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B-58 Hustler Convair
B-58 Hustler
Strategic Bomber

DESCRIPTION:
The B-58 project began in 1949 when the US Air Force issued a request for a supersonic bomber. A proposal submitted by Consolidated-Vultee (later Convair) was ultimately selected over a competing Boeing concept. Convair then proceeded with a major development effort to make the advances in aerodynamics, structural design, and materials needed to meet the ambitious performance requirements. The resulting B-58 design featured a delta wing mated to a slender fuselage incorporating the area-rule concept to reduce transonic drag. One of the Hustler's most novel features was a large centerline pod mounted beneath the fuselage carrying fuel as well as a nuclear bomb. The idea underlying this concept was that the entire pod would be dropped over the target giving the B-58 a cleaner, more aerodynamic shape to allow the aircraft to escape at higher speeds. Other advanced features of the B-58 included separate tandem cockpits for the three crew, each featuring a jettisonable escape capsule, and a radar-guided cannon in the tail.
Following the first flight of the XB-58 prototype, the aircraft soon began setting a number of speed records. These milestones included the first bomber to exceed Mach 1, 1,000-km and 2,000-km closed-circuit speed records, and winning the Bleriot trophy by becoming the first aircraft to exceed 2,000 km/h (1,245 mph) for 30 minutes. A total of 116 examples of the B-58 were constructed between 1956 and 1962, and the last was withdrawn from service in 1970. Although Convair proposed improved B-58B and B-58C models seen as cheaper alternatives to the XB-70 Valkyrie, the B-58 was soon replaced by the F-111.
Last modified 17 March 2012

HISTORY:

First Flight 11 November 1956

Service Entry 15 March 1960

Retirement 31 January 1970

CREW: three

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root NACA 0003.46-64.069

Wing Tip

NACA 0004.08-63

DIMENSIONS:

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)

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty 55,560 lb (25,200 kg)

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 163,000 lb (73,935 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

unknown

PROPULSION:

Powerplant four General Electric J-79 afterburning turbojets

Thrust 42,000 lb (186.83 kN)
64,000 lb (284.70 kN) with afterburner

PERFORMANCE:

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

Initial Climb Rate 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

g-Limits unknown

ARMAMENT:

Gun one 20-mm T-171E3 Vulcan rotary cannon in a radar-aimed tail barbette

Stations one external hardpoint for a disposable centerline pod

Air-to-Air Missile none

Air-to-Surface Missile none

Bomb various nuclear bombs

Other none

KNOWN VARIANTS:

XB-58 Prototype; 2 built

YB-58A Pre-production trials aircraft; 28 built

B-58A Production model; 86 built plus 10 converted from YB-58A airframes

NB-58A Modified airframe used to test the J-93 turbojet engine being developed for the XB-70 bomber, the J-93 being carried in a nacelle beneath the fuselage; 1 converted

RB-58A Reconnaissance model re-built from YB-58A airframes; 17 converted

TB-58A Pilot trainer modified from XB-58 and YB-58A airframes, featured a raised seat in the second cockpit for instructor visibility; 8 converted

B-58B Proposed improved model; not built

B-58C Proposed improved model; not built

KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:

none

KNOWN OPERATORS:

United States (US Air Force)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

B-58 Hustler

SOURCES:

aviation-history.com B-58 site

b-58hustler.com

B-58 Hustler Rendezvous

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 272, Convair (Model 4) B-58 Hustler.

Winchester, Jim. Military Aircraft of the Cold War. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 2006, p. 52-53, Convair B-58 Hustler.

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DESCRIPTION: The B-58 project began in 1949 when the US Air Force issued a request for a supersonic bomber. A proposal submitted by Consolidated-Vultee (later Convair) was ultimately selected over a competing Boeing concept. Convair then proceeded with a major development effort to make the advances in aerodynamics, structural design, and materials needed to meet the ambitious performance requirements. The resulting B-58 design featured a delta wing mated to a slender fuselage incorporating the area-rule concept to reduce transonic drag. One of the Hustler's most novel features was a large centerline pod mounted beneath the fuselage carrying fuel as well as a nuclear bomb. The idea underlying this concept was that the entire pod would be dropped over the target giving the B-58 a cleaner, more aerodynamic shape to allow the aircraft to escape at higher speeds. Other advanced features of the B-58 included separate tandem cockpits for the three crew, each featuring a jettisonable escape capsule, and a radar-guided cannon in the tail. Following the first flight of the XB-58 prototype, the aircraft soon began setting a number of speed records. These milestones included the first bomber to exceed Mach 1, 1,000-km and 2,000-km closed-circuit speed records, and winning the Bleriot trophy by becoming the first aircraft to exceed 2,000 km/h (1,245 mph) for 30 minutes. A total of 116 examples of the B-58 were constructed between 1956 and 1962, and the last was withdrawn from service in 1970. Although Convair proposed improved B-58B and B-58C models seen as cheaper alternatives to the XB-70 Valkyrie, the B-58 was soon replaced by the F-111. Last modified 17 March 2012
HISTORY:
First Flight	11 November 1956
Service Entry	15 March 1960
Retirement	31 January 1970
CREW:	three
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	NACA 0003.46-64.069
Wing Tip	NACA 0004.08-63
DIMENSIONS:
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)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	55,560 lb (25,200 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	163,000 lb (73,935 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	unknown
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	four General Electric J-79 afterburning turbojets
Thrust	42,000 lb (186.83 kN) 64,000 lb (284.70 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
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
Initial Climb Rate	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
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 20-mm T-171E3 Vulcan rotary cannon in a radar-aimed tail barbette
Stations	one external hardpoint for a disposable centerline pod
Air-to-Air Missile	none
Air-to-Surface Missile	none
Bomb	various nuclear bombs
Other	none
KNOWN VARIANTS:
XB-58	Prototype; 2 built
YB-58A	Pre-production trials aircraft; 28 built
B-58A	Production model; 86 built plus 10 converted from YB-58A airframes
NB-58A	Modified airframe used to test the J-93 turbojet engine being developed for the XB-70 bomber, the J-93 being carried in a nacelle beneath the fuselage; 1 converted
RB-58A	Reconnaissance model re-built from YB-58A airframes; 17 converted
TB-58A	Pilot trainer modified from XB-58 and YB-58A airframes, featured a raised seat in the second cockpit for instructor visibility; 8 converted
B-58B	Proposed improved model; not built
B-58C	Proposed improved model; not built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	none
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: aviation-history.com B-58 site b-58hustler.com B-58 Hustler Rendezvous Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 272, Convair (Model 4) B-58 Hustler. Winchester, Jim. Military Aircraft of the Cold War. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 2006, p. 52-53, Convair B-58 Hustler.