Start of the B-58

The Air Force last week announced that it has ordered production to begin on its first supersonic jet bomber, the B58 Hustler. To be built at Fort Worth by Consolidated Vultee, the B58 can carry the hydrogen bomb, but will have to be based at Alaskan or overseas fields because of its relatively short range. The new medium bomber will probably not replace the 600 m.p.h. B-47 for at least two years.

The Air Force also ordered Lockheed Aircraft Corp. to begin work at Burbank, Calif, on the F-104, a lightweight, highspeed fighter. The F-104 grew out of demands by U.S. fighter pilots in Korea for a lighter, more maneuverable fighter for use against Red interceptors.

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