X-FIGHTERS - Experimental fighter prototypes from the Golden Age of Flight Test.
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- čas přidán 1. 07. 2024
- A look at the many unique and exotic jet aircraft developed during the late-1940s and early-1950s to explore the realms of high-performance flight. Some worked well, and others didn't!
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I would love to have seen a fly-off between the XF-103, XF-108 and the Canadian CF-105 Arrow.
Agree 100% - three of the most exotic aircraft designs ever made.
Slight correction for the XF-85 Goblin, it was designed to be flown off of the B-36's not B-29's, but the Goblin was tested off of the B-29's because the B-36's was not available for the flight tests of the Goblin but the Parasite fighter program turned into the Parasite Reconnaissance program and was quite successful with flying the RF-84K Thunderflashs.
Good point, thanks!
The test pilots of these planes had balls of steel. They scoffed at the thought of death. Unbelievable!
The XF-90 was one of three designs that the air force evaluated for the Penetration Fighter mission, and the XF-103 was a very unusual design with a mixed propulsion engine, which was supposed to push it up to Mach-4, not Mach-3.
I live near the SAC Museum in Ashland Nebraska. There’s an XF-85 on display and it’s so cute and funny looking! It’s one of my favorite planes on display there!!
In answer to your closing query - "hope you enjoyed it" - absolutely!
You are without a doubt a treasure trove of information.
TNX for all your videos.
Always loved the X-Planes.
My favorites are the Flap Jack and the infamous Northrup Flying Wings.
Thanks, Mike.
The flapjack seems like it had real potential that was never realized.
Another great presentation, Mike. I thought it interesting that you used a photo of the F-106B two-seater to represent the Six, the vast majority of which were single seat interceptors.
Good catch - it was just a neat photo.
BTW, thanks for sneaking in the Martin XF-51/ Gilbert XF-120!
Another great lesson. I grew up in the 50s and a lot of the aircraft I saw in still pictures did look strange. Never know what happened to a lot of them Thanks for letting us know. And in those years I never really thought about the fact that these designs were to test various elements needed for the actual building of future aircraft. Most informative, sir.
Many thanks for the great comment, and Happy Holidays!
I've been binging all your videos. I really like what you're doing. Great narration, great detail to the quality of information in the videos.
Appreciate the comment - many thanks!
I just discovered this channel and I'm amazed by the knowledge and its delivery. Absolutely delightful.
Thank you Eric - great having you aboard!
This is a really great video. The one on Peninsula titled X planes and Mach busters is also fantastic. Not only a gifted artist, but a gifted presenter as well. Thanks for the great vlogs!
Appreciate the nice comment Martin, thanks!
This is a great channel. The videos are professional and informative. I'm happy.
To whom it may concern, my 3 favorite aviation art books are:
- Aviation Art by Lou Drendel
- The Art of Combat by Richard Taylor
- Great Fighter Jets of the Galaxy 1 by Tim Gibson (100 full color pictures)
All are available on Amazon
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Another excellent video. And a couple of unusual aircraft that I don’t recall ever seeing before. And I thought I was an aviation enthusiast!?
Appreciate the comment, thanks!
Also, back then to find out about how something work in real-life required that you build it and fly it. It may look great on paper in the real world that is another matter. Even recently the 737 Max probably looked good on paper and in simulation but real world it was a different matter.
Fantastic Mike!
Many thanks!
Perhaps you could do one of your excellent presentations on Edward's AFB "scrap yards". In the late '90s, I was directed by the base historian to visit the scrap yard, where I saw a turboprop P-51, then to South Base to see many abandoned "X" planes, such as one with variable camber, another with tiny suction holes for laminar flow, and in fact an abandoned SR-71ish, more likely an A-12. Also the sunken pit where the X-1 would await the B-29 mother ship.
Great comment, thanks, and apologies for this belated reply. Have seen those sights at Edwards also - tremendous aviation history!
14:15 incidentally, for us model kit fans, Micro Mir just released a 1/72 injected kit of the XB-51!
Good to know, thanks!
Although everyone now expects everything to be designed on a computer, these aircraft were not. These were the days of sliderules, paper and pencil, wind tunnels, and sophisticated engineers that really knew how to do research and advance the field. I wanted to be an aeronautical engineer but by the time I was in college, the field had changed so much I did physics and chemistry instead.
