Originally evolving from a 1949 USAF design competition for a supersonic bomber, the B-58 Hustler is a medium supersonic nuclear or conventional bomber that was manufactured by the Convair Fort Worth, Texas division of General Dynamics. The B-58 1st flew in 1956 and served with the USAF Strategic Air Command from August 1960 to November 1969.30 test and 86 production aircraft, for a total of 116 examples of the Convair “Model 4”, were produced at an average cost of $12,442,000 each. Some test aircraft were later modified back to production standards. The last airframe rolled out in 1962. The type complemented the Boeing B-52 to present a complete front line bombing force.
As the worlds 1st supersonic bomber, this aircraft originally equipped the 43rd Bomb Wing of Little Rock, Arkansas and the 305th Bomb Wing at Grissom AFB, Indiana . At the peak in 1964, there were 94 operational B-58s . The B-58 was crewed by a pilot, navigator-bombardier, and defense systems operator in a somewhat unique tandem cockpit, each crew member had their own self contained escape/ejection capsule. With the exception of a chaff dispensing system and tail mounted rotary Vulcan cannon, weapon systems were externally wing mounted or contained within an external belly pod.
The B-58 set 19 world speed and altitude records and won 6 aviation trophies (Bleriot, Harmon, Bendix, McKay, Thompson, & Saunders). It was also the 1st aircraft to drop bombs from both MACH 1 and MACH 2.[2,5]
Specific History:
This B-58 was built as YB-58A-CF on April 1959 and retained for use as a test and evaluation aircraft as YRB-58A. From November 1962 it was assigned to the 6510th Operational Maintenance Squadron. In May 1964 it was assigned to the 3345th Maintenance and Support Group at Chanute AFB, IL. as GRB-58A. In 1967 it was transferred to museum status.
Personal Accounts:
The B-58 was not particularly well by liked due to comparatively short range. Also, the small numbers of aircraft required a disproportionate share of SAC support and resources, making it expensive to operate. General LeMay, after flying the aircraft, reportedly declared it was too small …”it didn’t fit my ‘arse’.”
Specifications
Wing span: 56ft 10in
Length: 96ft 9in
Height: 31ft 5in
Wing area: 1,542 sqft
Weight Empty: 55,560 lbs
Max T/O Weight: 63,000 lbs
Max Speed: 1,385 mph @ 44,000ft
Normal Cruise: 610 mph
Combat Ceiling: 63,150 ft
Service Ceiling: 64,800 ft
Record Ceiling: 85,360 ft
Combat Radius: 1200 nm
NormalRange with Refuel: 4,400 nm
Engine:
4 General Electric J79-GE-5 or A,B,or C afterburner
