Consolidated/Convair/General Dynamics
Photo Page

The Larry Westin Consolidated photo page features the Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat and the B-36 Peacemaker bomber. Also included are other Consolidated, Convair and General Dynamics aircraft; including the B-24 Liberator, C-87 Liberator Express (cargo verson of B-24), Model 39 Liberator Liner, L-5 Sentinel, L-13, B-32 Dominator, XB46, B58 Hustler, PBY Catalina, T-29 Flying Classroom, YB-60 Jet Peacemaker, XC-99 Cargo version of the B-36, the WB-57F, the General Dynamics modified Martin B-57 Canbera and the BT-13 "Vibrator."

Last Updated 12/29/07.

Long range propeller driven aircraft are a personal favorite. Flying boats of the late 1930's really began practical long range flying. Four engine flying boats such as the Short Sunderland, and "C" and "G" class flying boats; as well as the American Martin M-130 "China Clipper" and Boeing 314 are very famous. The Consolidated PB2Y Coronado featured here, although possibly the least known American 4 engine flying boat, was also the most produced American 4 engine flying boat with 217 examples built.

B-24 Liberator and C-87 Liberator Express
A nice color inflight view of B-24A Liberator. This is serial number 40-2369, the first production B-24. Large American flags painted on the nose and on the top of the fuselage. About 52K, added 11/29/98.

Ground view of the C-87 Liberator Express, the cargo version of the B-24 Liberator bomber. About 66K, added 06/09/99, rescanned and updated 12/29/07.

Consolidated Model 39 Liberator-Liner
An inflight side view of the first Consolidated Model 39 Liberator-Liner. This is Navy Bureau number 09803. About 109K, added 10/17/07.

An inflight view of Consolidated Model 39 Liberator-Liner. Toward the end of World War II Consolidated used the wings of a B-24, the tail of a PB4Y-2 Privateer, and built an entirely new fuselage to create this special built freighter.  Consolidated built just two of these aircraft.  That shown is NX30039 in the livery of American Airlines who flew this airplane for about 3 months. Shortly afterward this aircraft, as well as the second example registered NX3939, were scrapped as no interest was shown by the airlines, particularly since many surplus transports were becoming available at very low cost.  This aircraft is also identified as the Convair model 104.  About 119K, added 07/10/04.

Ground view of the Consolidated Model 39 Liberator-Liner. Two model 39 Liberator-Liner's were built, this image has a different paint schem than I've seen before. About 79K, added 05/29/05.

BT-13 Valiant (more commonly the "Vibrator")
Beautiful inflight view of a BT-13A "Vibrator". Although officially named the "Valiant" it was more commonly called the "Vibrator." This photo is of sn 41-22172. Lettering near front cockpit says the aircraft is from Minter Field. About 49K.

Consolidated B-32 Dominator
XB-32 with late style Single Fin and rudder. Inflight view of serial 41-18336. This is the third B-32 airplane built. About 40K.

TB-32 Serial Number 42-108522. The TB-32's lacked the gun turrets of the bombardment aircraft. Except for the missing turrets this photo is representative of the few combat aircraft built. A very nice inflight view, about 28K.

Inflight view of a  TB-32, unfortunately I cannot see the serial number on the photograph.  About 31K, added 6/28/02.

Inflight side view of B32-1-CF 42-108471 This is the firs production bomber and shown with turrets. Via Mark Natola. About 32K, added 4/1/98.

B32 with early short B29 type vertical stabilizer and rudder. One of only two B32's to use this tail configuration. This airplane, 42-108471, shown above with the standard production B32 tail. Via Mark Natola. About 22K, added 4/1/98.

B-32-1-CF 42-108472 This is the second production B-32 built.  Note the single rudder trim tab of the -1-CF aircraft. This aircraft had the nose gear collaspe on its delivery flight to the USAAF. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair in the landing accident.  B&W, about 63K, added 8/12/04.

Last of the B32's, believed to be the last B32. Eventually scrapped. Via Mark Natola, about 32K, added 4/1/98.

Consolidated B-36 Peacemaker
View of an early B-36B Peacemaker at Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas. This is the first production version of the B-36 before the jet engines were added. Two aircraft can be seen in this image. My thanks to homepage viewer Steve Moseley for sending me this image. About 59K, added 7/5/99.

