| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
A very high performance, long-range interceptor had been proposed by the USAF as early as 1952, but formal development of what became known as the Long-Range Interceptor, Experimental (LRI-X) was not approved until 20 July 1955. The specification was laid down on 6 October, calling for an aircraft that could fly at 60,000 ft (18,292 m) at a speed of Mach 1.7 (1,122 mph/1,795 km/h at that altitude) with a range of 1,150 miles (1,840 km). It was to a have a two-man crew, at least two engines, and a powerful radar. Contracts for preliminary studies were issued to North American Aviation, Lockheed, and Northrop. Of the paper designs, the North American proposal, dubbed NA-236, seemed most promising. Political and budgetary difficulties led to the premature cancellation of the program on 9 May 1956This is a list of aviation-related events from 1956: Events March March 10 Lt Cdr Peter Twiss sets a new airspeed record in the Fairey Delta FD. 2, also becoming the first person to exceed 1,000 mph. His top speed is 1,132 mph (1,821 km/h). May May 21 a B.
After considerable confusion, the program was reinstated on 11 April 1957This is a list of aviation-related events from 1957: Events January January 18 Three Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses make the world's first round the world, non-stop flight by turbojet-powered aircraft. The flight is completed in 45 hours 19 minutes, with an and North American was awarded a contract for two prototypes. The designation F-108 was issued, also known as Weapon System 202A. North American's company designation was NA-257, although it was basically identical to NA-236. At the time, Air Defense Command anticipated an order for 480 aircraft.
The resulting design went through considerable evolution, both owing to its cutting-edge (some might say "bleeding-edge") technology and continual redefinition of the USAF requirements. In addition to the F-108's interceptor role, North American proposed it as an escort fighter for the Strategic Air CommandThe Strategic Air Command or SAC was the branch of the United States Air Force in charge of America's non-submarine-based nuclear arsenal, the bombers used to deliver these weapons, and the refueling tankers needed to refuel said bombers. Established in M's XB-70 ValkyrieXB-70 Valkyrie Description RoleBomber prototype CrewFour: Pilot, Copilot, Bombardier, and Defensive Systems Operator Dimensions Length185 ft 10 in56. 6 m (with boom)192 ft 2 in58. 6 m Wingspan105 ft32 m Height30 ft 9 in9. 4 m Wing area Weights Empty Loade supersonic bomber, which NAA was also developing. The F-108 was intended to share the Valkyrie's General Electric J93 engines and some other subsystems. By that time, however, it was unlikely that it would have served in that role. SAC had lost any interest in the escort fighter concept, and, in any case, the F-108's range was at best marginal to accompany the B-70 all the way to its target and back.
The eventual design, which was built as a full-sized XF-108 mock-up shown to Air Force officials in early 1959This is a list of aviation-related events from 1959: Events February February 3 Rock stars Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper die when the Beechcraft Bonanza they are traveling in crashes during a snow storm in Iowa. March March 31 BOAC commen, was given the popular name "Rapier" on 15 May 1959This is a list of aviation-related events from 1959: Events February February 3 Rock stars Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper die when the Beechcraft Bonanza they are traveling in crashes during a snow storm in Iowa. March March 31 BOAC commen, but production numbers were radically curtailed and the program was officially cancelled on 23 September of that year. North American kept refining the design through 1960 in hopes that the program might be revived, but it never was. Testing of the radar and missiles developed for the aircraft continued, intended for the Lockheed YF-12 program, but that, too, was ultimately cancelled, and no Mach 3 interceptor has yet been built.