YB-60 Taxies Out

One of the two Convair YB-60 prototypes taxies out for a test flight. Originally designated XB-36G, the YB-60 incorporated the same fuselage as the B-36 with new wings, nose and tail sections as well as pure turbojet power plants. The Convair aircraft was found to be significantly inferior to the competing Boeing B-52 and was cancelled.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Convair
• YB-60
• Bomber
• USAF
• B-36
• XB-36G
• Aviation
• Jet
• B-52

[DevanC105]

Im guessing this is the jet-powered version of the B-36?

[TsurugiJiri]

...or you could read "About This Video" and not have to "guess".

[elsandobottoms]

I saw this baby on its first flight. A kid racing down a gravel road on his bicycle, totally excited. Most of my family had built B-24s during the war and the B-36 after that. I couldn't imagine how a cool plane, the YB-60, with the sharp pointed nose could be beat out by the ugly B-52. Later I understood. The B-52 has been a war horse.

[kuluku]

Nice aircraft, but lost to B-52.

[lincbond442]

Prototype aircraft had so much character in the 50's. Most had very distinct writing on the nose with the aircraft designation and company logo. Really cool stuff!

[Tremolux59]

@DevanC105

Basically yes.

[Sublette217]

Interesting - this shows the tail wheel deployed...

[kdraper2007]

What do you mean, Not really? they stuck a moderately swept wings on a B-36 which was obsolete when it entered service. that's halfassed. if every manufacturer did that you'd be blasting around in a jet powered Curtis Jenny bi-plane. B-52 had a higher speed, higher altitude, & was a much better handling airplane.

[NickHey]

Not really, since the YB-60 had 70% same parts as the B-36, it was way cheaper to make than the B-52, and carried a heavier bomb load

[kdraper2007]

Convair tried to halfass a jet bomber & lost out to Boeing. Just shows what happens when you get lazy.

[toddi1971]

I love the B-36 but we have to admit that B52 has much better performance than YB-60. Speed alone of B-52 is 100mph faster than YB-60.

[BrynMawrYamBag]

I love the B-36...But this takes away from its legend. We are still flying B-52's...If we would have went with the B-60 I dont think we would be flying them nowadays.