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.
Experimental
Experimental/research aircraft
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” β 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 β a chin-intake delta-wing demonstrator that flew 1.6 Mach but lost to the X-35 in 2001.
Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons / JASDF The Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin (εΏη₯, meaning “mind” or “spirit”), formerly known as the
Dassault Mirage 4000
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons The Dassault Mirage 4000 (sometimes called the Super Mirage 4000) is a French prototype twin-engine
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
Mikoyan MiG-1.44
Overview π· Photo: Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain The Mikoyan Project 1.44 (NATO reporting name “Flatpack”) was a multirole fighter