Interesting archive of ephemera and photography pertaining to the escape capsule developed by Stanley Aviation for the General Dynamics/Convair B-58 Hustler, the first operational bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The group consists of a Stanley Aviation/General Dynamics brochure describing the escape capsule, "designed to keep pace with the Hustler's supersonic speeds"; an original issue of the Convair/General Dynamics "B-58 Hustler News" newsletter, discussing the new and innovative safety system at length; five original vintage glossy 8 x 10 photos showing the capsule and its ejection tests; three "Stanley Capsules" newsletters, dated from March 1962 to May 1962, documenting the testing of the capsule ("Stanley Escape Capsule Brings Live Chimp Down 20,000 Feet to Safe Landing," "Man Ejected Safely From Speeding B-58"); and five issues of the Fort Worth edition of General Dynamics' newsletter, dated January 1962 to April 1962, offering general company news ("Atlas 109-D Puts Astronaut Glenn In Earth Orbit") as well as updates on the B-58 and its escape capsule project ("Chimp Ejects Via Capsule At 630 mph"). In overall very good to fine condition, with a couple pieces of tape to one of the Fort Worth newsletters.
According to the National Museum of the United States Air Force: 'When the B-58 Hustler entered service in 1961, the three crew members had typical ejection seats, but ejection from the Hustler at very high speed proved extremely dangerous. To improve aircrew survivability, the Stanley Aircraft Corp. developed an ejection capsule which was retrofitted into the aircraft in late 1962. It allowed aircrew to eject safely at twice the speed of sound and from as high as 70,000 feet.
The capsule sealed the aircrew inside airtight clamshell doors, and air for the pressurized capsule came from the independent oxygen supply system. When activated, a harness system secured the occupant, and the clamshell doors closed. The occupant could either continue the ejection by firing the rocket motor or remain secure in the capsule until a lower altitude where he no longer needed a pressurized cabin. The pilot's capsule also had the control stick and other controls needed to fly the aircraft to a lower altitude. After ejection, a parachute lowered the entire capsule to the ground, and shock absorbers eased the impact. If the capsule landed in water, manually operated flotation cells turned it into a life raft and provided stability.'
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