The North American XF-108 Rapier was a proposed long-range, high-speed
interceptor aircraft designed by North American Aviation intended to defend the United States from supersonic Soviet strategic bombers. The aircraft would have cruised at speeds around Mach 3 (2,013 mph; 3,240 km/h) with an unrefueled combat radius over 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi), and was equipped with radar and missiles offering engagement ranges up to 100 miles (160 km) against bomber-sized targets.
To limit development costs, the program shared engine development with the North American XB-70 Valkyrie strategic bomber program, and
used a number of elements of earlier interceptor projects. The program had progressed only as far as the construction of a single wooden mockup when it was cancelled in 1959, due to a shortage of funds and the Soviets' adoption of ballistic missiles as their primary means of nuclear attack. Had it flown, the F-108 would have been the heaviest fighter of its era.
During the early 1950s, the USAF proposed a very high-performance, long-range interceptor. On 20 July 1955, formal development of what became known as the Long-Range Interceptor, Experimental (LRI-X) was approved, planned as a F-102 Delta Dagger/F-106 Delta Dart replacement. The specification was laid down on 6 October 1955. Political and budgetary difficulties led to the cancellation of the program on 9 May 1956. After considerable confusion, the program was reinstated on 11 April 1957 with North American awarded a contract for two prototypes. The designation F-108 was issued. From September 1958, substantial engineering and design changes were implemented; however, SAC had lost interest in the escort fighter concept. On 30 December 1958, YF-108A preproduction aircraft on order were reduced from 31 to 20 test aircraft and the first test flight was delayed from February to April 1961. The eventual design, which was built as a full-sized XF-108 mockup, was displayed to Air Force officials on 17–20 January 1959. Cancelled (1959)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_XF-108_Rapier
(R)A-5 Vigilante
First flight 31 August 1958
Introduction June 1961
Retired 20 November 1979
The North American A-5 Vigilante was a carrier-based supersonic bomber designed and built by North American Aviation for the United States Navy. Its service in the nuclear strike role to replace the Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was very short; however, as the RA-5C, it saw extensive service during the Vietnam War in the tactical strike reconnaissance role.
In 1953, North American Aviation began a private study for a carrier-based, long-range, all-weather strike bomber, capable of delivering nuclear weapons at supersonic speeds. This proposal, the North American General Purpose Attack Weapon (NAGPAW) concept, was accepted by the United States Navy, with some revisions, in 1955.A contract was awarded on 29 August 1956. Its first flight occurred two years later on 31 August 1958 in Columbus, Ohio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_A-5_Vigilante
Actually, I think the Vigilante predates the Rapier....
F-108 Rapier would have been even larger than Vigilante.
- Length: 27.2 m
- Wingspan: 17.5 m
- Height: 6.7 m
How does one do standard maintenance of the aircraft? the placing and maneuvering of the aircraft will probably take time. just imagine doing all this in a combat situation. And isn't this one of the reasons? that the Su33 being a large aircraft , that the RuN decided to go for the MiG29K (thus stopping production of the Su33)
