Ginter, Steve Consolidated Vultee XB-46

The Consolidated "Vultee" (Convair) XB-46 was a four-jet medium bomber built to a 1944 USAAF requirement. It was the largest of the four different bombers built to this requirement. The other three were the North American XB-45, the Boeing XB-47 and the Martin XB-48. The winner of the competition was the XB-45, but Boeing was allowed to continue development of their offering with swept wings. Because of this only one XB-46 was built. It was to be the first all-pneumatic aircraft built with pneumatics operating the landing gear, brakes, and bomb bay doors. This system was highly successful as it saved a lot of weight and allow the quickest activation of landing gear and bomb bay doors seen to that date. First flight was on 2 April 1947 and the aircraft was utilized until November 1950. The aircraft biggest legacy was its beauty.

It was to be the first aircraft equipped purely with pneumatic technology. The landing gear, brakes and bomb bay hatches were operated pneumatically. This system was very successful as it saved a lot of weight and enabled the fastest activation of landing gear and bomb bay hatches to date. The first flight was on 2 April 1947 and the aircraft remained in service until November 1950. The aircraft's greatest legacy was its beauty!