A beautiful Convair RB-36D In-flight view of a Convair RB-36D Peacemaker. The view is 1/2 front, right side, slightly above, over clouds, over Carswell AFB, Fort Worth. B&W, about 67K. Originally added 08/17/00, rescanned to higher resolution 11/23/07.

Same Convair RB-36D In-flight Convair RB-36D Peacemaker. The view is 1/2 front, right side, slightly above, over clouds. About 38K.

Yet another view of B36 49-2688, this time a side view from slightly above. About 50K, added 8/17/00.

Convair RB-36D this is the same airplane, 49-2688, but from slightly below. USAF photo. About 26K, added 10/29/97.

Convair RB-36E this airplane, serial number 44-92020, was built as a B-36A and later modified to the RB-36E configuration shown here. Photo by Warren M. Bodie via the Frederick G. Freeman collection. About 28K, added 10/29/97.

An Aerial view of the Convair plant during B36 production.  Taken during the height of B-36 production, also shown are both YB-60 aircraft, one at the middle right, the other almost in the center between hangars. My thanks to  Patrick Gallagher, a long time  General Dynamics, now Lockheed-Martin, employee for this image.  About 197K, added 11/03/06.

Consolidated Vultee XB-46
Inflight view of the Consolidated Vultee XB46 Bomber. This airplane is sn 45-59582. Appears to be over the Mojave Desert near El Mirage dry lake. About 86K, added 11/2/98.

A second inflight view of the Consolidated Vultee XB46 Bomber. This is the only XB46 built, sn 45-59582. About 39K, added 11/2/98.

"General Dynamics" WB-57F (Modified Martin Canbera)
WB-57F 63-13502 Inflight - Beautiful view. Image set to 509x386 pixels for viewing on standard 640x480 resolution screens. Consolidated (General Dynamics) modified Martin RB-57D serial number 53-3970 to build this airplane. Although it started as a RB-57D, it is an almost entirely new airplane. About 58K. My thanks to Don Pyeatt and Prentiss Hutcheson for making this photo available. Added 9/14/97. Also available is another image of the same photograph, this is a WB-57F in High Resolution for more detail.  About 504K, Added 5/29/05.

Convair B-58 Hustler
Convair B-58 Hustler, a beautiful inflight view of serial number 60-118. About 46K, added 11/2/98.

Consolidated YB-60 Jet Peacemaker
Close up of the YB-60 Nose. This photo shows the unusual weights added to the nose gear when fuel tanks were enpty. My thanks to Don Pyeatt and Prentiss Hutcheson for providing the print. About 40K, added 9/7/97.

Consolidated YB-60. Seen at Fort Worth, believed to be the first airplane 49-2676. My thanks to Don Pyeatt for sending me the photograph. About 35K, added 8/18/97.

Consolidated YB-60 Inflight. 49-2676 on its first publicly released flight view (could not tell from the press release if this was the first flight). My thanks to Don Pyeatt and Prentiss Hutcheson for providing the print. About 46K, added 9/14/97.

Consoldiated YB-60 from Above clearly showing the wing plan of airplane number 1, 49-2676. My thanks to Don Pyeatt and Prentiss Hutcheson for providing the print. About 61K, added 9/14/97.

XC-99 Cargo version of the B-36
Some of the photo's of the XC-99 were
taken August 1997 by David Talley
Color ground view of the Consolidated XC-99. Color images during the 1940's are unusual. Here is a very nice color side view of the XC-99, probably at the time of its first flight. Note the large number of people watching, most likely at San Diego, California.  My thanks to Bob Trennert for sending this image.  About 74K, added 11/04/06.

Consolidated XC-99 A very nice right side view in flight. This is the only XC-99 built, a derivative of the B-36. Serial number is 43-52436. This is a factory photo taken early in the career of the XC-99, about 1949, as it does not have radar nose installed later in its life. Fairly high resolution, very nice inflight view, about 115K, added 3/27/04.

NOVEMBER 2006 UPDATE - the USAF National Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB is in the process of restoring the XC-99.  As you might imagine this is a massive undertaking.  To accomplish this huge restoration the XC-99 is being dismantled and shipped to Ohio.  April Hight took this November 2006 image of the  XC-99 Well into the Dismantling stage, and I thank her for sending it to me.  About 154K, added 11/01/06.

