Poll: Which Supersonic US Bomber Makes Your Heart Beat The Fastest?
Friday, May 25, 2012 at 04:17PM 
1950's era Convair B-58 Hustler
I figure it's time for a poll to see which supersonic bomber from the US y'all think is the sweetest, the hottest, or just the mostest of the most. It's an easy choice for me (B-58 Hustler), but I'll add that each of these three aircraft are top-shelf awesome to me. And yeah, I know the XB-70 was never anything more than an X-plane, but you just can't can't have a poll about supersonic bombers and not include the stunning Valkyrie.
So please take a moment and vote for your favorite of these three supersonic bombers: the Convair B-58 Hustler; the North American XB-70 Valkyrie; or the Rockwell B-1 Lancer. If you're an Aardvark fan, sorry... I decided we're talking full on dedicated bombers for this poll. And really(?) - you'd pick the F-111 over any of these three hotties? Lets. Get. Real!
The poll is at the bottom of the post. Happy voting : )
1960's era North American XB-70 Valkyrie
1970's era Rockwell B-1 Lancer
B-58, military, poll Email Article
Reader Comments (16)
8( ...that...was one of the hardest choices of my life lol...
You are too cool Jenessa : )
Doesnt the FB-111 count?
Jason - I think you just looked at the pix and didn't do the reading!
Oh I did. And I'd argue that the FB isn't the same as the F-111
Well, you might have a point that the FB-111 isn't the same as the F-111, but I made the executive decision that the Aardvark and all its derivatives weren't gonna get to play in this poll... it's just not pretty enough in my opinion : /
I had to pick the Hustler after being lucky enough to see it fly on a daily basis. Awesome!
I've loved the B58 ever since Jimmy Stewart flew it in Strategic Air Command. Wished it came in flat black.
I chose the XB-70 only because I was at Edwards and worked only 1/2 mile from the lift off end of the runway and saw it fly many times from 1965 thru Sep of 1966. HOWEVER, the B-58 was the chase plane and it too is deserving of a top vote. To see the B-58 take off and come around in trail of the B-70 on take-off roll (about two miles away) with the brown desert landscape,beautiful blue sky background and the white
B-70 pouring out coal black exhaust was absolutly awesome. Somewhere I should still have the 'time lapse' pictures I took with my el cheapo camera of the time. If I can find them and scan them I will try and post them as well. John L.
PeeKay wrote: "I've loved the B58 ever since Jimmy Stewart flew it in Strategic Air Command." Although I've seen that film many times, I can't remember the Hustler's even appearing in it. General Stewart, IIRC, spent all his flight time in a B-36.
We took off from Travis AFB for a round robin flight back to Schilling AFB via a flyover at Edwards AFB. About 15 minutes north we had #3 engine failure and decided to land at Edwards. While waiting for a new engine we had the opportunity to watch the B-58 break a world record at low level flight. On the ramp, all we could see from the east was a trail of smoke and a huge boom from breaking the sound barrier. He came down the runway on a west heading at tremendous speed and it seemed like an eternity for the sound to come by. We were never told its official speed but it was fast.
Flew as Nav-Bomb (2nd station) in B-58 and I voted for this great aircraft as it is my favorite.
However I have flown all models of the F-111 and I want to tell you it could fly higher and faster than any of the 3 choices. Been to 2.75 mach at 71,000 feet in a F model and 1.27 mach at 400 feet on automatic terrain following in the A model. The FB (Sac bomber) with longer wings would not be able to go as fast or as high but I was never in an FB that tried. It was also well known that the F-111 could not do a loop however a pilot (D.L.) from Nellis did indeed do it. I don't think he ever did again. Again the B-58 Hustler was the best but the F-111 made my heart beat faster more offen.
YB-58 has to be my favorite as I flew as flight test engineer in 55-661
which was the 2nd one built. see http://www.johnnyarmstrong.com
The pilot was famous Fitz Fulton. Yes I did make it to Mach 2
(when Mach 2 was new)
Where is the Vulcan bomber? Beautiful and actually saw active service
Andrew - I agree that the Vulcan is very beautiful, but it wasn't supersonic, and that was a big part of the equation here... plus, I was also just focusing on US aircraft for this poll.
gennacomp e3d3fd1842 https://flagonsworkshop.net/ucmanleli