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Coincidentally, I was watching a YouTube video last night about the YB-60. This was a version of the B-36 with the same jet engines as the B-52. And the aircraf
by Tangurena2 4y ago
Coincidentally, I was watching a YouTube video last night about the YB-60. This was a version of the B-36 with the same jet engines as the B-52. And the aircraft lost in a competition with the B-52 because the Boeing jet was just plain better than the Convair jet.
Boeing did a very good job. I don't think there have been (or will be) another aircraft that lasted this long in service. There are prettier aircraft (in my opinion), but "pretty" doesn't get the job done. The Big Ugly Fat Fella will be around for quite some time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcumiS0uk5o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcumiS0uk5o
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_YB-60 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_YB-60
- themadturk 4y agoNo, the B-52 is a paragon of beauty (no sarcasm there...it's always been my favorite aircraft). And the C-130 is right around the same age, not to mention still (I believe) being manufactured.
- Animats 4y agoSo is the UH-1, the Huey helicopter. Over 16,000 made, and many still flying.
- aerostable_slug 4y agoMy uncle (Army aviator) retired some years ago as a chief warrant officer with a ton of hours in Hueys, starting with a couple tours in Vietnam. He likes to say that the flight crew from the last B-52 landed at Davis-Monthan will be flown back to their cars in a UH-1. He might be right. Relating his time in the aircraft in VN, he said there was little to compare with skimming the rice paddies with the doors removed, periodically going up a bit to clear water buffalo, carrying a load of beer for the guys in a firebase. He mostly flew medevac slicks in combat. Gotta save those boys.