Convair YB-60

Convair · United States · first flew 1952 · bomber

The Convair YB-60 was an attempt to re-wing the B-36 bomber with a swept wing and replace its piston-and-jet mixed powerplant with eight Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojets in paired underwing pods. It competed unsuccessfully against the Boeing B-52.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	4 × turbojet, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	52.12 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Swept-wing B-36 derivative with eight jet engines — real count 8, field cap 4
Massive intercontinental bomber with paired jet pods under each swept wing
Lost the competition to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress decisively

Appears superficially similar to the B-52 but is larger overall, with the B-36's distinctive nose profile, a swept wing, and eight jets in four paired twin pods. Real engine count is 8.

Specifications

The Convair YB-60 has a length of 52.12 m (171 ft).
It has a wingspan of 62.79 m (206 ft).
Its maximum speed is 818 km/h (508 mph).
Typical crew: 5.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed as an evolutionary upgrade to the B-36, the YB-60 first flew in April 1952, just two days after the B-52 prototype. Comparative trials showed the B-52 was faster and had better handling; the YB-60 programme was cancelled in 1953 with only two prototypes built. The effort demonstrated that clean-sheet design was superior to B-36 derivatives.

Variants

Two YB-60 prototypes; the second was never completed to flying standard.

Where you'll see it

Never entered operational service. Both prototypes were scrapped after programme cancellation.

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