1960 B-58 - The first flight of the first supersonic bomber

A BOMBER WITH A SONIC BOOM
The United States Air Force introduced the first supersonic bomber into service March 15, 1960. The Convair, a Lockheed Martin heritage company, B-58 “Hustler” had a delta wing and could fly at Mach 2 with an operational ceiling of 63,000 feet. Although it had a shorter range and payload capacity than the B-52, the four turbojet engines allowed the aircraft to climb at 17,400 feet per minute fully loaded. And, overall, it provided the Strategic Air Command with a rapid, nuclear-strike option.