Threat Axis

This was the reason that most of us had come on the trip. A chance to photograph the Convair B-36 Peacemaker that the Museum staff had been working on reassembling for over three years now.

[This slideshow/picture set is of ALL of my B-36 pictures from Pima.  Not only my trip in January 2009, but from trips in 2006 and 2007.  So you can see the visible progress.  For a more current and up close status of the restoration of the Peacemaker, take a look at the project page on the Pima website]

This B-36 – a lightweight ‘J’ model (High altidude variant with strengthened landing gear, increased fuel capacity, armament reduced to tail guns only and reduced crew, 33 built) and was actually the very last B-36 built.

As you go through the slide show, you will start with the exterior shots, and then to the close-up pictures (taken from within the Restoration area).  Finally – the last 1/4 of the pictures are from the INSIDE of the aircraft.  When the Restoration Manager told us that he planned on giving us a chance to climb inside the aircraft and see what it was like inside – you could have heard a pin drop among the group.  No one expected this chance.

A sample from the Cockpit;

And a sample from Aft Crew compartment;

Click on either picture to go the full size image on Flickr.

Nowhere else – have I seen this level of behind the scene access. All I can say to the Pima Restoration Staff – THANK YOU!