Boeing F-15EX Eagle II
The 2020s rebirth of the Eagle — more hardpoints than any tactical fighter in service, hypersonic-missile carriage, and the EPAWSS suite.
United States
The largest collection in this encyclopedia: from the Bell X-1 that first broke the sound barrier to the SR-71, the F-22 and the B-21 Raider — every generation of American speed.
Bell X-5
The first aircraft to change its wing sweep angle in flight. Two prototypes flew in 1951, proving the concept that later gave us the F-14, F-111 and B-1.
Convair F2Y Sea Dart
The only supersonic seaplane fighter ever built. Convair’s delta-winged hydro-ski jet briefly exceeded Mach 1 in 1954 before the Navy lost interest.
North American XF-108 Rapier
The cancelled Mach 3 long-range interceptor that would have been America’s answer to Soviet bombers. A mockup was built but the program died in 1959.
Lockheed Have Blue
The classified proof-of-concept demonstrator that proved faceted stealth worked. Two were built, both crashed, but the program led directly to the F-117.
Northrop Tacit Blue
The “whale” — Northrop’s 1980s curved-surface stealth demonstrator that proved low observability could come from smooth shapes, not just facets.
Boeing X-32
Boeing’s losing entry in the Joint Strike Fighter competition — a chin-intake delta-wing demonstrator that flew 1.6 Mach but lost to the X-35 in 2001.
Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
Overview 📷 Photo: U.S. Navy / Public Domain The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is an American twin-engine, carrier-capable, multirole fighter
Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket
Overview 📷 Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) The Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket was a groundbreaking rocket-and-jet-powered research aircraft that
Douglas X-3 Stiletto
Overview 📷 Photo: NASA / Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain) The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was a sleek, needle-nosed experimental jet aircraft