The Douglas B-66 Destroyer was a light bomber developed by Douglas Aircraft Company. Introduced in 1956, it was primarily built for the United States Air Force (USAF) and mainly derived from the jet-powered strategic bomber A-3 Skywarrior. The B-66 was powered by twin Allison turbojet engines rated at 10,200 lbf each.

Manufacturer:
Douglas Aircraft Co.
Country:
United States
Manufactured:
1954 to: 1958
ICAO:
B66
Price:
US$2.55 million (1958)
Avionics:
Engine:
2x Allison J71-A-11
Jet
Power:
10,200 pound-force
Max Cruise Speed:
550 knots
1,019 Km/h
Approach Speed (Vref):
116 knots
Travel range:
1,564 Nautical Miles
2,897 Kilometers
Fuel Economy:
Service Ceiling:
43,000 feet
Rate of Climb:
5000 feet / minute
25.40metre / second
Take Off Distance:
Landing Distance:
Max Take Off Weight:
37,650 Kg
83,003 lbs
Max Landing Weight:
25,455 Kg
56,118 lbs
Max Payload:
7,000 Kg
15,432 lbs
Fuel Tank Capacity:
4,650 gallon
17,602 litre
Baggage Volume:
Seats - Economy / General:
3 seats
Seats - Business Class:
Seats - First Class:
Cabin Height:
Cabin Width:
Cabin Length:
Exterior Length:
22.9 metre - 75.13 feet
Tail height:
7.19 metre - 23.59 feet
Fuselage Diameter:
2 metre - 6.56 feet
Wing Span / Rotor Diameter:
22.1 metre - 72.51 feet
Wing Tips:
No Winglets

In a demand to replace the old Douglas A-26 Invader fleet, a contract between the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Douglas Aviation Company was secured to develop a strictly land-based light bomber version of the United States Navy’s carrier-based attack aircraft A-3 Skywarrior. The developing aircraft was just vaguely altered but included specific features needed by the Air Force and was designated as the B-66 Destroyer. On June 28, 1954, the aircraft conducted its maiden flight. In 1956, the B-66 Destroyer was introduced to the United States Air Force and a total of two hundred and ninety-four samples were acquired. In 1975, the B-66 Destroyer retired.

Based on the A-3 Skywarrior, the B-66 Destroyer featured a slab-sided fuselage with an exterior length of 22.9 meters. The height was 3.7 meters and the fuselage diameter was 2 meters. It had a high-mounted swept wing with a wingspan of 22.1 meters and a wing area of 72 square meters. The tail had a sizeable area vertical tail fin with a tail height of 7.19 meters and conventional horizontal stabilizers. The aircraft was equipped with a fully retractable landing gear with a wheelbase of 8.5 meters.

The B-66 Destroyer was powered by two Allison J71-A-11 single-spool turbojet engines. It was an afterburning turbojet with a 16-stage axial compressor, cannular combustors with ten flame tubes, 3-stage turbine, and pressure spray oil system. Each engine produced a maximum thrust of 10,200 lbf. The aircraft had a maximum speed of 548 knots at 6,000 feet and a cruise speed of 459 knots. The combat range was 782 nautical miles while the ferry range was 2,146 nautical miles. It could fly up to 39,400 feet and could climb at a rate of 5,000 feet per minute.

The aircraft had a maximum takeoff and landing weight of 37,650 kg and 25,455 kg respectively. It had a maximum payload of 7000 kg and a fuel capacity of 4,650 gallons.

All Douglas Aircraft Co. Aircraft

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