The Convair Model 58-9 was a proposed American supersonic transport, developed by the Convair division of General Dynamics and intended to carry fifty-two passengers at over Mach 2. Derived from the B-58 Hustler bomber, it was designed in 1961 but no examples of the type were ever built.
source.image(PrtSc): Found And Explained
The Model 58-9 was Convair’s proposal for the third step in a three-step program for the development of a SST based on the company’s B-58 Hustler supersonic medium bomber. Derived from the proposed B-58C, an enlarged version of the Hustler,the Model 58-9 was anticipated to follow up on route-proving using an unmodified B-58, with a version of the bomber using a five-passenger version of its unique external weapons pod being an intermediate step to the final airliner version.
source.image(PrtSc): Found And Explained
Its long slim fuslage could easily hold 52 passengers in a 1-1 configuration, and have the crew in side by side positions. Although COnvair also suggested that they could slightly expand the cabin to either have 1-2 seating or even 2 by 2 seating, easily doubling the capacity.
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This jet would be able to cruise at Mach 2.4 for 2,525 nautical miles. Its a little shy of New York to London, but the jet could easily land in Ireland or Greenland to refuel, and keep going – still easily arriving before typical commercial aircraft.
The Model 58-9 was expected to have a maximum take-off weight of 190,000 pounds, and would have a range of 2,500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of Mach 2.4. If the project had been approved, it was projected by Convair that the first prototype of the airliner could fly within three years of the project being approved, with eighteen months of flight testing, using four prototype aircraft, following the aircraft’s maiden flight.
