What is the advantage of a pusher prop arrangement on a full size B-36 For example? Why was it designed that way?

It may have been for better engine cooling. That was a huge problem with the B-29. It would also clean up the leading edge of the wing. Ever see the original B-36 landing gear? Three giant tires. They still have one at Wright-Patterson in Ohio.

At least part of the reason for mounting the engines "backwards" was for streamlining. The leading edge of the Peacemaker was swept, and the engines were 28 cylinder R-4360's with 3800 hp each. For the propeller to clear the leading edge, the engines would have had to be mounted forward of the leading edge, much like the B-29's, which is an aerodynamically dirty design. The trailing edge is almost perpendicular to the fuse, so no problem with prop clearance. The wing section of the B-36 was so large that there was an accessway inside the wing that the flight engineer could reach the engines through.

I always thought the B-52 was a big airplane, saw many on the ramps whenever we flew into Carswell, but the B-36 absolutely dwarfs them.

Thank you...guys. I understand why now. Makes good sense.