Convair Kingfish
Convair Kingfish never flew. Explore its Mach 3.2 design cruise, the difference from FISH and why the CIA chose the A-12, with original-source context.
1940s-1950s: Breaking the Sound Barrier
The pioneering era: Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier in 1947, the Century Series fighters push past Mach 1 in level flight, and the first Mach 2 designs appear.
Republic XF-103 Thunderwarrior
The cancelled Mach 3 interceptor with a combined turbojet-ramjet engine β Republic’s most ambitious paper aircraft, killed in 1957 without ever flying.
Lockheed XF-90
A late-1940s long-range penetration fighter that lost to the F-101 Voodoo. The only surviving airframe was nuked at Frenchman Flat in 1952.
Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor
The only U.S. fighter ever flown with reverse-taper wings and combined jet+rocket propulsion. Briefly held the title of first U.S. fighter to exceed Mach 1 in level flight.
Convair XF-92A
America’s first delta-winged aircraft β the testbed that paved the way for the F-102, F-106, B-58 and Convair’s entire supersonic-delta dynasty.
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.
Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow is one of aviation history’s most legendary and controversial aircraft.
Myasishchev M-50 Bounder
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain The Myasishchev M-50 (NATO reporting name “Bounder”) is a Soviet prototype four-engine