Consolidated XC-99 A 1/2 Right Rear overview. This is the only XC-99 built, a derivative of the B-36. Serial number is 43-52436. My Thanks to David Talley for sending me the photograph, taken 8/97. About 52K, added 9/14/97.

Consolidated XC-99 Seen from the rear. This XC-99 was a cargo derivative of the B-36. Only one XC-99 was built, 43-52436. My thanks to David Talley for sending me the photograph, taken 8/97. About 37K, updated 9/14/97.

XC-99, this is another 1/2 right rear view, closer than the view above. My thanks to David Talley for sending me the photograph, taken 8/97. About 41K, added 9/14/97.

XC-99 Propeller, this view shows a close up of one of the six pusher propellers used on the XC-99. My thanks to My thanks to David Talley for sending this photograph, taken 8/97, about 38K, added 9/14/97.

XC-99 inflight. this view shows the XC-99 during its work days, before the radar was added to the nose. Quite a contrast to the deteriorated condition it is now. Via My thanks to Tim Barber, About 34K, added 4/1/98.

Stinson (Consolidated Vultee) L-5 Sentinel
Ground view of a Stinson L-5 Sentinel. There is no serial number visible, however examination of the print shows this airplane has full span leading edge slots on the wings. Only the prototype, civil registration NX27772, had full span slots. These long slots caused a big problem trying to recover from spins, and they were shortened to half span on this airplane, and all subsequent L-5 Sentinels.  B&W, about 53K, Added 06/28/00, Updated (rescanned) 06/01/02.

Very nice in flight view of Stinson L-5 Sentinel 42-14803. This is the fifth Stinson L-5 built. B&W, about 98K, Added 10/14/07.

Consolidated Stinson L-5E Sentinel Ground view of sn 44-17696. Shows doors open, wood prop. About 27K, added 9/30/97.

Stinson (Consolidated Vultee) L-13
Inflight view of the first production Stinson (Consolidated Vultee) L-13A serial number 46-068.  The L-13 was designed by Stinson at their Wayne, Michigan facility. Two prototypes were built and flown by Stinson at Wayne, MI.  With the sale of the Stinson division to Piper in late 1948, Consolidated Vultee kept the rights to the L-13, and put it into production at the San Diego, California, Convair plant. Eventually 300 L-13's were built.  B&W, about 51K, added 6/28/02.

Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat
Inflight view of a PBY-5 Catalina. This is the flying boat version (not the amphibian -5A). Little in the way of markings exist. About 74K, originally added 01/29/99, rescanned to higher resolution 11/23/07.

Interior view showing a Consolidated PBY Instrument Panel. Color, about 180k in size.  Added 11/18/05.

Inflight view of a PBY-5A Catalina. This is the amphibian -5A. Note all the antennas for the early radar. About 69K, added 11/23/07.

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado four engine flying boat
Consolidated PB2Y-4 Taking off from the water. Black and White photo about 115K in size, JPG format, added 01/03/97, rescanned to higher resolution 02/01/07.

Consolidated PB2Y-5 Inflight Inflight view of Consolidated PB2Y-5 Coronado, bureau number 7179. The shot was taken over a lake. About 90k in size, JPG format. Added 01/03/97, rescanned to higher resolution 02/01/07.

Consolidated PB2Y-3 Taxiing on the water. Nose has the words "Contract Operation." Photo taken Dec. 1944, official U.S. Navy Photograph. Serial Number 7078. About 98K, added 03/19/97, rescanned to higher resolution 02/01/07.

Consolidated PB2Y-5H JATO Take Off just lifting off the water. This ambulance version has the latest type radome. About 87K, added 03/21/97, rescanned to higher resolution 02/01/07.

Consolidated PB2Y-3 Ifnlight. Believe this view is with the Coronado above San Diego. Note the pilot's side window is open. B&W, about 107, added 01/01/01, rescanned to higher resolution 02/01/07.

Convair T-29 Flying Classroom
Convair T-29A Flying Classroom. Serial number 49-1936, inflight view shows clearly the 4 astrodomes and multitude of antennas. About 40K, added 9/21/98.

Convair T-29B Flying Classroom Serial number 51-5118, inflight view similar to the "A" model above. About 55K, added 12/27/98.

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