The High-Stakes Bomber Only the Bravest Pilots Dare to Fly

Only Planes
Only Planes
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Published 2024-05-24
In the 1960s, as the Cold War spurred hundreds of rapid advancements in military technology, the world’s first operational supersonic bomber, the Convair B-58 Hustler, flew ahead of all others.

The Hustler pushed the limits of speed with its four turbojet engines, achieving Mach 2 at altitudes of 64,000 feet, with the ability to deliver nuclear payloads with precise accuracy.

That is, when flown right. Mastering the Convair Hustler proved to be much harder than it seemed. The model demanded the highest skill and focus from its crew, equipped with complex systems that could be as challenging as they were advanced. Isolated in their separate compartments, communication was often reduced to mere hand signals or rudimentary note-passing.

The faster it went, the harder it was to control, and even small errors could have dire consequences. Despite the razor-thin margin between triumph and disaster, to the Strategic Air Command crews, just attempting to fly this groundbreaking once-in-a-lifetime aircraft was worth it.
All Comments (21)
  • @forestturnings5732
    I was in High School when we were let out of class to go outdoors and see the B-58 fly by as it circled Fort Worth. An F-102 flew on its outboard wing as chase plane. What a sight !!!
  • @robertgolden1080
    It looks like it’s Mach 1 just sitting on the ramp. Such a majestic airplane. Thanks for sharing.
  • @martyviehweg4001
    I was born at Carswell AFB in 1959. The B58 was coming of the assembly line right across the runway. The 43rd Bomb Wing my father was a crewmember of transfered to Little Rock AFB in 1964 and remainded there till 1970. I was 7 when I got to sit in the pilot seat of one of the record setting aircraft. For the trivia buffs, John Denver"s father Col Deutschendorf was a B58 pilot with the 43rd
  • @msgtpauldfreed
    I remember having a toy B-58 as a little kid. I had seen pictures of the B-29 and B-36 in my encyclopedias as a kid, but this was something totally different. I thought it was the coolest airplane ever until I saw an F-4 Fighter. Then I was truly hooked. I did 24 years in the Air Force on (wait for it)...C-130s. Yup, started on E model trash haulers, was on the AC-130U Gunship Test Team, worked Combat Shadows and Talon IIs, then finished on H model trash haulers. AND LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!
  • @KanoeMillerHula
    I met John Denver’s father, “Dutch” Derfendorfer who held the world’s speed record from the west coast to the east coast in a B-58.
  • @aagifford
    I met and hung out with a Hustler pilot and copilot at an air show, they said it wasn’t the most reliable plane due to the many high performance new systems crammed into it. They loved it though and were really proud of their time in the plane. I didn’t get the sense they called themselves “the bravest,” they did their jobs and were glad to be assigned to the new cool plane.
  • @brjimbo1
    All the guys with their drafting tables, t-squares and slide rules. Really cool.
  • @Andrew-sv6zq
    Convair built some badass aircraft. Speed was always something that they worked hard on. The Convair 880 and 990 were good examples.
  • @malcolmmarzo2461
    A dear departed friend once flew the B-58. I listened to his stories for hours when he worked at our local airfield as an elderly line boy.
  • @proteusnz99
    A remarkable achievement, particularly considering it was designed in the mid 1950s. Very experienced crew, some of whom later joined the SR-71 program. Worth remembering that while building the B-58 Convair were also building the F-102/F-106, R5Y Tradewind, XFY-1 Pogo VTOL, F2Y Seadart, and the SM-65 Atlas ICBM / Space launcher. Unfortunately it achieved operational status roughly at the same time that SAM development rendered high altitude penetration less survivable. Low level performance was also impressive, but range limiting. Finishing problem was high operational costs, only two wings created, with overall costs roughly equivalent to 6 wings of B-52s. Beautiful plane though.
  • @Kevin_747
    One of my aviation mentors, Capt. Bill Hale flew the B-58 and was the highest time B-58 pilot in the USAF. In april 1962 he was taking off at Bunker Hill and got an un-commanded roll he couldn't arrest and called for an eject. One crewman was lost. When I visit the AF Museum at Wright-Pat I spend a lot of time around the B-58. Magnificent machine.
  • @user-vs4hg4og5p
    4 J 79 jet engines, with afterburner, Jet Fighter Engines. I had the privilege of seeing this jet fly, when I was young, then later worked and flew in F 4D Phantom. 2 J 79s in that jet. Now retired and happy to see your video!😊
  • @blueocean9305
    My step father was a USAF test pilot on the Hustler. He said he loss one of his friends in Utah after the aircraft loss control at high altitude. He told me it was a unforgiving airplane and he was glad his number of takeoffs equaled the number landings in B-58. The ejection capsule was an automatic coffin.
  • @bme7491
    My Dad bought me the Revell model of the B-58 in 1963 when we lived on Holloman AFB NM. This was around the same time he took me out on the flight line to see a brand new F4 Phantom.
  • @davidm3118
    I remember the Hustler featuring in the classic cold war political thriller "Failsafe".