B-58 Hustler Tour (Navigator Cockpit)

September 27, 2010 - Strategic Air Command (SAC) Museum, Ashland, NE.
My father giving me the tour of his instrument panel during the B-47 Association Reunion. The museum volunteers working the event were kind enough to move the ladder from the pilot's cockpit to the navigator's so we could see inside.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• B-58

[eatmenarf1]

Holy cow! Your Dad had the capsules close on him and his crew? That only happened a few times, and not always with a happy ending. Brave to stay with the aircraft! Thank your Dad for me for his service.

[hera2511]

@eatmenarf1 I know, right? I was shocked at how claustrophobic the cockpit was...and the capsule was even smaller. My Dad is rather tall...it was a tight fit for him.

[drewzenski]

Can't wait for these to come out in 1/72 scale diecast. She'll look great in my collection.

[hera2511]

@drewzenski Please post here if she does...would love to get one for my Dad!

[MiHiVidz]

The B-58 was one of the first (if not THE first) to have a voice-synthesis alert system. It would be interesting to put some current through those old circuits and see if it was possible to download that program somehow to hear what the voice sounded like.

[hera2511]

@MiHiVidz Thank you so much for the link to the alert recordings. My father will love these. Best wishes!

[ButchNackley]

Great video. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Please tell your dad thank you for his service during those uncertain times.

[nightwriterou812]

@hera2511 The female voice became known as "Bitching Betty" due to her persistant and nagging reminders and warnings. The theory behind using a female voice is correct. Oddly many commercial airliners use a male voice.

[IdolHans]

Aircrewmembers love showing their kids their aircraft and systems.

[luisaviation]

this is awesome,  thanks for sharing

[hera2511]

@yzmaximus I agree...being allowed to stand so close to one was a real treat. Thank you for the kind words about my Dad.

[hera2511]

@MiHiVidz I read these comments to my Dad over Thanksgiving, and he said that the synthesized voice was female...the theory behind that was in an all-male crew, a female voice would make 'em all sit up and take notice. Sometimes she would border on the irritating...as when the fuel level dropped below a certain point, she would chime in over and over "Fuel level is below nominal" (I'll confirm exact wording with Dad...he was VERY specific about that particular phrase...heh)