@ Atwater, CA
April 2021
Among the extensive collection at the Castle Air Museum is this B-58 Hustler, a super sleek design representative of the Cold War. The first operational jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight, the B-58 first flew in 1956 and served until 1970 with the Strategic Air Command. One unique design feature was the combination bomb/fuel pod under the fuselage, rather than a traditional internal bomb bay. In 1963, the Hustler flew the longest supersonic flight in history, flying from Tokyo to London (distance of 8,028 miles- in 8 hours, 35 minutes, averaging 938 mph). Of the 116 produced, only six survive today. Formerly on display at the Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum in Illinois, this Hustler was added to the Castle collection in 2017. Nikon D500 w/Tokina 10-17mm.