B58 Hustler nose wheel
Discussion
I always wondered how they managed to retract the nose wheel of this fantastic aircraft. The centre line weapons pod is obviously in the way of a rearwards retraction and there is no room forwards.
A bit of googling and https://vimeo.com/45996409 all is revealed.
A bit of googling and https://vimeo.com/45996409 all is revealed.
JeremyH5 said:
A bit of googling and https://vimeo.com/45996409 all is revealed.
Some great links to videos there.I didn't even know about the rescue/escape capsule.
https://vimeo.com/115393008
Edited by el stovey on Sunday 13th December 10:25
JeremyH5 said:
el stovey said:
I didn't even know about the rescue/escape capsule
Astonishingly, I read somewhere that the pilot could control the aircraft with stick and rudder pedals whilst fully enclosed in it.Now I'm not sure I believe it, perhaps I misread it. Will check again.
If you can find a copy of this in the UK it covers everything to do with the B-58
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Convair-B-58-Hustler-Super...
There were even plans to use the B-58 in a conventional role in Vietnam!
Here you are:
http://www.aviation-history.com/convair/b58.html
Each cockpit also has an individual escape capsule--the first enclosed escape system in an aircraft in regular service use. Flight personnel are "sized" for the capsule at the start of the training course, and failure to fit the capsule is a cause for separation from the B-58 program.
The capsule can be closed and pressurized within 7 seconds in case of loss of cabin pressure at high altitude, enabling flight personnel to dispense with pressure suits. In this situation the pilot can see part of his instrument panel through a window in the capsule door, and with full control through the stick inside the capsule, he may fly the aircraft to an altitude below 40,000 feet and decapsulate. Buttons on the stick enable him while encapsulated to disconnect the autopilot, shift the center of gravity, and retard the throttles. In an emergency, rockets eject the capsule from the aircraft, with the enclosed personnel being protected against wind blast, wind blast erosion and thermal injury. After deceleration of the capsule, a 41-foot diameter parachute lowers it. The capsule contains survival gear, including a radio, rations, water, desalting gear, clothing, and a rifle, and will float if it lands in the sea.
http://www.aviation-history.com/convair/b58.html
Each cockpit also has an individual escape capsule--the first enclosed escape system in an aircraft in regular service use. Flight personnel are "sized" for the capsule at the start of the training course, and failure to fit the capsule is a cause for separation from the B-58 program.
The capsule can be closed and pressurized within 7 seconds in case of loss of cabin pressure at high altitude, enabling flight personnel to dispense with pressure suits. In this situation the pilot can see part of his instrument panel through a window in the capsule door, and with full control through the stick inside the capsule, he may fly the aircraft to an altitude below 40,000 feet and decapsulate. Buttons on the stick enable him while encapsulated to disconnect the autopilot, shift the center of gravity, and retard the throttles. In an emergency, rockets eject the capsule from the aircraft, with the enclosed personnel being protected against wind blast, wind blast erosion and thermal injury. After deceleration of the capsule, a 41-foot diameter parachute lowers it. The capsule contains survival gear, including a radio, rations, water, desalting gear, clothing, and a rifle, and will float if it lands in the sea.
Eric Mc said:
Despite its impressive looks and performance, its career with the USAF was not that impressive and the USAF operated it for barely a decade. They were keen to get rid of the things as they were hugely demanding on maintenance.
Irrelevant. It looks awesome and that, as we all know, is the most important thing. It's why Italian airforce F-104 pilots had to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the cockpit when their Govt retired them in favour of some new-fangled manoeuvrable piece of s
t. I love Youtube. You go looking for videos of B 58's and you get dragged into footage of a B-52 flying for 5 hours without a tailfin and then landing successfully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wclfY0Meruw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wclfY0Meruw
JeremyH5 said:
In an emergency, rockets eject the capsule from the aircraft, with the enclosed personnel being protected against wind blast, wind blast erosion and thermal injury. After deceleration of the capsule, a 41-foot diameter parachute lowers it. The capsule contains survival gear, including a radio, rations, water, desalting gear, clothing, and a rifle, and will float if it lands in the sea.
Nice idea. Was it ever used?The F-111 had a similar but bigger concept. Whilst looking for a photo of it I learned how to belly land one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIyYK9oz9Go (Not sure the hook/wire was really necessary as with no wheels there'd be plenty of friction to slow it!)
Joey Ramone said:
Eric Mc said:
Despite its impressive looks and performance, its career with the USAF was not that impressive and the USAF operated it for barely a decade. They were keen to get rid of the things as they were hugely demanding on maintenance.
Irrelevant. It looks awesome and that, as we all know, is the most important thing. It's why Italian airforce F-104 pilots had to be dragged kicking and screaming out of the cockpit when their Govt retired them in favour of some new-fangled manoeuvrable piece of st. 
Joey Ramone said:
I love Youtube. You go looking for videos of B 58's and you get dragged into footage of a B-52 flying for 5 hours without a tailfin and then landing successfully.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wclfY0Meruw
There's a great one of them flying for hours at 500ft at 600kts just to see what happened. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wclfY0Meruw
Simpo Two said:
Nice idea. Was it ever used?
Yes. Mixed results.http://www.ejection-history.org.uk/Aircraft_by_Typ...
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