The B36's early career was with only six pushers as par the picture. The four jets, two B47 pods, were added to increase the performance over the target; not to get airborne or fly, this it could do with just the pistons.
The jet intakes had irises on them so that the engine could be sealed off against the airflow and prevent it windmilling all the time.
In the cruise a pair of engines would be shut down in rotation to save fuel and wear.
There were only a few runways that could take the B36, Fairford for the UK. A B36 from there landed just off Boscombes runway and had to be towed across country to get it on the airfield.
One B36 took off from the USA for Fairford, found it socked in, turned right for Wheelus in Libya, where there was a sandstorm so it flew back to the States.
The Offut 'museum' in the early sixties had an apparently serviceable B36. General Le May only would only authorise it if it had a war target. "There are no free lunches in SAC." Presumably if WW III broke out a load of staff officers would man it and charge off to Vladivostok or somewhere.