I think the first aircraft to be designed on a computer was the Boeing 777 in the early 1990s! Since then, engineers have become experts in cut-and-paste designs and mediocre programmers, hence the 737 MAX.
Excellent point, and yes, the Boeing 777 was the first airliner created with a digital design system, while Northrop's B-2 was the first airplane to be designed digitally. McDonnell Douglas had that technology in the early 1980s but was unable to apply it to existing aircraft production - needed a brand new aircraft built in a brand new factory. Thanks for watching!
Mike I love your channel!
A fun review of some of the cooler and eclectic aircraft of the past! Perhaps a "where are they now?" follow-up is called for? Many are at the USAF museum in Dayton, but some are out at the SAC museum, at the San Diego museum, etc. How many are at the Smithsonian?
Thanks Steve, this is an outstanding idea for a future video! We will definitely add this to the production pipeline.
The P-84 was the first "thunder"jet! The P-47 was the First "thunder" Republic aircraft! The Thunderbolt.
That F-102 tail number 53358 looks like a kid had problems putting the decals on 😁
Loved it! The very last image, that is the Lockheed Salmon right? Please where was that photo taken if you know?
Thanks, and the Lockheed XFV-1 was photographed at Edwards North Base complex.
Thx.
Sometimes the pilots did get out in an accident, but many times because of the uniqueness of the aircraft, they tried to save it until it was too late to eject.
Very true!
Hey Mike, have you ever thought about writing a book about model cover art? With lots of color plates, I'm sure it would make a great coffee table book.
Yeh, they weren’t the prettiest at the dance..
I didn’t realize the the Grey Ghost monikor of the 80.
The shot on 7:22 is an icon.
*THUNDERSCREECH!!!!* 😊
Loved that plane. It was on display at Meadows Field in Bakersfield, California. I saw it as a young boy and was saddened to see it go away.
@@phlodel
BTW :
Where is it now.???
‘Screech Noise made people physically ill if I recall. Remember later when an unducted fan was put onto the starboard side of a 727? My Dad was at DOT at the time, came home from observing a test and said I don’t care how good an engine it is, it’s too noisy and ugly sounding it’ll never get used in production anywhere. He was right. They had to reinforce the fuselage near the blades, they were putting that much energy into the fuselage.
Mike, are prints available of these airplanes. I don't know which I like better, the actual airplanes or the artists renderings.
I lived this history as a boy in the 50''s and 60's.
We were an aviation family.
Thanks for the question, Terry, and most of these paintings were done for the Air Force or NASA and were not produced as lithographs. The ones that were are generally available from either eBay stores or online galleries. Google search should get you there.
..how many of you noticed the Dixie flag on the F-84H ? Try that today...
Wow - good catch! Republic test pilot was from Alabama, and took good-natured ribbing from his "Yankee" fellow pilots, hence the flag.
Hello the Bell XP59 was the first jet built in the United States of America, not in America, saludos
Were Meteors built in Canada? Nothing from south of the Rio Grande had the technical hah chacha to do so.
@@brucewelty7684 hello really , I am glad I do not have to defend a position. The Brazilian are creating leading aviation technologies, examples Famtom 100 a beautiful aircraft. Thanks for comments
I remember used to be a static display of the XF84-H Thunder'Screech' at the entrance to the airport terminal in Bakersfield California but I think it was removed years ago during a renovation/upgrade project years ago...don't know where it went from there. Anybody out there know how it ended up??
Thanks for your question, and the sole surviving XF-84H was sent to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force for full restoration. It is now displayed in the new Hall of Flight Test Building next to the X-3, X-15, and XB-70. I believe a Northrop T-38 Talon from Edwards AFB has replaced that aircraft at the entrance to Bakersfield Airport.
@@celebratingaviationwithmik9782 Thanks for your reply...yes I think I vaguely recall reading that the 'screech' had been replaced by a T-38...glad they preserved the last one! I recently discoverd your channel and I'm really enjoying it.....the info on Plastic model kits really takes me back to my youth....built a ton of them in the 60's.....
@@framusburns-hagstromiii808 Appreciate the comment, thanks!
The Military Industrial Complex establishing its insatiable appetite for taxpayers money…
Mike, Practice following your script more accurately.
Not sure what you mean - I don't have a script.
Pssshhh the loudest thing he’s heard Well I gotta introduce you to the good ole “THUNDERSCREECH”!!! 😝🥹 the only supersonic prop fighter