Originally Posted by
antisthenes
"There are many things I'd say about or call the B-58, but monstrosity wouldn't be one of them ("deathtrap" would be appropriate - the accident rate was horrid)." Common misconception about the B-58, if you take away the accidents in development (not unsurprising for such a quantum leap in technology), the accident rate was perfectly acceptable.
The aircraft could and should have continued service well into the 1970s.
It could have (in fact it lasted to 1970) but it was horribly dependent on refuelling support and apparently was extremely expensive in maintenance. And high speed at altitude wasn't much use by then.