Convair B-58 Hustler PDF eBook + Aircraft Flight Manuals

General Characteristics

• Crew: 3: pilot; observer (navigator, radar operator, bombardier); defense system operator (DSO; electronic countermeasures operator and pilot assistant).
• Length: 96 ft 10 in (29.5 m)
• Wingspan: 56 ft 9 in (17.3 m)
• Height: 29 ft 11 in (8.9 m)
• Wing area: 1,542 ft² (143.3 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0003.46-64.069 root, NACA 0004.08-63 tip
• Empty weight: 55,560 lb (25,200 kg)
• Loaded weight: 67,871 lb (30,786 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 176,890 lb (80,240 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × General Electric J79-GE-5A turbojet
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0068
• Drag area: 10.49 ft² (0.97 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2.09

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (1,319mph) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
• Cruise speed: 610 mph (530 kn, 985 km/h)
• Combat radius: 1,740 mi (1,510 nmi, 3,220 km)
• Ferry range: 4,100 nmi (4,700 mi, 7,600 km)
• Service ceiling: 63,400 ft (19,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 17,400 ft/min (88 m/s) at gross weight
• Wing loading: 44.0 lb/ft² (215 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.919 lbf/lb
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 11.3 (without weapons/fuel pod)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.79 in) T171 cannon
• Bombs: 4× B43 or B61 nuclear bombs; maximum weapons load was 19,450 lb (8,820 kg)

Avionics

• AN/APB-2 Bombing radar
• AN/APN-110 Doppler navigational radar (part of Sperry AN/ASQ-42 Navigation & Bombing System)
• AN/APN-170 Terrain-following radar
• AN/APR-12 Radar warning receiver
• Hughes Aircraft AN/APQ-69 podded side-looking aperture radar (mounted on RB-58A)
• Goodyear AN/APS-73 podded synthetic aperture radar (mounted on RB-58A)

• XB-58: Prototype; two built.
• YB-58A: Pre-production aircraft, 11 built.
• B-58A: Three-seat medium-range strategic bomber aircraft, 86 built.
• TB-58A: Training aircraft, eight conversions from YB-58A.
• NB-58A: This designation was given to a YB-58A, which was used for testing the J93 engine. The engine was originally intended for the North American XB-70 Valkyrie Mach 3 bomber.
• RB-58A: Variant with ventral reconnaissance pod, 17 built.
• B-58B: Unbuilt version. SAC planned to order 185 of these improved bombers which had uprated J79-GE-9 engines, a stretched fuselage for extra fuel capacity, canards and could carry conventional weapons. A prototype B-58B was ordered (S/N 60-1109), but the entire project was canceled before construction began, due to budgetary considerations. The B variant was also planned to be the “mothership” for a Mach 4 parasite called the FISH (for First Invisible Super Hustler). Because It was to be faster and larger than the B-58A, it could carry the FISH instead of the external pod. At an altitude of at least 35,000 feet (11,000 metres) at speeds in excess of Mach 2 the FISHs three ramjet engines could be started. The Super Hustler would then disengage from the B-58B and climb up to 90,000 feet (27,000 metres) and accelerate to Mach 4.2 to complete its mission.
• B-58C: Unbuilt version. Enlarged version with more fuel and 32,500 lbf (145 kN) J58, the same engine used on the Lockheed SR-71. Design studies were conducted with two and four engine designs, the C model had an estimated top speed approaching Mach 3, a supersonic cruise capability of approximately Mach 2, and a service ceiling of about 70,000 ft (21,300 m) along with the capability of carrying conventional bombs. Convair estimated maximum range at 5,200 nautical miles (6,000 mi; 9,600 km). The B-58C was proposed as a lower cost alternative to the North American XB-70. As enemy defenses against high-speed, high-altitude penetration bombers improved, the value of the B-58C diminished and the program was canceled in early 1961.

Today there are eight B-58 survivors:

TB-58A

• 55-0663 – Grissom Air Museum, Grissom Air Reserve Base (former Bunker Hill AFB / former Grissom AFB), Peru, Indiana. This is the oldest remaining aircraft and the fourth B-58 built.
• 55-0668 – Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Arkansas.

B-58A

• 55-0665 Snoopy – Edwards Air Force Base, California,  Built as a YB-58A, later redesignated B-58A. This aircraft sits derelict as a photo target on Edwards AFB’s photo range.
• 55-0666 – Built as a YB-58A, later redesignated B-58A. Under restoration at Castle Air Museum at the former Castle Air Force Base in Atwater, California. Formerly on display at Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum, Rantoul, Illinois.
• 59-2437 Firefly II – Lackland AFB/Kelly Field Annex (former Kelly Air Force Base), San Antonio, Texas.
• 59-2458 Cowtown Hustler – National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft flew from Los Angeles to New York City and back on 5 March 1962, setting three separate speed records, and earning the crew the Bendix Trophy and the Mackay Trophy for 1962. The aircraft was flown to the Museum on 1 March 1969. The aircraft is on display in the Museum’s Cold War gallery.
• 61-2059 Greased Lightning – Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum near Ashland, Nebraska. It averaged 938 nmph flying 8,028 nmi. from Tokyo to London in 8 hours and 35 minutes in October 1963.
• 61-2080 – Pima Air & Space Museum, adjacent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, in Tucson, Arizona. It was the last B-58 to be delivered.