Planes - File 064 of 128 - XB-36.jpg (1/1)
J.F. wrote:
TEST TAKEOFF OF BOMBER EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLER-TYPE LANDING GEAR.
The first takeoff and landing of the Air Force's experimental XB-36 bomber
equipped with a caterpillar-type track landing gear was made on March 29,
1950, at the Fort Worth Division of Consolidated Vultee (Convair) Aircraft
Corporation. With the track-type gear, the weight of the XB-36 rests on
Bogie Wheels rolling on two endless belts on each main landing gear strut.
Two smaller endless belts are installed on the nose gear strut. The gear,
which is retractable, is the latest step in the Air Force's program of
track-type gear development. The track on the main landing gear is designed
for a maximum average of 57 pounds pressure per square inch on the landing
strip, as compared to a pressure of 156 pounds per square inch exerted by
the conventional wheel-type gear on a B-36 at the same gross weight. The
Bogie Wheels around which the track travels are made of a new magnesium
alloy containing zirconium, giving the wheels an especially high impact
resistance. Friction is reduced to a minimum by the use of 185 tapered
roller bearings weighing approximately 500 pounds.
Released Washington, D.C. April 12, 1950.
The caterpillar-type landing gear was fitted primarily to gather test data
when fitted to a very heavy aircraft. The original main landing gear design
with a single large wheel and tire was redesigned in the late 1940s and
fitted to all production B-36s and retrofitted to the XB-36 and YB-36. The
new landing gear arrangement had a two wheel nose gear and four wheel mains.
"Troy24" wrote in message
3...
Now that is totally cool! Thanks for sharing!
Dave (a B36 fan forever)
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