Skybolt

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Late in the Seventies, Fairchild-Republic studied a Next Generation Close Air Support aircraft. It would have been a two-seater, have a night-adverse weather capability, made with large use of composites and probably (judging from the design) sport a moderate supersonic speed. Weapons: GAU-8A, bombs and Mavericks. This is all the info I have. As for the images, the grayscale one comes from "The Thunder Factory" (source of the infos). The other one is from a now-defunct Italian monthly (Interconair Aviazione & Marina): beautiful side-view (but side-view only, sigh...) Anyone out there with more infos/images?
 

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I have a colour version of your picture.

Described as low level, supersonic cruise attack fighter, 30,000lb class.
 

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Taaa-daaa

http://www.google.com/patents?id=a1s-AAAAEBAJ
 

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Added better scan of this design

Source:
Cradle of Aviation Museum via Leo Polaski and Mark Nankivil
 

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By the way,

they suggested that its name was called Thunderbolt III,this concept had featured
transonic performance STOL capability,the continued use of the 30mm gun,the high
utilization of composite and a night/adverse weather capability.
 
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