B-58 Hustler: Convair’s Cold War Mach 2 Bomber

Chronicles the design, development, and wartime use of the iconic Mach 2 Convair B-58 Hustler.

The Convair B-58 Hustler, with its distinctive delta wing shape, would become the world's first supersonic bomber, and the first aircraft to fly to Mach 2.

• With development beginning in 1949, the B-58, which could not carry conventional weapons, would become part of the US nuclear arsenal during the height of the Cold War.
• Although these bombers were initially considered difficult to operate, in time the hand-chosen crews who flew them came to love and respect the aircraft.
• Throughout the 1960s, crews flying the B-58 set numerous speed and distance records. These planes were tremendously expensive to operate, and it was budget issues that forced the early retirement of the bomber.
• Today there are only a handful of remaining examples, all of which are on display in the US.
• Illustrated with rare archival photographs, including previously unpublished images.

Written by prolific military author David Doyle, this book is part of the very popular Legends of Warfare: Aviation series.