Customer Reviews

Convair B-36: A Comprehensive History of Americas Big Stick (Schiffer Military/Aviation History)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I knew I was in for a treat when I saw the huge box awaiting me on my porch. Upon opening the box my eyes met a wonderful sight, Four majestic B-36s in formation over the whitehouse. I was not dissapointed at the contents of the book itself. I especially like the accounts of those who served with this monster (very few of which are negative concerning their experience) I would recomend this book for any aviation library, the 36 definitely deserves a spot in one, it is a shame that it has been practically forgetten. The section on the experimental versions was also well done, my only gripe is the lack of a picture of the flight deck of the NB-36.

This reviewer grew up watching B-36s fly over his house and he remembers it as being the most impressive airplane ever. The B-36 was the only bomber in the world capable of truly intercontinental range with atomic weapons during the 1950s. "The "aluminum overcast" used 10 engines (6 piston and 4 jets -- referred as "six turning and four burning" by crew members) to travel at altitudes of 40,000 feet. The authors have drawn from almost every resource to detail the story of this bomber. Former crewmen tell their stories of flying and maintaining this airplane. (The crew stories were helpfully divided by air force base and unit so this reviewer could easily access his favorite unit, the 92nd Bomb Wing) Even motion pictures that featured the B-36 are discussed, including 1953's "Strategic Air Command" starring James Stewart. Hundreds of rare photographs, drawings and tables are featured in this outstanding book. Except for two or three short picture books, this is the only book of its' kind on this largely-forgotten bomber, responsible for keeping the peace during this time. For any fan of the B-36, the Strategic Air Command, or bombers in general, this book is a sumptuous treat!

Jacobsen's book is a long overdue tribute to one of the great aircraft of the 20th century. Very comprehensive, with lots of photos and personal stories by crew members. I would have liked to have seen some large "beauty" photos of the bird -large format, color, etc. and perhaps some artwork (I'm an artist). Perhaps a cutaway foldout spread would have been the capper to the book. If you want to know anything about the B-36, get this book!

An excellent book, well researched and enough photos to keep you looking for hours. Each section of the book is highly comprehensive and detailed. The Peacemaker was a beast and as such deserves a beast of a book to tell its story. Definitely not a coffee-table book, this one is for the person who is truly into the subject.

It is silly to try to fault this book.

I recall being impressed, as a kid, with the Harleyford books from England--"The Supermarine Spitfire," and "The Focke Wulf FW-190." For their time, they were very good indeed.

But they cannot begin to compare with this massive book on the B-36. It is in a class of its own.

First the sheer size of this beast. Its huge, and its all about one airplane, the B-36.
Granted, you have to be fascinated with the B-36 to buy it, but if the monster bomber fascinates you, doing better would be impossible.

There are chapters on everything. The book covers B-36 defensive armament, payload, service with SAC, service in movies, the "revolt" of the Admirals, and on and on. Incredible detail.

There are more photos than you can count. There is a section of color photos. Some are very good, and quite unusual. You have not have seen them before.

I recall the B-36 as a kid. I remember one flying over my house--and being amazed by the size, noise, and sheer presence of the aircraft. I have always loved the B-36. It takes me back to a better time. I will admit that I look to the past with great nostalgia. I often look back to the days of cars with chrome, Davy Crockett caps and rifes, Ike in the White House, and the B-36. This book will take you there.

It was fun growing up in a country which not only made, but made operational, a plane like the B-36. Wow, that was, and still is , special. And so is this book.

This is one amazing book! I have been fascinated with the B-36 since a friend told me about one he saw on display at Chanute AFB in Illinois in 1978. I later served in the US Air Force at the former Carswell AFB where the B-36 was originally built and learned some more about this flying giant. Since then, I had hoped to someday find a "definitive" book covering everything I would ever want to know about the old Strategic Air Command's biggest prop/jet bomber. Having finally gotten through all 400 pages of Jacobsen's effort here, I can now say that this hope has been fufilled!

This book contains 18 chapters with plenty of excellent commentary and narration. Topics range from development history, Soviet responses, offensive/defensive armament, "parasite" fighters, Hollywood movies with the B-36, accidents, variants, scrapyard photos, and surviving B-36s among many others. The level of research is tremendous! Excellent essays written by aircrew members and maintenance personnel cover a huge range of topics both big and small. An amazing array of photos are included from sources ranging from the Air Force, newspapers, museums, personal collections, and associations. Wing nose art is included.

This is not really for the person with casual interest in airplanes. It is THE definitive book on everything B-36!

i have never seen such a detailed accounting on any subject! i loved how at the end of the book they listed each and every aircraft and its disposition. great photographs, a wealth of knowledge. aircraft historians must get this book. almost makes me want to make a trek out to the air force museum to see the b-36 again. i have visited there twice and looked long and hard at the big stick! great book

This brand new book will be looked upon, some time in the future, as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike many of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and light on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask for from a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives, accidents, withdrawal from service and boneyard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of the hefty $70 price. Don't miss it!

Since I was a child, I have been fascinated by Convair's B-36 Peacemaker, one of the premier aircraft of the Cold War. A Six-Engined monster, it was the first intercontinental bomber, being the only plane that could fly from allied bases to targets in Russia and back without refueling. While some books have been written about the plane, it can be said that Jacobsen has written the definitive account.

Early chapters detail the development of the plane, while later chapters discuss the aircraft's service life, including the controversies that it caused. There are also chapters devoted to spin-offs of the plane (The XC-99 transport, The YB-60 bomber), experimental versions, defensive armaments and to surviving aircraft or parts. There is even a chapter about the B-36's film career.

Dozens of former crewmen provided interviews on their experiences with the B-36, covering many parts of the plane and its use. There are also hundreds of photographs and illustrations throughout the book, many of them taken by the people who served on the plane.

This is only a basic coverage of what this book provides. You must read it for yourself. Just be sure you can afford the hefty price tag.

This brand new book will be looked upon some time in the future as one of the all-time great aviation book classics. Unlike some of Schiffer's prior publishing efforts -- which tend to be heavy on pictures and lightweight on analysis -- they really hit on a winner this time. The book is a comprehensive (with a capital "C") and authoritative history of the B-36 bomber with everything you could ask from in a military history: beautiful B&W and color pictures printed on heavyweight gloss stock, development and production history, political background (the "revolt of the admirals"), operational history, crew reports, squadron deployments, the history of SAC, detailed offensive and defensive armament, derivatives,accidents,withdrawal from service, and bone-yard survivors, all in great detail. Nothing is left out. All this is accomplished by having contributing authors cover different subjects with Jacobsen providing the integration effort. I found it all to be superb, and the very last word on the B-36. A truly great book and worth every penny of its hefty $70-plus price tag. Don't miss it!