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Click on the photo to hear the wav sound.
NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
On December 30, 1956, the Convair B-58 Hustler became the first United States Air Force bomber to fly at supersonic speeds.
The B-58 carried its stores externally. This had a great effect on overall aircraft performance. Without a load, the B-58 had superior speed, an excellent climb rate and good maneuverability. Hanging fuel and weapons below the fuselage took away these advantages.
A total of 116 B-58 Hustler aircraft were produced. They were deployed between 1960 and 1970.
The B-58 set numerous world records soon after its introduction.
B-58’s had marginal payload and limited range compared with the B52 Stratofortress. It is reported that the B-58 was three times as expensive to operate as the B-52 due to its specialized properties.
The B-58 was at the leading edge of technology for its time. Because of
this the flight crew had to devote their full attention to aircraft
systems. Particular attention had to be paid to flight trim as fuel was
consumed. Flight protocols during take off and landings had to be
followed rigidly or an aircraft could be lost.
Features and innovations:
Double redundant flight system hydraulics.
Escape capsule ejection.
Light weight, heat disbursing fiberglass and aluminum construction.
Titanium fasteners.
Movable cones, similar to the SR-71 Blackbird, fitted to engine intakes.
Advanced avionics including radar targeting, navigation, and electronics counter measures.
Of a total 116 B-58 aircraft produced, 26 were lost between 1956 and 1970. Thirty six crew members lost their lives in these accidents.
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Specifications
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1998 US$ Cost:
Primary Function:
Crew:
Engines:
Thrust:
Weight Empty:
Max. Weight:
Cannons:
Ordnance:
Fuel Internal:
Fuel External:
Length:
Wingspan:
Cruise Speed:
Max. Speed:
Climb Rate:
Ceiling:
Range:
First flight:
Year Deployed: |
$12,442,000
bomber
three
GE J79
4- 15,600 lbs ea.
55,560 lbs.
176,890 lbs.
1 - 20 mm
19,450 lbs.
95,760 lbs.
55,110 lbs.
96' 10"
56' 10"
610 mph
1,325 mph
37,900 fpm
64,800 feet
4,400 miles
11/11/56
1960
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1/9 scale B-58 RC Airplane.
Radio Control Airplanes:
With its delta wing and narrow fuselage the B-58 appears to make an easy to fly radio control airplane.
Pictured above and immediately below is the beautiful B-58 Hustler 1/9 scale radio control airplane scratch built by Lynn McCauley and Butch Sickels. The RC Airplane has a wing span of 78", with a 127" length. Four O.S. ducted fans power the radio control airplane. All up weight of the RC airplane is about 46 lbs. and total static engine thrust is 28 lbs.
The second picture below is of the 1/24 stand-off scale B-58 radio control airplane built by Larry from RC Model Maker. The RC Airplane has a 43” wing span and weight about 6.5 lbs. Powering the radio control airplane are four Razor 2500 motors driving WeMoTec Micro Fans.
If anyone has built a B-58 RC Airplane or knows of a B-58 radio control airplane ARF, kit, or plans, please email us.
Jim "Texasrcflying" Caton jmcaton@earthlink.net writes:
I have a set of hand drawn drawings I did for a B-58 RC Airplane. Wing spread of the radio control airplane is about 45 inches and the length is about 60 inches. That is what will fit in the back of my Explorer. I have the skeleton of the fuselage and the wings of the radio control airplane done.
The B-58 RC airplane is on hold presently because I am doing a Bobcat radio control airplane with twin EDF motors similar to what I hope will fly the B-58. I want to complete the Bobcat radio control airplane as a test bed for the electric ducted fan motor set up. I should be ready for a "roll it across the garage floor" test of the RC Airplane in about a week.
BVM's EVF systems and turbines are out of my budget range, so I building my own EDF for my radio control airplane. I am using a Wattage power fan 400 six blade fan with a 57 mm diameter housing for the RC Airplane. I will be powering the fan of the radio control airplane with a Little Screamer electric motor from Hobby Lobby that has a Kv of 5,400. I plan to use a LiPo 3 cell at 2100 mAh or more. The battery size in the B-58 radio control airplane will be determined by weight as I get to that point. Each motor of the RC Airplane will have its own battery and ESC.
If this setup flies the Bobcat radio control airplane at 5 pounds, then the B-58 RC Airplane will become my top priority.
This is a quick bit of information. I would love to hear from someone interested in the project. I know I will have lots of questions if I get to go on with the B-58 radio control airplane.
Thanks,
Jim "Texasrcflying" Caton
We received the following from Volker (VKgroebi@aol.com):
Hi B-58 Hustler RC Airplane friends.
For years I am planning to realize a model of this beauty; well it will probably take another few years before it will get off the ground.
Since also for me small turbines are financially out of reach I will go for ducted fans as well.
My B-58 radio control airplane will have some 133 cm (52.36 inch) wing span and 230 cm (90.55 inch) fuselage length.
There's a very interesting fan with 60 mm diameter available from Scorpio / Italy which is to be mounted at the rear of the engine nacelles, quite an advantage compared to standard front mounted fans. This company is selling a Swedish Saab Gripen RC Airplane with this fan, meaning that this long section in front of the fan should be no problem.
For my B-58 Hustler radio control airplane I will go for the Fantex 4xx model.
There are many others, selling this fan unit.
Volker - thank you for your email and good luck on your B-58 RC Airplane project.
Volker would appreciate anyone out there building a B-58 radio control airplane to contact him.
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Radio Control Airplane |
 RC Airplane scratch built by Larry McCauley and Butch Sickles.
Radio Control Airplane
 RC Airplane from RC Model Maker.
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