Great Planes that never were

Republic XF-12 Rainbow ^ | 08-15-2008 | Self

[AFreeBird]

To my eyes that is still the most beautiful plane we ever built.

IMHO: I beg to differ...

Still the champ after all these years.

[Jet Jaguar]

I know, but, I like the lines of the Tigershark as well.

[valkyry1]

You got it

[Joe 6-pack]

When it comes to aircraft and women, I'm not a big fan of conventional standards of beauty, preferring instead the slightly unusual or quirky, thus it should be no surprise that I always kind of liked the X-29...

[Grut]

I remember seeing the B-70 at the WPAFB museum in 1976 and thinking “it looks like a real airplane!” because its underside was covered with leaking hydraulic fluid and rubber dust.

[mad_as_he$$]

If WW2 had not ended when it did the dominate Air Force in the World would be the Luftwaffe.

[mad_as_he$$]

One of my very favorites!!!. The TM is my hero!!

[Teacher317]

Thanks for that story, Joe... and for the pics, AFB. I feel good now. I should go grill something big for dinner.

[mad_as_he$$]

Since your title is "never flew":

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=stargate%20X-301&sourceid=ie7&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf8&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#

[doorgunner69]

Although I'll never see an XB-70 in flight, I have to agree, they were probably the most formidable and beautiful aircraft ever put together

Got to see one fly over in 1966 or 67. Was on deployment at Fallon NAS when we spotted one way up there screaming along. Never saw anything move that fast across the sky since then, and have seen fighters supersonic in the Mojave corridor. Not even close.

The white color and shape were beautiful. Nice boom too. Funny, but I don't recall any chase planes, probably none could keep up, however fast it was going.

[Chode]

yup. absolutely agree... i wish we could of bought at least a few of them,even for "Training", so it could of gone on to export.

cause nobody is going to buy something the US won't fly no matter how good it is, so that was the end of it. shame

[tanknetter]

Still the champ after all these years.

Nope. Oxcart was definitely prettier with it's sleaker lines.

[gridlock]

You gotta love the F-22 Fighter/Bomber...

Or, of course, the Aurora... The Grand-Daddy of them all...

[tang-soo]

My favorite airplane. The lone survivor is on display at the Air Force Museum at Write Patterson (Dayton, Oh)

[AFreeBird]

Hmmm... seems to me that extending the chines all the way up to the nose made for a sleeker bird.

But what are we really talking about here, model year derivations of the same design? Fraternal Twins? Both a product of Clarence "Kelly" Johnson's mind and Lockheed's Skunk Works.

Nuff said. :-)

[SJSAMPLE]

B-1A was far more sexy.
Fast as hell, too.

Just didn’t fit the mission profile that was redefined for the B-1B.

[FoxPro]

The SR-71 Blackbird is just one big gas tank with jet engines.

[papasmurf]

...when men dedicated to excellence took the time and care to build her well.

That tells a story by itself, right there.

[Josh Painter]

A-12 Avenger II

[valkyry1]

I heard they pulled the F23 prototypes out of the museums suddenly. It might become a Bomber platform also.