The Convair B-36 Peacemaker was a strategic bomber developed by Convair for the United States Air Force during the Cold War. It was notable for being the largest mass-produced piston-engine aircraft and featured six piston engines and four jet engines, allowing it to fly long distances without refueling. First flown in 1946, the B-36 was designed to carry nuclear weapons and could reach targets in the Soviet Union from bases in the United States. It served from 1949 until 1959, playing a crucial role in America's nuclear deterrent strategy during its operational years.