CONVAIR B-58 Hustler
United States (1960)
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Eventually the need for high-altitude bombers was all but gone, leaving CONVAIR B-58 Hustler production at just 116 total units.
Detailing the development and operational history of the CONVAIR B-58 Hustler Supersonic Delta-Winged Jet-Powered Medium Bomber. Entry last updated on 6/14/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com
A prototype B-58 made its first flight on November 11th, 1956 and flew supersonically for the first time on December 30th, 1956. Distinct features of the aircraft included a then-sophisticated inertial guidance navigation and bombing system and "wasp-waist" fuselage. Extensive use of heat-resistant honeycomb sandwich skin panels were integrated into the construction of the wings and fuselage for the necessary high altitude-high, high-speed flight. The thin fuselage did provided some engineering challenges early on as it prevented internal carriage of bombs and the required amount of fuel to feed the four turbojet engines (thus restricting operational ranges). As a result, a large external droppable, two-component pod was added under the fuselage and contained extra fuel and a nuclear weapon along with other mission-specific gear. Later versions were fitted with reconnaissance equipment in place of the armament to form the "RB-58A" mark. Crew accommodations for the B-58 Hustler consisted of a pilot, navigator / bombardier, and defense systems operator - all sitting in tandem within escape capsules.
The USAF contracted for 86 total Hustlers which were operational in the Strategic Air Command (SAC) between 1960 and 1970. B-58s, as a whole, went on to set some nineteen world speed and altitude records and won five different aviation trophies during their operational run - a vast engineering achievement realized. Despite these performance successes, the B-58 still suffered from limited operating ranges and a limited payload capacity which hampered series series growth potential.
There were a total of 116 B-58s built that broke down as 30 test and pre-production aircraft and 86 for official service. The last B-58 would be officially retired in January of 1970, about three months after the first General Dynamics FB-111 "Aardvark" swing-wing fighter-bomber (detailed elsewhere on this site) was accepted into frontline service by SAC. The simple fact remained that the B-58 Hustler came along when the high-altitude bomber concept had become a thing of the past and the aircraft was phased out of the USAF inventory after only 10 years of service. Nonetheless, the engineering accomplishments seen during development surely played a role in future bomber and turbojet concepts for decades to come.
Picture of the CONVAIR B-58 Hustler Supersonic Delta-Winged Jet-Powered Medium Bomber
Any available statistics for the CONVAIR B-58 Hustler Supersonic Delta-Winged Jet-Powered Medium Bomber are showcased in the areas immediately below. Categories include basic specifications covering country-of-origin, operational status, manufacture(s) and total quantitative production. Other qualities showcased are related to structural values (namely dimensions), installed power and standard day performance figures, installed or proposed armament and mission equipment (if any), global users (from A-to-Z) and series model variants (if any).
CONVAIR B-58 Hustler Cockpit Picture
General Assessment (BETA)
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Rating: 80 (of 100)
The rating is an internal assessment derived from forty factors pertaining to this entry.
The rating is an internal assessment derived from forty factors pertaining to this entry.
Relative Maximum Speed Rating
Hi: 1400mph
Lo: 700mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (1,321mph).
Graph average of 1050 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Graph showcases the CONVAIR B-58A Hustler's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.
Aviation Era
Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.
Unit Production Comparison
Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units
Military Market HI**: 36,183 units
116
116
* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.
** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.
Altitude Visualization
Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool
Supported Mission Types:
Air-to-Air
Interception
Unmanned
Ground Attack
Close-Air Support
Training
Anti-Submarine
Anti-Ship
Airborne Early Warning
MEDEVAC
Electronic Warfare
Maritime/Navy
Aerial Tanker
Utility/Transport
Passenger Industry
VIP Travel
Business Travel
Search/Rescue
Recon/Scouting
Special Forces
X-Plane/Development
Origin: United States
Year: 1960
Type: Supersonic Delta-Winged Jet-Powered Medium Bomber
Manufacturer(s): CONVAIR - USA
Production: 116
Status: Retired, Out-of-Service
Global Operators:
United States
United States
Historical Commitments / Honors:
* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the CONVAIR B-58A Hustler model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.
Operational
CREW
Personnel
3
Dimension
LENGTH
Feet
96.75 ft
Meters
29.49 m
Dimension
WIDTH
Feet
56.82 ft
Meters
17.32 m
Dimension
HEIGHT
Feet
31.50 ft
Meters
9.6 m
Weight
EMPTY
Pounds
55,561 lb
Kilograms
25,202 kg
Weight
LOADED
Pounds
163,001 lb
Kilograms
73,936 kg
4 x General Electric J79-GE-3B afterburning turbojet engines developing 15,600 lb of thrust each.
Performance
SPEED
Miles-per-Hour
1,321 mph
Kilometers-per-Hour
2,126 kph
Knots
1,148 kts
Performance
RANGE
Miles
5,124 mi
Kilometers
8,247 km
Nautical Miles
4,453 nm
Performance
CEILING
Feet
62,999 ft
Meters
19,202 m
Miles
11.93 mi
Performance
CLIMB RATE
Feet-per-Minute
17,400 ft/min
Meters-per-Minute
5,304 m/min
Supported Weapon Systems:
Armament - Hardpoints (1):
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm T171 (M61) Gatling-style internal cannon
1 x Under-fuselage pod carrying up to 19,450 lb of conventional ordnance, nuclear ordnance, or tactical reconnaissance equipment. Supported B43 and B61 series nuclear payloads.
STANDARD:
1 x 20mm T171 (M61) Gatling-style internal cannon
1 x Under-fuselage pod carrying up to 19,450 lb of conventional ordnance, nuclear ordnance, or tactical reconnaissance equipment. Supported B43 and B61 series nuclear payloads.
Variants:
Series Model Variants
• Model 4 - Convair Proposed Model Prototype
• XB-58 - Prototype Designation of which only 2 were produced from an original 18 ordered.
• YB-58A - Preproduction Model Designation of which 11 were produced.
• B-58A - Production Model based on the YB-58A.
• RB-58A - Reconnaissance Conversion Models of the latter-half of the YB-58A production; fitted with ventral reconnaissance pods.
• TB-58A - Conversion Trainer Models of YB-58A of which 8 existed.
• Model 4 - Convair Proposed Model Prototype
• XB-58 - Prototype Designation of which only 2 were produced from an original 18 ordered.
• YB-58A - Preproduction Model Designation of which 11 were produced.
• B-58A - Production Model based on the YB-58A.
• RB-58A - Reconnaissance Conversion Models of the latter-half of the YB-58A production; fitted with ventral reconnaissance pods.
• TB-58A - Conversion Trainer Models of YB-58A of which 8 existed.