Description
Book SynopsisOne of the most dramatic bombers of its day, the Convair B-58 came to epitomise the Cold War power of Strategic Air Command. Introduced only 12 years after the sound barrier was first broken, this iconic plane became the first large long-range supersonic bomber to take to the skies, a feat which had seemed far-fetched only a few years previously. Outstripping its contemporaries in terms of speed, and agile enough to escape most interceptors, the B-58 was a remarkable feat of engineering, setting 19 world speed records and collecting a host of trophies. The first operational bomber capable of Mach 2 at 63,000 feet, it was able to evade hostile fighters and represented a serious threat to targets across the Soviet Bloc.
Supported by contemporary first-hand accounts, photography, and full-colour illustrations, this study explores the history of this ground-breaking aircraft from its conception to its little-known testing for use in the Vietnam War.
Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1 Delta Design CHAPTER 2 Making it Work CHAPTER 3 Test and Development CHAPTER 4 In Flight CHAPTER 5 The Mission CHAPTER 6 Other Roles Appendices 1. B-58A physical and performance statistics 2. B-58A units, bases and dates 3. Notable flights and preserved examples Profile Captions
