I was musing over thre recent threads re the B36 and TSR2/XB70 and I recalled Convair building a supersonic Bomber, the B58 Hustler. How many were built, did it ever get into service, how long did they stay in service, and where were they based. Are there any preserved in a museum, if so where
By: J Boyle - 23rd June 2009 at 03:03
For more details,(including photos of the SST models) get a copy of Convair B-58 by Jay Miller
The SSTs would have been powered by nonafterburning J-58s and had a projected top speed of Mach 2.5
Also, they proposed an “iron bomb” version for the RAAF.
By: Bager1968 - 23rd June 2009 at 01:36
A lot of specific info, including a list of airframe numbers, as well as info on test variants, unbuilt variants, etc here: http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b58.html
Another good site is here: http://www.vectorsite.net/avb58.html
I especially wonder about the proposed SST development of the B-58… proposed long before the SST craze that produced Concorde & TU-144.
Also, the aircraft used for test of the YF-12A’s AN/ASG-18 fire control system and associated GAR-9 (AIM-47A) air-to-air missile was B-58A 55-0665, which was eventually placed out in the open on the photo test range at Edwards AFB. It had (and kept) an elongated nose cone.
By: J Boyle - 22nd June 2009 at 20:51
They were operational between 1960-70.
One hundred sixteen were built. They were operational at two SAC wings: one at Carswell, TX (later moved to Little Rock, AR) and the wing at Bunker Hill/Grissom AFB, IN.
Yes, they had a less than ideal safety record, but they very much “pushed the envelope” for military AC design and pioneered a lot of technology. They set 19 world records.
There are eight survivors including one unrestored on the Edawrds AFB, photo range, and another (a former derelict at Little Rock, now at Lackland, TX) with a lot of unoriginal parts.
They were different than the TSR. 2 and F-111 in being more of a conventional mid-size bomber than a tactical-size ac.
They were withdrawn as a cost saving move (and the fact that the US never replaced its medium bomber fleet of B-47s & 58s) relying instead on ICBMs. The two wings worth of FB-111 more or less took the Hustler’s role.
Here are some websites…
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=382
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-58_Hustler
http://www.b-58hustler.com/
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June 22, 2009 at 8:29 pm