B-58 On Takeoff - Convair B-58 Hustler

B-58 On Takeoff

Dimensions: 8" x 10"

Plane Type: Convair B-58 Hustler 



The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational jet bomber capable of sustained Mach 2+ supersonic flight. The aircraft was developed for the United States Air Force during the 1950s, and would see service in the Strategic Air Command (SAC). Originally intended to fly at high altitudes and high speeds to avoid Soviet fighters, the introduction of highly accurate Soviet surface-to-air missiles forced the B-58 into a low-level penetration role that severely limited its range and strategic value. The B-58 was operational from 1960 - 1970. The B-58 received a great deal of notoriety due to its sonic boom, which was often heard by the public as it passed overhead in supersonic flight.