Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1     9/27/83; site saturn.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!hou3c!hocda!houxm!ihnp4!zehntel!hplabs!saturn!lacy
From: lacy@saturn.UUCP (Sharon Lacy)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: B-36 & B-58
Message-ID: <2355@saturn.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 17-Sep-84 18:57:33 EDT
Article-I.D.: saturn.2355
Posted: Mon Sep 17 18:57:33 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 25-Sep-84 03:38:44 EDT
Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA
Lines: 21

At the risk of contradicting someone who has first hand knowledge, I
wanted to add some information that I got from my father.  He was in
the Air Force from 1950 - 1973 and worked on several of the planes
that have been discussed.

The B-36 did indeed have a smaller plane "attached" to its belly.  The
project was known as "Ficon" and the plane was an F84G.  The Ficon was
retrieved by a hook extending from the belly, a couple of stablizers
secured it and the pilot left the Ficon and entered the B-36 via the
bombay.

The tube was used to connect the pressurized cockpit to the pressurized
gunners compartment.  You traveled from the cockpit to the gunners
compartment by laying on your back on a sliding platform and pulling
yourself along with an overhanging rope.

He contends that the B-58 had less than a full "life" because it was
difficult to maintain.

Sharon Lacy
hplabs!lacy