Ft Worth Aviation Museum wants to save the Chanute Hustler

[Warbirdnerd]

Received this email today...

Help Us Bring Our Hustler Home
In 1946, Convair began work on a revolutionary new supersonic bomber known as the B-58 Hustler. On November 11, 1956, those efforts became a reality with the first flight of a Hustler from the Convair plant here in Fort Worth.

Over the course of its career, this Mach 2, US Air Force medium bomber held no less than 19 world speed records. Some of the trophies won by the Hustler were the Bleriot trophy, the Thompson trophy, the Mackay trophy, the Bendix trophy and the Harmon trophy. It still holds a 1963 record for flight from Tokyo to London in 8 hours, 35 minutes, 20.4 seconds, averaging 938 miles per hour.

A few months ago we were informed that one of the original prototype aircraft might be available for return to Fort Worth. Many thousands of residents of North Texas designed, built, maintained, and flew these aircraft, helping build Fort Worth's reputation of aviation excellence and innovation. There are only eight of these iconic airplanes still in existence of the 116 built here. We knew we had to make an effort to bring this airplane home as a show of community pride and to honor the people of the region who helped win the Cold War.

Over the last few months, we began working with the City of Fort Worth and the B-58 Hustler Association to bring YB-58A Hustler #55-0666 home. Now, it appears that our collective efforts may be successful.

This past week, we were informed that the City of Fort Worth had agreed to support the efforts of the museum and B-58 Association to obtain a loan of the aircraft from the National Museum of the US Air Force. This private-public partnership is a landmark effort on behalf of the people of the region.

Agreeing to the loan is only the beginning of what it will take to bring this aircraft back home. The Hustler is nearly 100 feet long by 60 feet wide and 30 feet tall, and weighs close to 50,000 pounds. It is not flyable and never will be. It must be disassembled, transported, and reassembled here. It will also require some repair work, concrete footings for its display, and possibly repainting it. We are estimating the total cost to accomplish all of these goals at $250,000 with a minimum of $160,000 to bring it home.

Although the City will help with these costs, we are expected to raise the funds to reimburse the City. If we fail, this aircraft will in all likelihood be sent to the boneyard and be scrapped. We cannot allow this to happen.

We are planning a multi-level, broad-based fundraising effort to include local support and a national Kickstarter campaign in May. We hope to have the fundraising phase completed by July, with the aircraft moved no later than August.

Your help will be vital in bringing this iconic piece of North Texas history home. For now, we do not need your donation, but we would appreciate a pledge to support these efforts. If our minimum goal of $160,000 is reached, you will be asked to complete your pledge and fund a donation.

We are offering a unique group of rewards on a multi-level appeal. Click here for details.

We have also set up a Facebook Group for information and conversations about the B-58 and our efforts to "Bring Our Hustler Home!"

Please consider supporting this great project.

More info here:
http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/?u=a81 ... 8af838c&e=[UNIQID]

Last edited by Warbirdnerd on Mon Mar 28, 2016 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Pat Carry]

Sounds like a great plan. Hope they succeed!

Last edited by Pat Carry on Mon Mar 28, 2016 9:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris Brame]

Looks like it would be an outdoor display, but it's better than the smelter! Wonder why they don't mention that it's the Chanute plane, other than the serial number?

[Kyleb]

Sad thing was, there was a Hustler at Carswell about 30 years ago. And a B-36, and an F-89, and lots of other cool stuff.

Hope they are able to secure this one.

[sandiego89]

I wish them luck and hope it goes to a good home. I did find the "If we fail, this aircraft will in all likelihood be sent to the boneyard and be scrapped.." a bit misleading (why would it go the boneyard if it's gonna get scrapped) and over the top- I understand the need to motivate donors, but surely other museums were/are interested in this airframe? Yes I understand the cost of moving a Hustler is a major deal. I worry more about a few others there, especially the C-133.

[K5DH]

Sad thing was, there was a Hustler at Carswell about 30 years ago. And a B-36, and an F-89, and lots of other cool stuff.

The B-36 City of Fort Worth is now living in Tucson after being beautifully restored by the fine folks at Pima Air & Space Museum. The B-58 was nicely restored in a hangar at Meacham Airport, went on display at Lone Star Flight Museum, and eventually moved on to another museum (can't remember... senior moment). I don't recall what happened to the other aircraft from the Carswell display yard (not really a museum; they were all just sitting in a field with a fence around it). None of them were in great shape and they didn't appear to be receiving much attention, other than from vandals and souvenir thieves.

I wish our friendly next-door neighbors the best of luck in getting the Hustler to Fort Worth (VFM and FWAM are literally right next to each other at Meacham Airport). FWAM has a nice collection of aircraft from the Cold War era to the present. The B-58 will fit right in!

[RyanShort1]

Here's a look at what the Ft Worth Aviation Museum currently looks like. Shot was taken today.



More photos on the WIX Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/wixhq/

[Steve Nelson]

Is that a B-36 main gear and props on the corner?

SN

[RyanShort1]

Is that a B-36 main gear and props on the corner?

SN

Yes.

[Chris Brame]

Great photo, Ryan! (Any lower and they would have charged you for admission, right? )

[RyanShort1]

Great photo, Ryan! (Any lower and they would have charged you for admission, right? )

The gates were closed on the ground, but I did manage to get this shot:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 482&type=3

[67N20]

Sad thing was, there was a Hustler at Carswell about 30 years ago. And a B-36, and an F-89, and lots of other cool stuff.

The B-58 was nicely restored in a hangar at Meacham Airport, went on display at Lone Star Flight Museum, and eventually moved on to another museum (can't remember... senior moment).

The B-58 that was at LSFM is now at Little Rock AFB.

[JohnB]

What happened to the one at Kelly...(The one they pulled from the weeds at Litle Rock an they had to put fiberglass pods on it)?

Last edited by JohnB on Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[wendovertom]

So, they would have to keep the B-58 outside? With all due respect, this does not seem like the best plan - well except it keeps the plane from being scrapped. Or is there an inside space for the Hustler not in the photo?

Tom P.

[oscardeuce]

That O2 seems to be missing the rear prop