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Douglas B-66 Destroyer
By Staff Writer
The Douglas-produced B-66 Destroyer was a light bomber designed by Ed Heinemann to replace the aging A-26 Invader in service with the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC). Based highly on the existing United States Navy A3D Skywarrior model, the B-66 was designed and produced alongside the reconnaissance RB-66 models. The definitive EB-66 electronic warfare variant would be born from the development of the preceding two models.
With the similarities inherent in converting an existing system for a new purpose, the United States Air Force bypassed the ordering of prototype models and ordered a handful of preproduction models for testing and further development allowing for the system to fly by 1954 and enter full production by 1955. Though used as a high-level bomber by the US Navy in the form of the A3D Skywarrior, the B-66 Destroyer was limited to reconnaissance duty for the duration of the Vietnam War.
By 1973, the system would be out of circulation with the USAF and see the EB-66 models as the last of their kind. A solid if unspectacular aircraft, the B-66 Destroyer found a home as the USAF and SAC's eye in the sky. One model found life after service as a weather research aircraft while others ended up in the hands of museum curators across the nation.
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No Reproduction Without Permission • Corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com
Last Revision: 9/8/2009
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| Specifications for the Douglas B-66 Destroyer |
 Dimensions: |
Length: 75.13ft (22.90m)
Width:72.51ft (22.10m)
Height: 23.62ft (7.20m)
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| Performance: |
About MACH |
Max Speed: 634mph (1,020kmh; 551kts)
Max Range: 2,467miles (3,970km)
Rate-of-Climb: 5,000ft/min (1,524m/min)
Service Ceiling: 39,370ft (12,000m; 7.5miles)
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| Structure: |
Accommodation: 3
Hardpoints: 0
Empty Weight: 42,549lbs (19,300kg)
MTOW: 83,776lbs (38,000kg)
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| Powerplant: |
| Engine(s): 2 x Allison J71-A-11 / J71-A-13 turbojet engines generating 10,200lbs of thrust each. |
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| Armament Suite: |
2 x 20mm cannons in remote-operated tail turret assembly.
Up to 15,000lbs of internal ordnance
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| Pictures of the Douglas B-66 Destroyer |
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Aircraft Quick Profile |
Image courtesy of Air Combat Command..
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| 1956 |
Designation: Douglas B-66 Destroyer
Classification Type: Light Bomber
Contractor: Douglas Aircraft Company - USA
Country of Origin: United States
Production Total: 134 |
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Operators: United States of America
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| Variants |
A3D "Skywarrior" - US Navy version of which the B-66 is based on.
RB-66A - Preproduction Reconnaissance Variant
RB-66B - Production Reconnaissance Variant
B-66B - Bomber Variant of which 145 were produced.
EB-66B - Electronic Countermeasures Conversion Model based on the B-66B variant.
RB-66C - Specialized Reconnaissance Variant of which 36 were produced; crew size of seven.
EB-66C - Redesignation of the RB-66C models from 1966 onwards.
WB-66D - Weather Reconnaissance Aircraft; final variant of the B-66 produced.
X-21 - Northrop Experimental Aircraft based on the B-66 to research laminar flow.
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