in number via treaty.

[@brianatkinson6600]

@@marshallohio5512 I went back there in 83 to two advanced airframe classes (also in between George (Southern California now closed) and Kadena (Okinawa). They had flown in the B-52D and C-121 as statics while I was there time number two). I can't remember when I got there the first time.... it must've been in August and I think I left in November. I crosstrained out after 8 years and went into datacomm. All those old AFSC's are long gone (merged, deleted so on). I cannot believe they merged airframe and corrosion control (glad I missed that). Merging welding and machine shop must've been a fun one. We all worked close together a the bases I was stationed at (3 bases in airframe). Would've loved Pease..... I got the ungodly George (80ish miles northeast of LA).

[@francisschweitzer8431]

Chief Morrison started that museum if I recall … or at least was a pivotal part of it… I was 93rd OMS Tanker A Flt 81-85

[@Tonetwisters]

The Flying Cigar. As I recall, they did not stay around long. But I remember them as a kid.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thanks for the comment

[@philgiglio7922]

As a boy in the mid 60's when we would visit friends of the family in Fort Collins we would use that 9 foot inner tube as a trampoline...lord knows where he got it.

[@larrybremer4930]

Given the choice of dirty airflow over the wing vs the props, I will take the wing. The pusher configuration also caused huge issues with those air cooled radial engines. The aircraft would have been so much better off in a tractor configuration. The props lost a lot of efficiency and had to handle additional stresses because of the difference in air velocity and pressures above vs below the wing. This is an issue every wing engined pusher has had to contend with.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

In the end they chose to go with jet pods under the wings. This aircraft was obsolete the day it hit the drawing board. Jet engines were in development already at that time. I suspect they did not know how powerful and reliable the jets would become. The allies designed a whole group of airplanes around the 4360 as soon as P&W announced they had it in development. Almost every manufacture looked at it. Some very large one-offs came from it. H4 Hurcules, XC-99

[@MrShobar]

12:23. BC348 receiver. Next door is an ART13 transmitter with autotune.

[@johnwiesbrock9647]

I remember that specific B-36 from when I was stationed at Chanute AFB in 1988.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I live in UK. In the mid 1950s I was looking south from my bedroom window and what appeared to be very low (or very large and higher up) flew a B-36. There was a very, very loud engine noise. My recognition was good and the a/c was unmistakeable. We were under a stacking zone of London Airport 30 miles north of LAP so all the military kites did fly low. I knew subsequently that there were several visits made to Uk but what this one was doing I have no idea!

[@johnwatson3948]

Great that they have a MK-17 bomb and Rascal missile, even though the Rascal was experimental and never in service with the B-36 or any bomber. The MK-17 was also not carried by this RB-36, which is a rare original recon version - around 1955 almost all RB-36’s were converted to bombers with the addition of a large rear bomb bay (which could then carry the MK-17).

[@cnfuzz]

The small trim tabs on the rudder aft were what the pilot moved ,the rest followed with airflow ,genius

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Genius

[@geos569]

I've been there but never saw the interior cockpit.

[@drunkmike6364]

I am always shocked by the lack of care and maintenance of these aircraft. They have a crew assigned to each aircraft with a head Crew Chief. And he says "I haven't been back there in years". WTF. Cleaning the interior of that B-36 would take a weekend at the most with a few guys. What an embarrassing disgrace. Get rid of the boomer and get some young guys in there to actually care for these aircraft.

[@sly2392]

i wonder what it would cost to make her airworthy again ? it appears she is mostly complete.

[@GeeBee909]

I would have a dust mask on at all times while in that aircraft. Who knows what type of materials were used back then.

[@MichaelSwartz-s6m]

I have always hoped that someone would return a B-36 to flight.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Well, the one at Dayton and the one in Nebraska have been indoors for decades. they would be the only two I would think it is possible.

[@DennisRobart]

​@@ontheroadwithnorm2024WP aircraft is kept the best of the 4.

[@moci42]

I was stationed at Castle after returning from a tour in Vietnam. It was a B52 training base then. 1967.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for your service.

[@mughug9616]

It was lovely to see inside, but it was sad to see it in such a state. Considering the role it played in American history, it would be nice to see at least one preserved.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

There are four including this one surviving from 384 built. The nicest one is indoors in Dayton Ohio. It has been indoors for decades and does not show any corrosion.

[@mughug9616]

@@ontheroadwithnorm2024 TY for info. :)

[@Tinbender-zr4jd]

Aluminum for aircraft is typically laminated and is called cladding. There is a central core of the particular alloyed aluminum (2024-T3, 7075-T6, etc.) and it has a very thin layer of pure aluminum on both sides. Total thickness of the sheet varies (.032, .040, etc.) in thickness. The reason for the pure aluminum is for corrosion prevention. That type of aluminum is called Alclad. Unclad aluminum is called bare aluminum. The magnesium skins are not just magnesium; they are an aluminum/magnesium alloy and is the worst alloy for corrosion resistance. It is also dangerous to work with because it can light off by a spark when cutting or sanding it which I have seen happen numerous times.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Yes I am familiar with 2024. Have a look at my other hobby. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fabYfWubmpp6i7ssi=O96pZDDhEDu98L1s

[@DGillyy]

The pressurized crew sections were aluminum skin, non pressurized areas were mag

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for that detail.

[@frankthespank]

9:26 Geee, I wonder where that “draft” could be coming from? 🤨 😆🤣

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Sorry

[@gregsidel3557]

Why didn't you slide the little scooter thing off that one you went in and put it on the back side when so you can go down that one go towards the back of the airplane

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

That is a really good idea. That second tunnel was filled with questionable material and I didn't feel like breathing the dust from it. I will go back with a mask and a painters suit.

