B-66 Destroyer
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| Douglas B-66 Destroyer | ||
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 Douglas B-66 Destroyer | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | tactical bomber (also reconnaissance) | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| First Flight | 1954 | |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 75 ft 2 in | 22.9 m |
| Wingspan | 72 ft 6 in | 22.1 m |
| Height | 23 ft 7 in | 7.2 m |
| Wing area | 780 ft² | 72.5 m² |
| Weights | ||
| Empty | 42,540 lb | 19,300 kg |
| Loaded | 57,800 lb | 26,200 kg |
| Maximum takeoff | 83,000 lb | 38,000 kg |
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines | 2 × Allison J71-A-11 or -13 turbojets | |
| Thrust | 10,200 lbf | 45 kN |
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 631 mph | 1,000 km/h |
| Combat range | 900 miles | 1,400 km |
| Ferry range | 2470 miles | 4,000 km |
| Service ceiling | 39,400 ft | 12,000 m |
| Rate of climb | 5000 ft/min | 1,500 m/min |
| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m² |
| Avionics | ||
| Avionics | APS-27 and K-5 radars | |
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 2 × 20mm cannon in tail turret | |
| Bombs | 15,000 lb | 680 kg |
The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a Strategic Air Command light bomber based on the United States Navy's A3D Skywarrior, and intended to replace the Douglas B-26 Invader. A RB-66 photo-reconnaissance version was ordered simultaneously.
At first, the Air Force thought the conversion would be an easy matter of removing the carrier-specific features, so no prototypes were ordered, just five pre-production RB-66A models (the reconnaissance mission was deemed higher priority). The list of modifications grew, and before long, the easy conversion became a substantially new aircraft. Many of the changes were due to the Air Force's requirement for low-level operations, while the Navy plane was a high-altitude bomber.
The first RB-66A preproduction aircraft flew in 1954, while the first production RB-66B aircraft flew in early 1955. Deliveries to the USAF began in 1956, and 145 of this model were produced. They were used as the major night photo-reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF during this period.
Meanwhile, 72 of the B-66B bomber version were built, 69 fewer than originally planned. Thirteen B-66B aircraft were modified into EB-66B electronics countermeasures aircraft for the Vietnam War.
The RB-66C was a specialised electronic reconnaissance and ECM aircraft with a crew of seven; 36 were built. The additional crewmembers occupied what was the camera/bomb bay of other variants. RB-66C aircraft had distinctive wingtip pods. They were used over Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and later over Vietnam. In 1966, they were redesignated EB-66C.
The final B-66 variant was the WB-66D weather reconnaissance aircraft, 36 of which were constructed.
The B-66 had left USAF service by 1970. One RB-66B is at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio.
References
- USAF Museum. DOUGLAS RB-66B "DESTROYER". http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf31.htm
- J. Baugher. (2001). Douglas B-66 Destroyer. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher2/b66.html
| Related content | |
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| Related Development | X-21 |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | |
| Related Lists |
List of military aircraft of the United States - List of bomber aircraft |
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