Republic XP-72 (USAF Photo) The Republic XP-72 was an American prototype fighter-interceptor developed by Republic Aircraft as a progression of the P-47 Thunderbolt design. The XP-72 was designed around the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major 28-cylinder air-cooled radial engine with a supercharger mounted behind the pilot and driven by an extension shaft from the engine. … Read more
Rockwell B-1 Lancer (USAF Photo) U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber aircraft from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES) stands by as another Lancer connects with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft Feb. 23, 2012 for inflight refueling during a mission over the Gulf of Mexico near Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. … Read more
Republic F-105 Thunderchief (USAF Photo) Republic F-105D-30-RE Thunderchief (SN 62-4234) in flight with a full bomb load of M117 750 lb bombs. Normally drop tanks were carried on the inboard wing pylons. This aircraft was shot down on 24 December 1968 over Laos while being assigned to the Wing Headquarters, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, Takhli RTAFB. … Read more
Republic F-84 Thunderjet (USGOV-PD Photo) Republic F-84D Thunderjet formation, 118th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, 1954. The Republic F-84 Thunderjet is an American turbojetfighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces(USAAF) proposal for a “day fighter”, the F-84 first flew in 1946.Although it entered service in 1947, the Thunderjet was plagued by … Read more
Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and Republic RF-84F Thunderflash (USGOV-PD Photo) Republic F-84F-50-RE Thunderstreak (s/n 52-6852) of the 91st Fighter-Bomber Squadron, RAF Bentwaters UK. The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American swept-wing turbojet-powered fighter-bomber. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version. The design was originally intended to be a relatively simple upgrade to the F-84 Thunderjet to … Read more
Republic XF-12 Rainbow (USAAF Photo) Republic XF-12 Rainbow (Serial No. 491002). The Republic XF-12 Rainbow was an American four-engine, all-metal prototype reconnaissance aircraft designed by the Republic Aviation Company in the late 1940s. Like most large aircraft of the era, it used radial engines, specifically the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major. The XF-12 was referred … Read more
Republic XF-84 H Thunderscreach (USAF Photo) Republic XF-84H Thunderscreech (Serial No. 51-17059). The turboprop-driven XF-84H was a joint Air Force/Navy project designed to combine the speed of jet aircraft with the long range, low fuel consumption, and low landing speed of propeller-driven aircraft. The XF-84H’s modified F-84F airframe included a T-tail and a triangular fin … Read more
North American X-15 (USAF Photo) North American X-15 attached to its Boeing B-52 mother ship with a Northrop T-38 Talon flying nearby. Three X-15s were built, flying 199 test flights, the last on 24 October 1968. (NASA Photo) X-15A-2 (56-6671) with external fuel tanks, 1965. The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft operated by the … Read more
North American YF-93 (SAF Photo) North American YF-93A (Serial No. YF-317), 1950. The North American YF-93 was an American fighter development of the F-86 Sabre that emerged as a radically different variant that received its own designation. Two were built and flown before the project was eventually canceled. In 1947, North American Aviation began a design … Read more
Northrop F-89 Scorpion (USAF Photo) U.S. Air Force Northrop F-89D-45-NO Scorpion interceptors of the 59th Fighter Interceptor Squadrons, Goose Bay AB, Labrador (Canada), in the 1950s. 52-1959 in foreground, now in storage at Edwards AFB, California. 1950. The Northrop F-89 Scorpion is an all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Northrop … Read more
