Technical Seminar Announcement 

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) San Francisco Section announces a seminar on Consolidated B-36: America's Largest Bomber by Larry Rinek, Director of Consulting of Frost & Sullivan. The seminar will be held on February 20, 2001. The time for this presentation is 10 am to 12 noon. The venue of the seminar is North Wing Room of Moffett Training and Conference Center, Building 3, at NASA Ames Research Center. To get the map of the Center, go to: AMES MAP (Building 3 is located at coordinates A3 in NASA map).

If you work at Ames and would like to be reminded of the seminar the day before, please send an email to Gano Chatterji.

 If you do not work at Ames, the information provided below is for you. The main gate of NASA Ames is on Moffett Field and can be reached from 101 North and South, Central Express Way, and El Camino via Castro Street. At this time, visits can only be arranged for US Citizens and Permanent Residents. If you plan to attend this seminar, please send an email to Gano Chatterji with your name, your residency status (citizen or permanent resident) and affiliation. This will ensure that you will be reminded of the seminar and also arrangements will be made for you with the badging office for your visit. Be sure to bring a photo identification to show at the badging office.

ABSTRACT

 Consolidated B-36: America's Largest Bomber

The USAF B-36, the world's first intercontinental bomber and our largest bomber, made a major contribution to U.S. aviation and aero engineering history. As a front-line USAF SAC aircraft, the B-36 served America well over 10 years, helping to deter nuclear war. The "Peacemaker" was never used in anger but did drop live nuclear weapons for atmospheric tests. Some seniors may recall personal encounters with the impressive B-36 back in the 1950s, an unforgettable sight and sound. Retired in early 1959, the B-36 has not flown since. California residents can visit the magnificent RB-36H on display at the Castle Air Museum (Atwater, CA).

Larry will present an exciting slide show on the B-36 history. He will provide background on the program, show the prototypes (2) and key production models (10 variants), discuss some unusual technical features and reveal engineering lessons learned. Finally, he will display several R&D derivatives (such as the swept-wing, all-jet YB-60). At the conclusion of the program, Mr. Rinek will show a short video clip of a dramatic B-36H take off from Carswell AFB (Ft. Worth, TX) in 1954 from the classic Paramount 1955 movie "Strategic Air Command", starring the late Oscar-winning actor and qualified bomber pilot Jimmy Stewart (Brigadier General USAFR, retired). AIAA members, technical professionals, and history enthusiasts will not want to miss the action.

Larry M. Rinek

Larry M. Rinek
Director of Consulting, Industrial Technologies
Frost & Sullivan
1040 E. Brokaw Road
San Jose, CA  95131
408-392-2104
lrinek@frost.com

Mr. Rinek began his career in the Southern California aerospace industry, and worked for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, Menasco’s Burbank landing gear plant, and the USAF in El Segundo. Later, at SRI and on behalf of the Stanford Transportation Group consultancy, he performed many business and technology studies for aerospace clients over a 25-year period. Since 1998, Larry has been the Frost & Sullivan’s Director of Consulting for a variety of electronic, electrical, and mechanical industries. He is responsible for consulting project development and oversight, strategic project input, client liaison activities, proposal preparation, and mentoring of the research staff. Larry has an MBA in Marketing and a BS degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is actively involved with SAE International and the Silicon Valley Engineering Council. Mr. Rinek is a well-recognized aviation historian, who places special emphasis on U.S. aero propulsion developments. He has authored 15 scholarly publications on the history of aviation. He is a dynamic speaker, sought after at industry conferences.

For this abstract, biographical information and other AIAA San Francisco Section activities you may want to bookmark your web site at: http://www.aiaa-sf.org.

02/13/01