Convair B-58 Hustler - Specifications (B-58A)

Specifications (B-58A)

Cutaway of an air start system of a General Electric J79 turbojet. The small turbine and epicyclic gearing are clearly visible.

Data from Quest for Performance

General characteristics

• Crew: 3:
• Length: 96 ft 10 in (29.5 m)
• Wingspan: 56 ft 9 in (17.3 m)
• Height: 29 ft 11 in (8.9 m)
• Wing area: 1,542 ft² (143.3 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 0003.46-64.069 root, NACA 0004.08-63 tip
• Empty weight: 55,560 lb (25,200 kg)
• Loaded weight: 67,871 lb (30,786 kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: 176,890 lb (80,240 kg)
• Powerplant: 4 × General Electric J79-GE-5A turbojet
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0068
• Drag area: 10.49 ft² (0.97 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 2.09

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0 (1,319mph) at 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
• Cruise speed: 610 mph (530 kn, 985 km/h)
• Combat radius: 1,740 mi (1,510 nmi, 3,220 km)
• Ferry range: 4,100 mi (4,700 nmi, 7,600 km)
• Service ceiling: 63,400 ft (19,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 17,400 ft/min (88 m/s) at gross weight
• Wing loading: 44.0 lb/ft² (215 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.919 lbf/lb
  
• Lift-to-drag ratio: 11.3 (without weapons/fuel pod)

Armament

• Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.79 in) T171 cannon
• Bombs: 4× B43 or B61 nuclear bombs; maximum weapons load was 19,450 lb (8,820 kg)

Avionics

• AN/APB-2 Bombing radar
• AN/APN-110 Doppler navigational radar (part of Sperry AN/ASQ-42 Navigation & Bombing System)
• AN/APN-170 Terrain-following radar
• AN/APR-12 Radar warning receiver
• Hughes Aircraft AN/APQ-69 podded side-looking aperture radar (mounted on RB-58A)
• Goodyear AN/APS-73 podded synthetic aperture radar (mounted on RB-58A)