North American XF-108 (F-108) Rapier

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archipeppe said:
It wasn't my intention, since it was conceived as "All American" interceptors...
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Do the wing-tips of the XF-108 actually bend down? Some pictures look like maybe they do, some don't. Can never tell if it's an optical illusion due to the kink in the leading edge or not. :confused:
 
sferrin said:
Do the wing-tips of the XF-108 actually bend down? Some pictures look like maybe they do, some don't. Can never tell if it's an optical illusion due to the kink in the leading edge or not. :confused:
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As far as I know the F-108 would behave like a sort of scaled down version of the B-70, so the tips should bend down like the Valkyrie's ones....
 
archipeppe said:
As far as I know the F-108 would behave like a sort of scaled down version of the B-70, so the tips should bend down like the Valkyrie's ones....
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Nope. Wings were fixed. It did, however, have large fixed ventral fins near the wingtip that served much the same function as the dropped wingtips of the B-70, without the added complexity of the hinges. Might have even weighed less.
 
Orionblamblam said:
Nope. Wings were fixed. It did, however, have large fixed ventral fins near the wingtip that served much the same function as the dropped wingtips of the B-70, without the added complexity of the hinges. Might have even weighed less.
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Have you seen anything that would indicate if the wingtips angle down slightly? Not a twist but a bend.
 
Did you clip those letters off on the right on purpose? :p It almost looks like a 4° dihedral wing with wing tips twisted so they're 0°.
 
The outer large ventral fins could probably have been done away with in a production version. They are only there for stability like the big center-hinged ventral on the YF-12A, which, as it was discovered later, was unnecessary. Stability augmentation systems could handle the relaxed stability which would also reduce weight, drag, and improve maneuverability.
I have the Anigrand 1/72 XF-108 and if its correct (which I believe it is) the outer wingtip does not have any dihedral, it is indeed a different twist for that portion of the wing in combination with the reduced sweep which makes it look like it has a dihedral.

Another observation. 3 AIM-47's is paltry for such a large aircraft. However, the electronics bay takes up a lot of space and weight. With modern electronics the F-108 could easily carry 6 AIM-47 size missiles plus at least 2 ASRAAM's for close-in defense.
 
The ultimate what if fantasy, had President Kenedy not cancled the XB-70 then the YF-108 would have entered service. And would have escorted the B-70.
 
FighterJock said:
The ultimate what if fantasy, had President Kenedy not cancled the XB-70 then the YF-108 would have entered service. And would have escorted the B-70.
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Well for escorting the B70 the f108 has to be stationed in europe i guess.
Not much use if you are from the mainland USA to Russia had to turn back afther 1500km
 
abheiden said:
Well for escorting the B70 the f108 has to be stationed in europe i guess.
Not much use if you are from the mainland USA to Russia had to turn back afther 1500km
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Theres also the three Alaskan bases as well as the Pole hoppers up in Canada and Greenland like Thule.

As well as Tanker support.

The F108 needed that both ways and the B70 on the way back to hit the useful targets with anything not Starbolt.
 
Firefinder said:
Theres also the three Alaskan bases as well as the Pole hoppers up in Canada and Greenland like Thule.

As well as Tanker support.

The F108 needed that both ways and the B70 on the way back to hit the useful targets with anything not Starbolt.
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to where the f108 from Alaska he could escorting the B70? Vladivostok?
The only other option refueling the F108 above east Russia, that would be excitement guarenteed.
The distances are just to great,the Russians kampf with raum
 
abheiden said:
to where the f108 from Alaska he could escorting the B70? Vladivostok?
The only other option refueling the F108 above east Russia, that would be excitement guarenteed.
The distances are just to great,the Russians kampf with raum
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The B-70 was designed to operate unescorted using its own defensive means: plastic smoke, electronic jammers and Paywacket anti-missile system
 
Justo Miranda said:
The B-70 was designed to operate unescorted using its own defensive means: plastic smoke, electronic jammers and Paywacket anti-missile system
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I'm not quite sure how the idea of the F-108 as a B-70 escort got started, but it seems to have had more to do with North American wanting to keep the cash coming in than with any actual requirement.

SAC's Strategic Fighter Wings, when they existed, did have an escort role, and were planned to be forward based in wartime. But the strategic environment made that untenable by the late 1950s.
 
Sferrin said:
Just tracked down the nozzle diameter of the GE4 and it was 89.5" (from a post here) and the drawing shows about 88" and given the accumulated error between drawing versions, scanners, etc. it seems a good possiblity. On the other hand the GE4 didn't power on until 1968 so it could just be "it'll have an engine about so big".
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Could have been a J91 also.
 
Found these in the NARA 342 FH series photos during a recent visit. F-108 model in various poses.
 

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When the Rapier programme was cancelled how far had NA got in building the first XF-108A prototype? I understand that some of the long-lead items had been manufactured when it was cancelled.
 
It's just a speculative interpretation by Interavia - as pointed out at the time of the original posts.
 
From, Rockwell, the Heritage of North American,

who can fix the picture # 6 ?.
 

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I still look slack jawed upon the achievements of the early postwar period through the 60s in amazement at the rapidity of technological development.
 
It's a pity the XF-108A prototypes weren't built before the programme was cancelled because NASA would've made good use of them in their high-speed airliner research programme.
 
The same drawing from reply # 211,but without colors,

from, Avro Arrow The Story of the Great Canadian Cold War Combat Jet in Pictures and Documents
 

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