Record Breaker: The Convair B-58 Story Vol. 1 DVD

Description

Record Breaker: The Convair B-58 Hustler Story Vol. 1 DVD

The Convair B-58 was the first operation jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. First flown in the late 1950s, the B-58 was introduced in 1960. This DVD includes four B-58 films from the 1950s and 1960s. Also included are two .pdf files of B-58 flight and training manuals.

A pilot once said of the Convair B-58, "She looked like she was breaking the sound barrier just sitting on the tarmac." At Mach 2 +, the B-58 wasn't just one of the fastest bombers of her day, she was one of the fastest military planes period. A first cousin of the hot "century series" of fighters, the delta winged "Hustler' medium bomber combined outstanding performance with a striking, javelin-like profile that spawned a mystique that survives to this day. In the early 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, in just two years the B-58 captured 14 speed and performance records, many previously held by Soviet aircraft. She was not only capable of extended 700 mph on-the deck missions at 500 feet (then unheard of for a bomber and without the advantages of today's ground hugging radar or fly-by-wire) she also set altitude and climb records. The B-58 was capable of doing whatever was necessary to invade enemy air space. As Jimmy Stewart says, she was a lot more than a "hot rod" made for setting records, she was a lethal weapon of war -- and an outstandingly handsome aircraft.

Great B-58 footage shown in digitally restored video and audio:

Film #1 B-58 Bendix Trophy Race 1962 (Color, 20:00, 1962) On March 5th, 1962, Capt Robert G Sowers & his crew in "Tall Man 55" took off from Carswell AFB, Fort Worth, Texas to break three transcontinental speed records in one day, over 4,500 miles -- "Operation Heat Rise." The starting gate was Los Angeles, where the Hustler topped up her fuel. Along the way, she slowed briefly again for quick refuels, shown in detail, and reached New York City in just 2 hours & 56 seconds. Then, back to the West Coast, nonstop in 2hrs 15 minutes. The round trip was a total of 4 hours 41 minutes, including refueling, and all three times were transcontinental speed records.

Film #2 B-58 Low Altitude Bombing Capability (Color, 10:00, 1962) This is is a simulated low level, long range attack launched from Carswell AFB in Texas against Edwards AFB in California. Much of the mission is flown at 700 mph and above at ground hugging altitude below 500 feet. The B-58 exhibited exceptional handling characteristics. Sensational from-the-cockpit views of the Hustler booming along over mountains and prairie.

Film #3 The Bleriot Trophy (Color, 15:00, 1962) In 1930 the French aviation pioneer established a prize for the first aircraft to average over 2,000 kph for thirty minutes-- the Louis Bleriot Speed Trophy. For 30 years, that prize lay unclaimed by any aircraft. See how B-58 Hustler "Firefly," commanded by Major Elmer E Murphy, flying near Edwards AFB in May 1961, took the prize.

Film #4 Champion of Champions (Color, 30:00, 1962) Isn't that the legendary star and war hero James Stewart climbing out of the pilot's seat of the B-58 that just touched down? "Yup" -- and he's ready willing and able to give you his first hand impressions of an aircraft he is obviously has fallen in love with. General Stewart walks you through the Hustler's virtues and reviews the many records she claimed in a memorable discussion.

File #1 Convair B-58A "Hustler" Flight Manual (268 pages with color Illustrations). See B-58 detailed operating instructions, cockpit photos, systems diagrams, flight characteristics, emergency procedures and much, much more in Adobe acrobat .pdf file format.

File #2 Convair B-58A "Hustler" Flight Manual Performance Data (206 pages). This is the complete B-58 performance appendix, keyed to the Flight Manual, including detailed charts and data for range, take off & landing, climb & more in Adobe acrobat .pdf file format.

Both files are in .pdf format and are viewable on a computer DVD player.

The DVD is in NTSC format with a runtime of about 75 minutes and region-free. It is packaged in a plain clear plastic C-Shell DVD case without paper graphics.