Col. George Holt Jr., B-58 HUSTLER bombardier

Col. George Holt Jr., retired B-58 HUSTLER bombardier during the Cold War.

[JebHoge]

That story about getting to zero groundspeed was hilarious.

[otisarmyalso]

Wonderful but sad to see wasted efforts

[Klooch]

The 58 was an excellent aircraft and should have been kept in service a bit longer. However, the aircraft is at it's base simply a weapon and as such is subject to evolving enemy countermeasures, weapon evolution and mission. Additionally,   war fighting techniques change due various factors. In specific here the need for strategic  atomic munitions to be brought to the target and deployed via a gravity bomb changed.  The preferred contemporary munition is launched in a "stand off" mode and powers itself to the target thus adding to the survivability of the launching aircraft and crew. Could the 58 have been adapted to carry nuclear armed cruise missiles as the 52 does? Maybe, but how long would Convair have supported the aircraft. Another fine aircraft facing this dilemma is the A-10 whose manufacturer is gone and the facilities and commitment for it's support nil. The need for new weapons of war will never cease until there is no longer any need for war.

[PaulHigginbothamSr]

I cry for col. holt, because he was completely correct, and shows blundering leaders, like with the f35, behind him in a picture, of american decline.