PHOTO CONVAIR MODEL 4 USAF XB-58 HUSTLER #1 PROTOTYPE!

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First PROTOTYPE XB-58 HUSTLER #55-660 in flight, shown in the colors worn during the manufacturer's tests in late 1956 and early 1957. Convair's beautiful Model 4, B-58 Hustler. Unquestionably one of the most beautiful and, for the times, innovative jet bombers ever built. The aircraft first flew 11 NOV 1956 flown by test pilot B. A. Erikson (an event I still remember vividly, having watched from atop the Carswell ops building) and set a number of records: 1000 and 2000 KM closed course, Bleriot Trophy for sustained speed of 2000 KMH, Carswell-Paris record (unfortunately the crew was killed in the a/c at the Paris Air Show a few days later) and a Tokyo-London record.The designers chose to include the weapons load and fuel in a ventral pod rather than include a bomb bay in the four-engined delta Hustler. The pod was jettisoned over the target. The first of 116 B-58s built went into service with a crew training unit in December 1959, production ended in 1962 and the B-58 was withdrawn from SAC service in 1970. If memory serves me, t were problems with the fuel system which caused an early end.PERFECT original 8 X 10 black and white photograph from the files of the Consolidated Aircraft Co., later Convair and General Dynamics, with only some pinholes in the very corners of the border and very small area of the corner gone from having been pinned. 38% OF MY 3189 AUCTION SALES ARE TO REPEAT BUYERS! I acquired most of my 4000+ aviation photos more than thirty-five years ago from an aviation author and retired USMC Col. All of our photographs are original photographic images. None are digital reproductions. Most are from aircraft manufacturers, airlines or the U. S. Navy, U. S. Army Air Forces, etc. They range from the twenties through the fifties. The rest come from various sources. I do not make or sell copies of photographs. These photographs (and the aviation autographs and books I'm selling are my personal collection amassed over forty years of collecting that I'm selling in retirement. I am not in the business of buying and selling these items. I mail photographs very well protected from the weather and mishandling in padded envelopes with heavy cardboard for $5.00. They are mailed by First Class Mail with Delivery Confirmation. I combine auctions, so regardless of how many photos you win in one of my auctions or buy from my STORE you pay ONLY $5.00 for postage & handling. If this is an AUCTION sale please note that my auctions are United States ONLY. Please DO NOT USE CHECKOUT until after receiving my winning bid notification. I usually do that within an hour after the auction ends. Payment is due within seven days of winning bid notification. I accept cashiers checks, money orders and checks. I accept PayPal but must ad to their requirements that all PayPal orders be mailed with online tracking and only to confirmed addresses . I reserve the right to hold checks until cleared, usually ten business days. Please check my FEEDBACK regarding fast and well-packed shipments. 38% of my sales have been to repeat buyers! Please contact me after receiving my winning bid notification if you require insurance. Insurance on items under $50.00 is $1.35. I generally use insurance. I combine auction items to assure the lowest possible mail costs so check with me if you've won more than one item. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: MY APOLOGIES TO THE MANY, MANY INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WHO HAVE PURCHASED FROM MY AUCTIONS. PAYPAL'S REQUIREMENTS REGARDING "CONFIRMED ADDRESSES" AND INTERNATIONAL "ONLINE TRACKING" HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO CONTINUE ACCEPTING INTERNATIONAL BIDS. INTERNATIONAL BUYERS WHO INTEND TO PAY FOR THE AUCTION BY INTERNATIONAL MONEY ORDER PLEASE CONTACT ME PRIOR TO BIDDING ON THE AUCTION. My list of aviation autographs is now complete. If you'd like a copy of the 180 page list please by send by PayPal( ) or mail (Dan MacMurray, P.O. Box 1189, Pauma Valle... read more

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