08/30/2026
This 28-cylinder radial monster—nicknamed the “Corncob” for its four tightly packed rows of cylinders—was one of the engines that powered the massive Convair B-36 Peacemaker. Developed as a long-range strategic bomber during the early Cold War, the B-36 was one of the largest piston-engine aircraft ever built. To get this enormous aircraft off the ground, it relied on six massive R-4360 engines driving huge propellers mounted along the trailing edge of its wings.
What makes the B-36 even more fascinating is its unique pusher configuration. Instead of facing forward, all six 19-foot propellers were mounted behind the wings, providing aerodynamic advantages by keeping the airflow over the wings' leading edges relatively clean.
Powered by six massive 28-cylinder piston engines producing more than 20,000 horsepower combined, the B-36 remains one of the most remarkable engineering achievements in aviation history. Seeing this cutaway R-4360 display in person really puts the incredible scale and mechanical complexity of that era into perspective.
New Jersey Air Victory Museum — Lumberton, NJ