The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters

USAF Jet-Powered Experimental Aircraft and Their Propulsive Systems

Steve Pace

• Publisher: Zenith Press
• Year: 2016
• ISBN:
  9780760351420
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military & Maritime History
• Index: History

They're all here--every X-bomber and X-fighter since 1942.

On October 2, 1942, the Bell XP-59 Airacomet soared up and away from present-day Edwards AFB, launching the US Army Air Forces into the Jet Age. In the several decades since, hundreds of new variations of experimental and test turbojet-powered bombers and fighters--X-bombers and X-fighters--have taken explosive flight. These aircraft blazed a trail leading to today's B-2 Stealth Bomber and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters showcases all of the USAF jet-powered X-bombers and X-fighters that have flown since 1942--more than 90 in all, including the alphabet soup of their variants. From experimental to prototype service bombers and fighters--from the XB-43 to the B-2A and the XP-59A to the F-35A--they're all here, with their inside stories revealed. Some of these aircraft were further developed. Others were canceled. All stretched the performance and design envelopes.

More than 250 photos illustrate all of these experimental aircrafts' cutting-edge features and zeroes in on histories of their design, flight testing, and weapons testing. Specification tables detailing performance, design, and armaments help round out this compendium of information on truly groundbreaking aviation designs.

X-bombers and X-fighters in The Big Book of X-Bombers & X-Fighters include:

Bell P-59 Airacomet

Republic P/F-84 Thunderjet

Douglas B-43 Jetmaster

North American B-45 Tornado

Boeing B-47 Stratojet

Curtiss P/F-87 Blackhawk

McDonnell P/F-85 Goblin

Convair P/F-92 "Dart"

Northrop F-17 Cobra

Boeing B-1 Lancer

And all the rest!

Specifications included for each aircraft include:

Length

Height

Wingspan

Empty weight

Gross weight

Maximum range

Ceiling

Maximum speed

Armament

In addition, veteran aviation author Steve Pace shows readers some of the designs that could have been and offers a peek into what might be lurking in the future, making this the definitive guide to USAF jet-powered experimental aircraft!

INDEX

A-3, 160

A3D, 160, 161

A-12, 279, 280, 281, 282

AF-4, 343

AF-12, 279–282

Anderson, Clarence E. “Bud,” 66

Anderson, “Skip,” 322

ANP Program, 248

AP-31, 191

AP-57, 274, 275–276

AP-63, 191, 194

AP-75, 279, 293

Arnold, Henry Harley “Hap,” 14, 39, 46, 47

Askounis, Gust “Gus,” 69

ATF3-6, 217

AV-3, 288

B-1, 269, 296, 310

B-1A, 225, 283, 309–310, 311, 312, 313, 316, 317

B-1B, 225, 268, 311–313, 315–317, 347

B-1R, 315, 317, 338

B.2, 158

B-2, 320, 325, 329, 347

B-2A, 93, 226, 317, 325–328, 347

B-3A, 344, 346

B-12, 282

B-17, 215

B-25J, 45

B-29A, 66–67

B-35, 228

B-36, 105–106, 107, 109, 148, 157, 172, 249

B-36F, 156

B-45, 77, 221

B-45A, 76–77

B-45A-1-NA, 76, 77

B-45C, 74–75

B-47, 93, 98, 136, 150, 153, 155, 216, 221, 247

B-47A, 73, 100

B-47B, 97, 100

B-47C, 97, 98

B-47E, 100

B-47E-II, 100

B-52, 105, 148, 157, 229, 247, 268, 269, 284, 294, 309, 316, 347

B-52A, 150, 152, 153

B-52B, 152

B-52C, 152

B-52E, 268

B-52F, 268

B-52H, 151, 152–153, 232, 317, 347

B-53, 130, 131

B-55, 156

B-56, 98

B-56A, 98

B-57, 159, 216, 294

B-57A, 158, 160–161

B-58, 222, 240, 242, 269, 325

B-58A, 224, 240, 241, 243, 2...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 01: “Fire Them Up!”
• 02: Trials and Tribulations
• 03: “More’s the Pity”
• 04: Century Series
• 05: Propulsive Systems
• 06: Supersonic Wonders and Doublesonic Sensations
• 07: Triplesonic Marvels
• 08: Advancing the State of the Art
• 09: Stealth Bombers and Fighters
• 10: The Long-Range Strike Bomber & Next-Generation Air Dominance Fighter
• Epilogue
• Appendix: Timeline
• Bibliography and Sources
• Acknowledgments
• Illustration Credits
• Photograph and Artwork Credit Acronyms
• Index
• Dedication
• Copyright Page