Ilyushin Il-76
Built during the tensest period of the Cold War, this aircraft remains active until now and there are actually 1,000 of them still in operation all over the world. The multi-purpose Ilyushin II-76 was developed for the USSR and was a four-engine turbofan airlifter which was originally intended for commercial freight but ended up being used by the Russian military. This aircraft is capable of transporting some of the heaviest military vehicles and machinery in the world.
Ilyushin Il-76
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
The United States Air Force operated the Convair B-36 Peacemaker from 1949 to 1959 and while its lifespan may be fairly short, it still remains the largest piston-engined aircraft that was mass produced. Out of all the combat aircraft built at 230 feet, the B-36 had the longest wingspan. This aircraft was special because it was capable of transporting any nuclear weapons that were in the U.S. arsenals during that time without any sort of modifications. However, near the latter part of the 50s, the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress ended up replacing the B-36.
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
