Convair YB-60

The Convair YB-60 was a prototype heavy bomber that Convair built for the United States Air Force in the early 1950s as an all-jet development of the piston-engined B-36 Peacemaker. It kept about 72 percent of the B-36 parts, used swept wings and tail surfaces, and carried eight Pratt and Whitney J57 turbojets in four underwing pods. It first flew on 18 April 1952, three days after Boeing YB-52 had flown. It cruised about 100 miles an hour slower than the Boeing aircraft and had handling problems, so the Air Force chose the B-52 despite the YB-60 heavier bomb load and lower price. Flight testing ended in January 1953 after 66 flying hours. Both airframes were scrapped by July 1954, and Convair turned its attention to the 880 airliner instead.