BIESEL@RUTGERS.ARPA (09/07/84)
Concerning "unsuccessful" supersonic bombers, both the B-58 and the FB-111 have seen service with the Air Force, as opposed to the XB-70, which never got beyond the prototype stage. Concerning "gimmicks" to win defense contracts, ignorance of aerodynamics and structural dynamics of aircraft should not be sufficient motivation for flaming about aerospace companies. The XB-70 had dropped tips, and the FB-111 and B-1 have wings that pivot for very sound aerodynamic reasons. The same is true of the forward swept wings of the X-29. Finally, the XB-70 crash was caused by a collision with a chase plane taking pictures. The chase plane came in contact with the aft wing structure of the XB-70, causing enough damage the make the XB-70 uncontrollable. It was definitely not a question of a slow and cumbersome aircraft being unable to avoid an impending collision. Given the position of the chase plane impact, the pilot of the XB-70 could not even see the chase plane. In any case, it ought to be pretty obvious that a large aircraft is less maneuverable than a small one, and the XB-70 crash hardly makes a statement about the relative vulnerability of US bombers vs. Soviet fighters. The crash of the B-1 prototype is still being investigated, and the exact sequence of events is not known. Until they are known, comments about causes of the crash, the maneuverability - or lack of it - of the B-1 are conjecture at best. Pete. -------
jeb@eisx.UUCP (Jim Beckman) (09/11/84)
<> I'm curious as to why the B-58 Hustler was dropped from Air Force use. My only memory of it is a plastic model I built as a kid. Can anyone tell us about how many were put into service, what its deficiencies were, and why it disappeared? Jim Beckman AT&T-ISL South Plainfield, NJ eisx!jeb
rjn@hpfcmc.UUCP (rjn) (09/12/84)
[] re: demise of B-58 I have heard that loss of an engine while supersonic was very dangerous in the B58 and could result in total loss of control resulting in aircraft breakup. I recently read that even in the SR71, an engine-out will crack your helmet smartly against the canopy, even though the engines are much closer to the a/c centerline and the yaw is quickly compensated for by the on-board computer. Bob Niland hplabs!hpfcla!rjn