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Today in the history of aviation: Convair B-58 Hustler entry service

Today in the history of aviation: Convair B-58 Hustler entry service
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On March 15, 1960, the Convair B-58 Hustler officially entered service, marking an important milestone in Cold War aviation. The crook is designed to meet the U.S. Air Force’s demand for supersonic strategic bombers, built for speed, can be aggressive, deliver payloads and exit quickly. Convair's signature delta wing design, also seen on its F-102 Delta Dagger, gives the aircraft a unique futuristic look.

Convair B 58A Hustler in Flight SN 59 2442. Photographed on June 29, 1967 061101 F 1234P 019Convair B 58A Hustler in Flight SN 59 2442. Photographed on June 29, 1967 061101 F 1234P 019
The first of the USAF's delta-wing bomber is the Mach 2 scammer, which has the performance of a fighter.

The B-58 has a distinct angle and a circular engine that looks like something from a 1960s science fiction comic. It is powered by three crew members, powered by four GE J79-GE-5A combustion turbojets, each turbocharger generates 15,000 pounds of thrust. Able to have a speed of Mach 2.0 (1,319 mph) (1,319 mph), it became the first operating bomber to fly twice the speed of sound.

1639px Convair B 58 Hustler USAF1639px Convair B 58 Hustler USAF
B-58A Hustler (AF Serial No. 59-2458), “Cowtown Hustler”, is located in front of the U.S. Air Force National Air Force Recovery Facility in Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

The scammers are equipped with a 20mm T171 cannon that can carry Mark 39 or B53 nuclear bombs, or up to four smaller B43/B61 nuclear bombs. Despite the construction of 116, the B-58 has never seen a battle, but remains a powerful deterrent throughout the Cold War. Today, only eight survive in museums across the United States, including the last 61-2028 delivered to the U.S. Air Force on display at the Pima Air Museum in Tucson, Arizona. The Convair B-58 Hustler remains a proof of Cold War innovation, affecting the design and technology of modern military aircraft.

Convair B 58A Hustler Pima MuseumConvair B 58A Hustler Pima Museum
The scammers are very advanced in technology. It was the first aircraft to be built using a great inertial navigation system, the first to use a stainless steel honeycomb structure, and the first to use a packaged pop-up seat. Photos by PIMA Air and Space Museum