| Douglas B-66 Destroyer
|
Douglas B-66 Destroyer
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| Description
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| Role | tactical bomber (also reconnaissance)
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| Crew | 3
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| First Flight | 1954
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| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company
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| Dimensions
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| Length | 75 ft 2 in | 22.9 m
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| Wingspan | 72 ft 6 in | 22.1 m
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| Height | 23 ft 7 in | 7.2 m
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| Wing area | 780 ft² | 72.5 m²
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| Weights
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| Empty | 42,540 lb | 19,300 kg
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| Loaded | 57,800 lb | 26,200 kg
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| Maximum takeoff | 83,000 lb | 38,000 kg
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| Powerplant
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| Engines | 2 × Allison J71-A-11 or -13 turbojets
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| Thrust | 10,200 lb | 45 kN
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| Performance
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| Maximum speed | 631 mph | 1,000 km/h
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| Combat range | 900 miles | 1,400 km
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| Ferry range | 2470 miles | 4,000 km
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| Service ceiling | 39,400 ft | 12,000 m
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| Rate of climb | 5000 ft/min | 1,500 m/min
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| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m²
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| Avionics
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| Avionics | APS-27 and K-5 radars
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| Armament
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| Guns | 2 × 20mm cannon in tail turret
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| Bombs | 15,000 lb | 680 kg
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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 less 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 USAF Museum.
References
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