Posted on 07/29/2016 6:28:24 AM PDT by C19fan
In an era of fantastic aircraft, the B-58 Hustler was one of the most visually striking warplanes ever to fly. Its delta wing, giant engines, and remarkable performance gave rise to the myth that pilots could literally tear the wings off the bomber if they flew it too fast.
(Excerpt) Read more at warisboring.com ...
I think I once saw a video of a B-47 doing a an up-and-over maneuver to sling a nuke onto target. First time it had been done, IIRC
Still an awesome looking machine.
It’s a badd-ass looking plane, though.
They have one at the USAF museum in Dayton, OH.
Yes, that was a maneuver they used, to toss the nuke, to send the bomb on the way while at the same time giving the jet time to turn around and start running away.
Me too—one of my favorite models too as a kid.
Here’s a video of the B-58 Hustler:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx-uZZVc0dE
Never heard about the O2 problem, by the 80’s I suspect the problem was fixed.
In this film, the B-47 actually rolled over at the apex.....back to horizontal flying. Impressive.
I did not know that. I guess that would explain his (in the end unfortunate) fascination with planes and flying.
I believe it was a good plane but probably not one that should have gone outside US control at the time. The problems were mainly with the German ones which had a horrible record.
I also built a model of it. I never understood how it could fly until I realized about its thrust.
Well-...
TO THIS DAY - still maintains the LONGEST sustained supersonic flight- what was really dangerous? like the F14A- it was the engines- at super sonic speed if an engine
flamed out- the aircraft became totally unstable-
(just remarkable-.. a record that has not been broken
since 1963?- just like the SR71- we made some amazing
Tech)
(for the longest Sustained flight- they actually had
an afterburner fail on one of the engines- finished the
flight at reduced speed-) also- during this period-
the YF12-A was in test development- this development-
led to the XB70 Valkyrie- but things move fast- missle
systems soon rendered super fast bombers obsolete-
left the B52 tried and true-
B1-(100 built) to replace the aging B52- Whole -nother story on
carter canceling- Reagan building-
now B2- the stealth bomber- very expensive strategic
asset - only reason is to maintain the U.S. nuclear
Triad policy
Yea, well since it is called the Ardvark it looses points.
I worked on the B-52 at Walker AFB, and was qualified to work in B-58 at LRAFB. The had me work on KC-135Q instead.
They used to take off from LRAFB quite often.
As a kid I saw the B-47 take off quite often from Walker AFB, one right after another. LeMay kept the SAC crews on their toes!
Saw a B-36 fly low over Farmington NM back in 1955. First thing I noticed was the propellers were on the back side of the engines.
Never saw a B-58 fly, but when I was stationed at McCoy an RAF Vulcan bomber flew in for a bombing competition. At the end of the competition it took off from the field and disappeared over the horizon; then it came back and did a victory roll! One of the coolest things I ever saw. (The victory roll was kind of ironic; their crew placed last in the competition, beaten by all the SAC B-52 crews.)
I did the same thing, ahh... the smell of model glue in the morning, like victory.
Initially contracted (1946) as the follow-on to the B17(Flying Fortess) -> B29(Super Fortress) strategic bombers, the B52 Stratofortress' first flight was in 1952. This means that it is easily possible for a grandkid to be flying in a B52H (1963) that was flown by a granddad!
With an inflation adjusted cost of $81million, 80% mission ready rate and a hourly cost of $73k, use of the 8,800 mile range (un-refueled) B52H remains attractive EXCEPT FOR well-defended air spaces. The USAF projects using the 90+ remaining B52s into the 2040s, giving a chance for g.grandkids to fly! A definite NON-Blunder!
I love the USAF Museum at Dayton. I had to drive 20 hours to get there, and it was worth the trip!
Add fly-by-wire, all glass cockpit, HOTAS, and 2, just 2 F-119 engines...
Man kick the tires and light the fires, I am all in ;-)
John Denver was one hell of a pilot
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