Convair B-36J Peacemaker

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The B-36 was designed toward the end of World War II as a strategic bomber with intercontinental range. The airplane made its maiden flight in August 1946, and Strategic Air Command received its first operational B-36 in 1948. It was the biggest U.S. warplane ever. More than 380 of the bombers were built before production ended in August 1954. The B-36 on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force conducted the bomber’s final flight ever on April 30, 1959, flying to the museum from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona.

Source/ more information: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

Photographer Lyle Jansma started creating 360º views of cockpits in 2005, and has documented historic aircraft in several collections, including the Heritage Flight Museum, Museum of Flight, Erickson Aircraft Collection, Evergreen Air & Space Museum, and the National Museum of the Air Force. A full set of his cockpit views is available on the ACI Cockpit360º App for iOS and Android. Keep visiting this site (airspacemag.com/cockpits) as we add to the gallery below.

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