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'62 Bx Trophy [[?]]

FOR THE RECORD

TRAIL MAKER COMES HOME-USAF 8-58 Hustler supersonic bomber lands at Los Angeles after settling a new Bendix Air Race Record coast-to-coast and back again.

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FRINGE BENEFITS FROM A SUPERSONIC RACE

It was a cold, cloudy and windy day on Long Island. The Esso gas station attendant shivered as he dashed from the pump to the warmth of his office. Inside he went about the routine business of counting bills, and making change.

Without warning or reason, the building shook, windows rattled! Merchandise danced on the shelves! But, the attendant ignored it, went about the completion of his transaction. As he handed change to the customer, he said:

"That must be that jet plane the radio's been telling us about all morning. Wonderful thing isn't it? All the way from California in a couple of hours."

Other men in the office, who had ignored the boom, nodded their heads in agreement without interrupting their conversation about the trotters.

This reaction may not be typical, but it is indicative of the reactions of millions along the B 58 Bendix Race route as the Convair/General Dynamics jet bomber flashed by, high overhead, leaving sonic boom trails from coast to coast and back again.

The Bendix Trophy has been awarded to plane commander, Captain Robert G. Sowers and his crew at luncheon ceremonies in Washington. In addition, the Distinguished Flying Cross was presented to each of them by SAC commander, General Thomas Power.

By now the medals have been stowed away in bedroom drawers for safe keeping-the Bendix trophy replicas have been placed in headquarters glass cases. Other equally challenging problems of the moment have made the historic flight something more than a pleasant memory and an historic "inscription" upon a trophy. Military strategists look upon the B-58's 1,041 mph round trip dash from Los Angeles to New York City and back in 4 hrs. and 42 min., as a practical demonstration of a combat capability in which jet crews operated precisely as planned with refueling tanker crews.

Underlying these military considerations is the simple fact that America demonstrated its tolerance and support of the flight because it knew it was going to happen, why it was being done, and the extent of the noise and disturbance to be expected.

Yes, newspaper headlines carried stories of damage and public annoyance but USAF and government officials term this to be vocal complaints of a very few. In actuality, public reaction was realistic acceptance.

SAC has been using Minneapolis, Minnesota, and other key western cities as practice target areas for supersonic bomber-navigation training missions. Corridors have been set aside for entering and leaving the "target" zones. Local citizens have known and understood the operation and they have accepted the "boom" as their part of the bargain. They wouldn't campaign to have it done for amusement, but since it must be done in the national interest, they live without it.

Another point of the Bendix Race, was the fact that the USAF worked closely with the Federal Aviation Agency in programming the route and the schedule so as to provide FAA with measurable conditions for estimating the effect of supersonic transport operations. What benefits may accrue from this activity is not yet known, but it represents the first

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COAST-TO-COAST
and Return!
4hrs. 42 min!
LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK
THREE TRANSCONTINENTAL SPEED RECORDS WERE BROKEN-THEY WON THE FAMOUS BENDIX TROPHY_AND, MUCH GLORY FOR THE AIR FORCE
THIS THREE-MAN CREW IN A B-58 ELECTRIFIED THE WORLD ON MARCH 5, 1962, WHEN THEY STREAKED FROM LOS ANGELES TO NEW YORK AND BACK IN 4 HOURS, 42 MINUTES!
IT WAS,"JUST ROUTINE" THEY SAID, "NO SWEAT."

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS June 1962