After observing Nazi Germany's aggression and Japanese dare to attack Pearl Harbor, the US decided to develop a plane that will counter this antagonism - the B-36 was the end result of this decision. The Army Air Forces (AAF) needed a long range bomber that will carry the war to the enemy, B-36 provided that though its process moved on rather slowly.

The B-36 had six engines with a 3,740-nm combat radius and a 1,757-nm radius. It could carry bomb load of 86,000 pounds. With a wingspan of 230 feet, a length of 162 feet, and a height of nearly 49 feet, the B-36 had an official range of 10,000 miles. When loaded, the B-36 burned fuel at an excessive rate. Actual range for the bomber was 6,800 to 8,175 miles, with aerial refueling required.

Military setbacks in 1942 forced the Army Air Forces to focus on the Boeing B-29 which was already under making since September 1941; and it happened at the expense of the B-36. But in spring of 1943, the situation changed following indications that China would collapse. The Army Air Forces thought that B-36 might be the only bomber able to attack the Japanese homeland. AAF therefore ordered 100 B-36s. The manufacturer soon after struggled with several development troubles, engine and weight increase problems. During mid 1944, engine problems reached at peak. Convair's request at that time of considering another engine was also ignored because of high cost, time and technical unknowns. B-36’s existence came in threat when the US captured Pacific bases and B-29s were doing a significant job out there. Yet, the B-36 survived in the postwar environment as the US Army Air Force expressed its willingness of incorporating a long range aircraft that can carry the atomic bomb.

As soon as the cold war with the USSR intensified, The US’s policy promoted atomic retaliation threat in order to secure its national safety. Before the jet powered bombers with air refuel-able options became operational, B-36 was the only bomber that had capacity to strike the Soviet Union. So, the authorities tried their best in preparing the B-36.

B-36 made its maiden flight on August 1946; some 6 years after the Army Air Forces confirmed the orders. Much to the dissatisfaction, pilots found out that the plane was quite underpowered. The manufacturer tried to improve the original R-4360 engine with out much luck. In 1949, engineers reported more faults under each of the B-36's wings.

The air crews and engineers modified the landing gears, corrected the electrical system, and eliminated the fuel tank leakages. Even then the B-36 remained troublesome. Throughout its career, the B-36 remained too slow. This deficiency raised its vulnerability. Moreover escort fighters were needed to protect these bombers. Additionally, its gunnery system was incompatible, the defensive shield was rather poor, and fire control system was not sufficient. These problems were taken into action and the manufacturer successfully created the “Featherweight” B-36s in 1954; which were fairly problem free.