Douglas B-66 Destroyer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_B-66_Destroyer

The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a U.S. Air Force Tactical Air Command light
bomber based on the United States Navy's A-3 Skywarrior carrier-based heavy
attack aircraft. It was intended to replace the Douglas A-26 Invader. An RB-66
photo-reconnaissance version was ordered simultaneously. The USAF B-66 retained
the three-man crew from the US Navy A-3, but incorporated ejection seats that
the US Navy variant lacked.

Deliveries to the USAF began in 1956, with 145 of this model produced. RB-66s
were used as the major night photo-reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF during
this time, many examples serving with tactical reconnaissance squadrons based in
the United Kingdom and in West Germany. A total of 72 of the B-66B bomber
version were built, 69 fewer than originally planned. A total of 13 B-66B
aircraft later were modified into EB-66B electronic countermeasures aircraft for
the cold war with Russia, and were stationed at RAF Chelveston with the 42 Tac
Recon Sqdn who did the conversion in the early 1960s. They would rotate out of
an alert pad in Spain during the time that the 42nd had them. These and the
RB-66Cs that the 42nd had would eventually be sent to Vietnam. Unlike the U.S.
Navy's A-3 Skywarrior, which performed some bombing missions, the Destroyer was
not used as a bomber in Vietnam.


Role
Light bomber

Manufacturer
Douglas Aircraft Company

Designer
Ed Heinemann

First flight
28 June 1954

Introduction
1956

Retired
1973 (USAF)

Primary user
United States Air Force

Number built
294

Unit cost

US$2.55 million (RB-66B)[2]


Developed from
U.S. Navy A-3 Skywarrior

Developed into
Northrop X-21

On 10 March 1964, a 19th TRS RB-66C flying on a photo-reconnaissance mission
from the Toul-Rosières Air Base in France, was shot down over East Germany by a
Soviet MiG-21 after it had crossed over the border due to a compass malfunction.
The crew ejected and were taken prisoner briefly before being repatriated.

The final Douglas B-66 variant was the WB-66D weather reconnaissance aircraft,
36 of which were constructed.

The EB-66C/E was removed from USAF service by 1975 and most examples either
scrapped in place or placed in storage for eventual scrapping.

Specifications (B-66)

General characteristics
Crew: 3
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)
Empty weight: 42,540 lb (19,300 kg)
Loaded weight: 57,800 lb (26,200 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 83,000 lb (38,000 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Allison J71-A-11 or -13 turbojets, 10,200 lbf (45 kN) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 631 mph (548 kn, 1,020 km/h)
Combat radius: 900 mi (780 nmi, 1,500 km)
Ferry range: 2,470 mi (2,150 nmi, 3,970 km)
Service ceiling: 39,400 ft (12,000 m)
Rate of climb: 5,000 ft/min (25 m/s)
Wing loading: 74.1 lb/ft² (361.4 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.35

Armament

Guns: 2 20 mm M24 cannons in radar-controlled/remotely operated tail turret
Bombs: 15000 lb (6,803.9 kg)

Avionics

APS-27 and K-5 radars





*