[@theadventuresofjavier8698]

I know that museum well I’ve visited castle dozens of times over the past 30 years Thank you for sharing. Btw have you been to the Oakland airport museum?( that’s is not its name, I just don’t recall at the moment)

[@johnwatson3948]

Probably safe to sand the magnesium even if it sparks - will only ignite above 800F degrees, only burned in B-36 crashes with prolonged fuel fires.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Thank-you for that comment. Great information.

[@RubyS.1]

No idea this plane existed and it's only 60 miles from me.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

There are 80 airplanes here worth looking at. And it's never crowded.

[@c1ph3rpunk]

Things you only hear around warbirds: “Who has the keys to the bomber”

[@ColKorn1965]

My dad worked on B-36's when he was in SAC 1951-1955

[@briancrawford69]

Haha I've been inside that exact plane numerous times. Atwater is about an hour north of me here in Fresno

[@rgs4x]

I was there for open cockpit day a month ago. The RB-36 was the only one not open.

[@harley909]

I climbed through her around 04-05…you could still see through the cockpit windows.

[@av8tore71]

@09:28 "why is there a draft coming in this thing" then I heard a fart 😂😂

[@Mike-01234]

We have one here in AZ at the Pima Air and Space Museum they keep it outside would be nice if it could be inside of a hanger restore it where people could tour inside.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Pima has the B-36 from Fort Worth Texas. They did a major restoration before they sent it to Arizona. It got 57 full sheets of aluminum used to replace skins. i wish some one here could tell me how big those sheets are. they look about 5'x10'

[@rookie962]

Was that the same B36 that was parked outside the General Dynamics AF Plant 4 in the 80’s?

[@derekheuring2984]

I'd like to hear how the museum got its hands on a CF-100 Canuck.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

they probably just asked for one. They also have a RAF Vulcan

[@derekheuring2984]

@@ontheroadwithnorm2024 If it was that easy. I'm a RCAF veteran, now living in the U.S. The Clunk was a little before my time but I've been lucky to see the Vulcan fly a few times at the Abbottsford International Airshow in British Columbia. Your B36 is the only one of the four surviving aircraft that I haven't seen yet so I might have to take a trip out there soon.

[@rogerthornton4068]

I think these behemoths became obsolete not long after being built while the B52 is still flying today.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

True

[@hounddog410amms]

I remember that plane at Chanute AFB in 1970.

[@johnwatson3948]

Great video - but no they didn’t replace any of the magnesium skin which was maybe a quarter of the planes surface. Parts with the paint gone are magnesium. - four bladed prop was considered but would cause more vibration from the strong wing-wake. - none have had engines fully running since 1959 - reportedly Fort Worth vets tried to start one in the early 1970’s but had a problem. - yes props could run in reverse-pitch to back up. The extra trim tab is the “servo tab” that causes the main surface to move using only aerodynamic forces.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Awesome comments, thank-you very much

[@TheGryxter]

Noticed the Coast Guard HC-131 Samaritan (Convair 240) in the background. Odd place for that?

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

I think the museums want one of everything, the weirder the better. The B-36 is actually an RB-36 recconaisance version able to fly a camera with a 28' focal length. Weird but super great.

[@BadSneakers]

My family was stationed at Castle in 66-67

[@MavAuto-Pete]

RB36-H Strategic reconnaissance variant, studied a bit on these

[@yamsi12]

Really enjoyed the fart at 9:28

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

sorry

[@yamsi12]

no no it was great, got me to laugh!

[@hydrashieldbasementservice8453]

An original whoopie-cushion

[@usethenoodle]

Where is the CRM 114 Discriminator?

[@scottiniowa1]

I've got a couple pics of this plane when it was at Chanute as well as the B58 that was sitting beside it - taken in 1970

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Did you know that this museum also got that B-58 from Chanute? It sits facing the B-36. I made a video on it because I liker the shape of the B-58's. I wonder what they sounded like at take off. Check it out at: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gHbXoXd4h82kqqcsi=FuQa-LX89cYfb2yh

[@MrShobar]

Hands off the radios.

[@billynomates920]

are you measuring for that guy building the b36 cockpit in his garage in virginia? good man! ( building the b36 ) here on youtube.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

@@billynomates920 yes that is Brian and I had a phone call with him while I was in that plane. He is friends with the crew chief who is supplying him with as many measurements and pictures he needs. Brian is currently building the radio compartment which is at the very back of the cockpit. It is the third section with the first being the pilots, second is the flight engineers station, and third comes the radio area.

[@pmbbike]

I picked up on the Days of Thunder reference at 31:47

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Very good! That's exactly what it was. I had the pleasure of driving stock cars for a bunch of years back in the day. NASCAR 2007. Loose is fast meaning the car was tight but now it handles better and the speed picked up out of the corner.

[@jmcc5877]

The crew chief said it was the only rb36 to retain its cannons.

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Yes I will look for them again the next time I'm there. The nose cannon can clearly be seen sticking out and the rear cannon actually sways with gusts of wind

[@ccrider00]

My great uncle flew them.Carrear army-airforce. Started out b-17ww2,then to b-29 < firebombed japan > then onto b-36 " sac " onto b-52's, then retiren with kc-135 super tankers out of march afb in riverside ca. 😮

[@misterx8592]

Yea, I remember back in the day…

[@warbirdwf]

It's a shame that the B-36 along with the other planes are left outside to rust and corrode like that. The climate isn't like Davis Monahan.

[@aaronbuckel2337]

Can't believe you didn't go to the tail, WTF. Also, I think I know where that wind was coming from

[@ontheroadwithnorm2024]

Ya sorry I dint feel like crawling 60' through rat poo. The dust is beyond harmful. The plane needs some cleaning desperately.