Convair B-58 Hustler-"Emergency Landing Edwards AFB"-9/18/61

[Blargaldalien]

Typical day of flight training for Chuck Norris?

[Enid2Sacramento]

Outstanding vid. I love the Tupperware crash helmets, too.

[monsterzeroJr]

It would have been easier to eject...The idea of flying around all night and refueling constantly seems odd.

[FuLLeFFekT1]

Pilot: I'm the BOSS.

[legendofwayne]

Well done, sir.

[viperdriver82]

flying at its best

[Skybolter]

14 hours on the air ? WOW =O 

[slowmodan]

WOW!!!...What a gas guzzeling airplane and genius thought on the air refueling.

[Skybolter]

THAT IS ONE BIG HELLUVA SCARY LANDING. NICE JOB 10 OF 10

[Skybolter]

THAT IS ON BIG HELLUVA SCARY LANDING. NICE JOB 10 OF 10

[priyonjoni]

pilot probably had a good piss after landing

[ironhorzmn]

I don't think they had 'zero-zero' ejection seats back then. It took large brass balls for everyone to remain onboard.

[YakAV8R]

USAF ALL-STARS!!! Classic footage!

[orangelion03]

The crews didnt require the use of standard helmets which offer protection during escape with normal ejection seats. As can be seen in the video, all they really do is hold the headphones and oxygen mask, and offer nominal impact protection to the head in case of impact with surrounding structure.

More info here: ejection site dot com slash eb58caps dot h t m

[orangelion03]

Skill and training. Outstanding airmanship.

As to the question below about the helmets...B-58s were equipped with the Stanley escape capsule which closed like a clamshell around the crew members in case of emergency egress (also closed in case of depressurization, pilots capsule containing the control stick and a window to see the instruments).

[mohawkov1d2d262]

Sort of off topic but since its shown in this film, did B-58 crews ever really wear those HGU-7 "baseball" helmets?

[sooperPOOPERstar]

i once flew a 24 hour mission on my fs 98...i did not even pause it to go to the bathroom.

[harmgb1]

'Well done!' to the crew.

[IdolHans]

Sucks to be initial cadre on a new weapon system----you get to write the flight manual----probably in your own blood!

[driver658658]

less than 2,000 pounds of fuel remaining when John finally got a "hook-up". Fuel flow was running at 120,000 pounds per hour so we had less than 45 seconds of flying time remaining in AB when we started taking on fuel. Aircraft 018 was one of the first B-58's that had fuel gauges in the 3rd station that I rode. Seven refueling with 14 hours in the air-ran out of water after about 6 hours.

[driver658658]

Rest of dads account less than 2,000 pounds of fuel remaining when John finally got a "hook-up". Fuel flow was running at 120,000 pounds per hour so we had less than 45 seconds of flying time remaining in AB when we started taking on fuel. Aircraft 018 was one of the first B-58's that had fuel gauges in the 3rd station that I rode. Seven refueling with 14 hours in the air-ran out of water after about 6 hours.

[driver658658]

Aircraft 58-1018 was the left main gear breaking up on rotation just after dark on takeoff 18 Sep 61. The debris tore a big hole in the aft main pod with 15,000 lbs of fuel being "lit off" by the AB's as it drained out. John Irving was the pilot with James "Pat" Serge the Navigator. We refueled at around ten thousand feet at 300 knots (gear door limit speed) and could not "mate up" with the boom due to the high deck angle at first. All tanks were empty with the Reserve tank going "down".

[driver658658]

Dads account of what happened have to post it in bits. He did say they were given the opportunity to bail out yet due to professionalism, cost of the aircraft they all decided to stay with the aircraft. And yes it did happen.

[Skybolter]

@driver658658 HOW THE USAF HANDLE THIS NIGHTNARE ?

[Skybolter]

@driver658658 HOW THE USAF HANDLE THIS NIGHTMARE ?

[driver658658]

My dad was DSO 3rd seat on this aircraft.

[stenic2]

why risk having a tired crew do an emergency landing after .. how many refuelings? and a full night of flying ?this video does not tell the true story...

[viagensimagens]

great video. thanks for posting it!

[DjErnestoB]

really nice work!