Specifications

The B-58 Hustler made extensive use of heat-resistant honeycomb sandwich skin panels in the wings and fuselage.

Aircraft - B-58 Hustler (U.S.A.)
B-58 Hustler with Armaments

Designed to go Mach 2, the B-58 Hustler was the first supersonic jet bomber.  It's range was limiting because of the speed.  It had to refuel once to have the range that the B-52 had without refueling.  It was also very expensive to manufacture and to maintain.  For these reasons it's service was short-lived.  It became operational by 1960 and was out of service by 1970.

B-58 Hustler in Flight

Specifications of the B-58 Hustler

Span: 56 ft. 10 in.
Length: 96 ft. 10 in.
Height: 31 ft. 5 in.
Weight: 163,000 lbs. max.
Armament: Designed for one 20mm cannon in tail; nuclear weapons in pod or on under-wing pylons (none actually carried on the XB-58)
Engines: Four General Electric J79-GE-1 turbojets of 15,000 lbs. thrust ea. with afterburner
Crew: Three - Pilot, Navigator/Bombardier, Defensive Systems Operator

PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 1,325 mph
Cruising speed: 610 mph.
Range: 4,400 miles max. ferry range
Service Ceiling: 64,800 ft.

B-58 on Display