High Gallery
 |
U. S.
Military Aircraft B-66B DESTROYER Photo By Coil B. Thouanel |
|
The Korean War (1950-53) highlighted the US Air Force's lack of an advanced tactical bomber, and the service decided to adopt a land base derivative of the US Navy's A3D Skywarrior. Douglas was contracted to supply five RB-66A all weather photo reconnaissance aircraft. The first of these flew in June 1954 with 9,570-lb thrust YJ71-A-9 turbojets. This abandoned naval features such as the arrested hook, strengthened landing gear, and wing fold system, but added aerodynamic refinements, ejector seats, cameras, and provision for nav/attack radar. There followed 145 RB-66 production aircraft for service from 1956. Other models were produced in bomber and specialist reconnaissance variants. Several of these were converted into electronic warfare platforms for valuable service during the Vietnam. |
TECHNICAL DATA
| Description | Specifications |
| Manufacturer: Douglas | Length: 75 ft. 2 in. |
| First Flight: June 1954 | Height: 23 ft. 7 in. |
| Model: B | Wing Span: 72 ft. 6 in. Wing Area: 780.0 sq. ft. |
| Crew: Three | Empty Weight: 43,476 lb. |
| Nickname: Destroyer | Max. Weight: 83,000 lb. |
| Basic Role: Medium bomber. | Armament: Two 20-mm cannon in a radar controlled tail barrette. |
| Other Versions: RB-66A pre production reconnaissance model. RB-66B reconnaissance model with more power. B-66B with 15,000-lb bomb load instead of cameras. EB-66B EMC conversions. RB-66C seven crew reconnaissance aircraft. EB-66C a RB-66Cs with more modern ECM gear. WB-66D five crew combat area weather reconnaissance aircraft. EB-66E a RB-66B conversions to EB-66B standard. |
Performance |
| Principal User: U. S. A. | Power Plant: Allison J71-A-11 turbojets. |
|
Propulsion |
Horsepower: 10,200-lb thrust. |
| Range: Radius 925 miles. | No. Of Engines: Two |
| Max. Speed: 631 mph. | |
| Ceiling: 38,900 ft. | |
| Climb Rate: 4,840 ft. per minute. |