B-58 Hustler

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The Convair B-58 Hustler was a strategic bomber aircraft derived from a new concept developed in the late 1940s and early 1950s –one which took into account the greatly increased capability of ground defenses, including radar tracking and ground-to-air missiles. On the one hand, it was realized that the bomber of the future must have the highest possible speed, and therefore be capable of supersonic flight. This called for a relatively small aircraft of unconventional shape and with unconventional characteristics, the delta wing, in particular, coming into early prominence. A droppable, externally-carried bomb pod was visualized from the beginning as a means of bomb release at supersonic speed. On the other hand, it was clear that the enormous consumption of jet fuel at supersonic speed would not permit the small attack aircraft to go all the way from its continental base to the target in the enemy heartland at such velocity. The bomber was, therefore, to be carried as a parasite under a large, slow transport aircraft. For the composite weapon, the journey was divided into three zones: the “logistics” zone at the start, during which the parasite would be attached to the parent transport; the “combat” zone near the enemy’s border where the parasite would be released; and the “target” zone, into which the short-range bomber would penetrate at supersonic speed, to bomb and return to the parent aircraft. Low-altitude penetration under the enemy radar was considered, as well as high altitude flight.

The fuselage of the B-58 was of semi-monocoque construction and had the standard bulkhead, former, and longeron construction that was typical of most other military aircraft of that era. There were 19 bulkheads. The area between bulkheads 1 and 5 carried the crew compartments. The volume aft of bulkhead 5 and all the way to bulkhead 19 was devoted exclusively to fuel except for the navigation system stable table area between bulkheads 8 and 9. The portion of the fuselage aft of bulkhead 19 contained the deceleration parachute, the tail armament, and electronic equipment. The crew of the B-58 consisted of a pilot, a navigator/bombardier, and a defensive systems operator (DSO), all seated in tandem in three separate compartments. The B-58 Hustler first flew in November 11 1956 and primarily operated by the U.S Air Force. On January 31 1970, the B-58 retired in service.

Specification (B-58 Hustler)

Type: Bomber aircraft
Crew: 3
Length: 96.75 ft (29.49 m)
Wingspan: 56.83 ft (17.32 m)
Height: 31.42 ft (9.58 m)
Wing Area: 1,542 ft2 (143.25 m2)
Empty Weight: 55,560 lb (25,200 kg)
Max Takeoff Weight: 163,000 lb (73,935 kg)
Powerplant: four General Electric J-79 afterburning turbojets
Thrust: 42,000 lb (186.83 kN) 64,000 lb (284.70 kN) with afterburner
Max Level Speed: at altitude: 1,385 mph (2,230 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m), Mach 2.1 at sea level: unknown
Service Ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,290 m)
Range 1,735 nm (3,220 km)
4,845 nm (8,975 km) with in-flight refueling
Armament: one gun (20-mm T-171E3 Vulcan rotary cannon in a radar-aimed tail barbette), one external hardpoint for a disposable centerline pod and various nuclear bombs

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