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Convair B-58A 'Hustler'

Description
  Manufacturer:Convair
  Base model:B-58
  Designation:B-58
  Version:A
  Nickname:Hustler
  Designation System:U.S. Air Force
  Designation Period:1924-Present
  Basic role:Bomber
  First Flew:1956/11/11

Specifications
  Length: 96' 9" 29.4 m
  Height:51' 5" 15.6 m
  Wingspan: 56' 10" 17.3 m
  Wingarea: 7,542.0 sq ft 700.6 sq m
  Empty Weight: 55,560 lb 25,197 kg
  Gross Weight: 163,000 lb 73,922 kg

Propulsion
  No. of Engines: 4
  Powerplant: General Electric J79-GE-5B
  Thrust (each):15,600 lb 7,074 kg

Performance
  Range: 5,028 miles 8,096 km
  Cruise Speed: 700 mph 1,127 km/h 609 kt
  Max Speed: 1,385 mph 2,230 km/h 1,205 kt
  Climb: 17,830 ft/min 5,434 m/min
  Ceiling: 63,400 ft 19,323 m

History
DateSubjectEvent
1960/08/01United States Air Force,
The Convair B-58A Huster, the USAF's first supersonic bomber, entered service with the 43rd Bomb Wing at Carxwell AFB, TX.
1961/05/10United States Air Force,
A USAF Convair B-58A Hustler set a new speed record of 1,302 mph, and was awarded the Bleriot Trophy.
Photo
1962/03/05United States Air Force,
The USAF set a new world speed record over a recognized course (Unlimited) for a flight from Los angeles to New York in a Convair B-58A (Sn 59-2458), averaging 1,214.65 mph. This flight earned the USAF the Bendix troph
Photo

Known serial numbers
59-2428 / 59-2463, 60-1110 / 60-1129, 61-2051 / 61-2080

Examples of this type may be found at
MuseumCityState
Air Force Flight Test Center MuseumEdwards AFBCalifornia
Kelly Field Heritage MuseumKelly AFBTexas
Pima Air & Space MuseumTucsonArizona
Strategic Air Command MuseumAshlandNebraska
United States Air Force MuseumWright-PattersonOhio

B-58A on display

Air Force Flight Test Center Museum

Kelly Field Heritage Museum

Pima Air & Space Museum

Strategic Air Command Museum

United States Air Force Museum
    


 

Recent comments by our visitors
 Topgun10
 tyler, TX
if anybody has any helpful pics of a B-58 paint scheme please email it to lennkv@sbcglobal.net,thank you very much.
01/29/2008 @ 17:36 [ref: 19468]
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01/10/2008 @ 08:14 [ref: 19215]
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 cheztppe
 gkswntjp, WY
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12/31/2007 @ 23:33 [ref: 19106]
 Howard Keck, TSgt, USAF, (RET)
 St. Augustine, FL
I was stationed at Carswell AFB, Tex. from '59 to '64. Was acft. mech. on B-58's, 43rd OMS. Org. moved to Little Rock AFB, Ark. in '64, Assigned as Crew Chief on B-58 Ser. No. 59-2445 for about 3 yrs. Also worked in Job Cont. and Maint. Debriefing. Stayed with the 43rd BW till de-activation of the B-58. Like to hear from guys who worked on this fantastic, ahead of it's time, aircraft. Later was assigned to 319th BW, Grand Forks ND, 6 mo. TDY to Guam, worked Job Cont. (B-52G's) Later spent a tour at Kadena AB, Okinawa in Job Cont. on KC-135's. Retired in Aug. '76
12/22/2007 @ 15:21 [ref: 19014]
 Craig Clary
 Hemet, CA
My Dad former U.S. Air Force SSgt Dave Clary was stationed at Nellis AFB between 1966 and 1970 (I was borne 7 months after he got of the service), as an Air Traffic Controller with the 2069th Communications Squadron, (back in the day when the USAF Thunderbirds were flying F-100 aircraft) he had a rare but very positive encounter with a B-58 Bomber and it's crew while working in the tower there at Nellis, before the B-58 Bomber and it's crew flew back to there home base, my Dad asked the aircraft commander if he could do a fly by with the aircraft over the runway and he & his crew did, it was an experience that my Dad would never forget.
This past November 10th and 11th 2007 we went back to Nellis AFB for the Aviation Nation Airshow and my Dad went with us, it was the first time in little over 36+ years since he's set foot back on his old stomping grounds, Base Operations is still there, but his old tower was gone, but a F-4E Phantom II flew during the show and that made him very happy, alot of good memories for him and me.
12/06/2007 @ 07:52 [ref: 18814]
 J C Horton
 , TX
In late 1959 my family and I were on a picnic inspite of the cool weather. We heard a jet go over and it seem to climb at a high rate of speed. Since I loved airplanes, I told my parents I thought it was a B-58 Hustler. It had a distinctive delta wing. Without warning the there appeared a big ball of smoke from which debris feel in all directions.
My father had us all get in our 1953 Ford station wagon for protection. Nothing landed near us. I later heard that 3 civilian crewmen were killed when the aircraft ingested a weather balloon. It was reported the crew had only a fraction of a second to eject.Too little time
I have always wondered about the crew and the weather ballon story. If anyone knows please email me.

12/04/2007 @ 14:28 [ref: 18787]
 J C Horton
 , TX
In late 1959 my family and I were on a picnic inspite of the cool weather. We heard a jet go over and it seem to climb at a high rate of speed. Since I loved airplanes, I told my parents I thought it was a B-58 Hustler. It had a distinctive delta wing. Without warning the there appeared a big ball of smoke from which debris feel in all directions.
My father had us all get in our 1953 Ford station wagon for protection. Nothing landed near us. I later heard that 3 civilian crewmen were killed when the aircraft ingested a weather balloon. It was reported the crew had only a fraction of a second to eject.Too little time
I have always wondered about the crew and the weather ballon story. If anyone knows please email me.

12/04/2007 @ 14:27 [ref: 18786]
 Tim Carlson
 Phoenix, AZ
My grandfather, Harold Carlson, worked on the B-58 at Bunker Hill, and then in Germany, as part of a support crew, if I recall the stories correctly. If anyone remembers him, and would care to share a few stories, I'd greatly appreciate it.
11/13/2007 @ 00:01 [ref: 18515]
 Michael Jepson
 Coldwater, MI
I was a jet mechanic on the B-58 from November 1962 until June of 1966. I was stationed at Bunker Hill AFB base in 305th Bomb Wing, O.M.S.. I worked on recovery for a period of time, and was also assigned as assistant crew chief on AC 124, 127, and 068. Spent many days on alert duty. This was my only assignment in the Air Force, and I am very proud to have served on the B-58 program. It was an awesome aircraft and was very advanced for it's time, and still is, in many aspects. I also belong to the B-58 Hustler's association and look forward to the reuninons.
08/19/2007 @ 06:47 [ref: 17682]

 

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