Presentation Date: June 25, 2009
Larry Rinek
Aviation Historian, Lecturer, Author, Senior Consultant
* Active member of American Aviation Historical Society, Aircraft Engine Historic Society, Wings of History, Society for Aviation History.
* Part-time university-level instructor in aeronautical engineering, including Stanford University
* Places emphasis on USA aviation technology innovation, particularly aero-propulsion and USAF Cold War-era aircraft.
* Began lengthy career in aerospace industry: NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs; Menascos’ Burbank aircraft landing gear; USAF- Los Angeles AFS.
* Authored 20 scholarly publications, many about the early development of American aviation technology.
Larry will present a lively, fascinating PowerPoint slide show including many aircraft images and insights about the mighty B-36 "Peacemaker", a truly revolutionary aircraft that made major contributions to US military history. Some of the technical innovations pioneered on the B-36 -- that still survive today as industry standards -- include 3,000 psi hydraulics and 400 Hz main power bus.
As a front-line USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) aircraft, the B-36 served America well as a nuclear deterrent for over 10 years. During 1953-1955, the
B-36 was the only US platform that could deliver thermonuclear weapons such as the huge Mark 17 H-Bomb. Although the Peacemaker dropped live nuclear test weapons, it never had to be used in anger.
The presentation will conclude with a breathtaking DVD video clip of a B-36H taking off from Carswell AFB (Fort Worth, TX) in 1954. Aviation Historian, Lecturer, Author, Senior Consultant
* Active member of American Aviation Historical Society, Aircraft Engine Historic Society, Wings of History, Society for Aviation History.
* Part-time university-level instructor in aeronautical engineering, including Stanford University
* Places emphasis on USA aviation technology innovation, particularly aero-propulsion and USAF Cold War-era aircraft.
* Began lengthy career in aerospace industry: NASA's Jet Propulsion Labs; Menascos’ Burbank aircraft landing gear; USAF- Los Angeles AFS.
* Authored 20 scholarly publications, many about the early development of American aviation technology.
Larry will present a lively, fascinating PowerPoint slide show including many aircraft images and insights about the mighty B-36 "Peacemaker", a truly revolutionary aircraft that made major contributions to US military history. Some of the technical innovations pioneered on the B-36 -- that still survive today as industry standards -- include 3,000 psi hydraulics and 400 Hz main power bus.
As a front-line USAF Strategic Air Command (SAC) aircraft, the B-36 served America well as a nuclear deterrent for over 10 years. During 1953-1955, the
B-36 was the only US platform that could deliver thermonuclear weapons such as the huge Mark 17 H-Bomb. Although the Peacemaker dropped live nuclear test weapons, it never had to be used in anger.
The presentation will conclude with a breathtaking DVD video clip of a B-36H taking off from Carswell AFB (Fort Worth, TX) in 1954.