[Centurion2000]

I fell in love with this one as a kid.

F-108 RAPIER

The North American F-108 was designed as a very high speed (mach 3) interceptor and escort fighter for the B-70 "Valkyrie" bomber under development at the same time. The delta wing Rapier, in its pre-mockup phase, was to have a canard (forward-mounted pitch-control surface), and three vertical stabilizers: one on the fuselage centerline a a pair at the halfway point on the wing trailing edge for high speed stabilization at speeds above mach 2. The aircraft design was changed during the mockup phase. The canard was removed and the upper portions of the wing-mounted vertical stabilizers were removed. The wing was changed from a standard delta to a double-delta; the winglet incorporated a droop and 45 degree sweep (the main wing had about a 65 degree sweep). The F-108 program was canceled on 23 September, 1959 never getting past the mockup phase.

[Centurion2000]

more pics of the plane that should have been

[valkyry1]

I bet if they had made it, they would have went with 2 vert stabs too.

The F-108 RAPIER sure had a lot of wing area on it.

The systems developed for it went to the YF-12 and later aircraft.

[valkyry1]

My father was a draftsman/engineer for North American during the B-70 project, and I would read everything he brought home about it even if I did not get it all.

We should have made some IMO.