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Boeing’s X-32 Stealth Fighter Had Just 1 Mission
National Security Journal ^ | 7/22/2025 | Steve Balestrieri

Posted on 07/22/2025 9:26:38 AM PDT by whyilovetexas111

The Boeing X-32, derided for its “ugly,” cartoonish appearance, was a formidable contender in the Joint Strike Fighter competition but ultimately lost to what became the F-35. Despite its superb handling qualities, which one test pilot compared to an F/A-18, the X-32’s downfall was its flawed and complex Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) design.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalsecurityjournal.org ...


TOPICS: Government; History; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: aviation; blogkaren; blogpimp; boeing; defense; flying; military; usairforce; usmilitary; x32
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To: null and void

Yes.
People, the A-7 did not have a wing that could be raised for slow speed.


21 posted on 07/22/2025 3:00:59 PM PDT by A strike (unfortunately PDJT is continuing the UKUS v Russia war)
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To: whyilovetexas111

V/STOL is so very asinine for a fighter aircraft, especially stealth.
But is EXTREMELY good for MIC and Congress.


22 posted on 07/22/2025 3:11:35 PM PDT by A strike (unfortunately PDJT is continuing the UKUS v Russia war)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker
Uh yeah, MAYBE IN THE 1960's.

The era of big fat agape air intakes is OVER in the age of stealth.

23 posted on 07/22/2025 3:11:53 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: null and void

“Upon closer inspection I agree with the AI, the A-7 at that angle would show the aerial refueling probe.”

Both have tilting wings. Supersonic F-8.


24 posted on 07/22/2025 3:26:38 PM PDT by TexasGator (11/I1.here is no Sharknado system)
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To: A strike

Good to know. I spent my preteen years on an F-8 flight line, never been up close and personal with an A-7.


25 posted on 07/22/2025 3:28:50 PM PDT by null and void (Democrats: fake news, fake presidents, fake beliefs, fake policies, fake protesters & fake voters!)
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To: TexasGator; A strike

To tilt or not to tilt, that is the question.


26 posted on 07/22/2025 3:35:31 PM PDT by null and void (Democrats: fake news, fake presidents, fake beliefs, fake policies, fake protesters & fake voters!)
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To: TexasGator

TexasGator, The A-7 does not have tilting wings, they are fixed. But there is some shared heritage for sure between the F-8 and the A-7.

Both of those aircraft in the post above are F-8s, which was a pretty hot plane. Pilots loved flying it.

The A-7 was very capable for its day.


27 posted on 07/22/2025 3:37:16 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est.)
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To: null and void

“To tilt or not to tilt, that is the question.”

That was never a question for F-8 pilots.


28 posted on 07/22/2025 3:37:41 PM PDT by TexasGator (11/I1.here is no Sharknado system)
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To: rlmorel

“TexasGator, The A-7 does not have tilting wings, they are fixed. “

Sometimes one needs to understand the on-going conversation before jumping in with a “correction”.

“Both” refers to “both photos”.

“Both of those aircraft in the post above are F-8s, which was a pretty hot plane. Pilots loved flying it.”

I think I have three posts to that effect.


29 posted on 07/22/2025 3:42:35 PM PDT by TexasGator (11/I1.here is no Sharknado system)
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To: TexasGator

Never mind. Sorry to “jump in” and “correct” you.


30 posted on 07/22/2025 3:54:31 PM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est.)
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To: null and void

referring to the Osprey death machine ?
Engine fails everyone dies..


31 posted on 07/22/2025 4:40:58 PM PDT by A strike (unfortunately PDJT is continuing the UKUS v Russia war)
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To: TexasGator

Provide evidence of A-7 tilt wing.


32 posted on 07/22/2025 4:43:05 PM PDT by A strike (unfortunately PDJT is continuing the UKUS v Russia war)
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To: null and void
I think your A-7 and F-8 are bass ackwards.

No, I just included the F-8 twice. The F-8 had a tilt-up wing.

33 posted on 07/23/2025 6:24:49 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: CivilWarBrewing
The era of big fat agape air intakes is OVER in the age of stealth.


34 posted on 07/23/2025 6:28:17 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

looks like a ninja’s throwing star/blade.
from the top.


35 posted on 07/23/2025 7:49:52 AM PDT by MIA_eccl1212 (10-10-10-10)
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To: Ol' Dan Tucker

Intakes are necessary, obviously, and two for a twin engine but in the case of the F-22 they are integrated into the body and not “agape” as the others discussed.


36 posted on 07/23/2025 10:21:33 AM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: CivilWarBrewing
Intakes are necessary, obviously, and two for a twin engine but in the case of the F-22 they are integrated into the body and not “agape” as the others discussed.

And, intakes, inlets, really, must be sized to the engines to which they're connected, obviously.

I think you'd agree that the engines of today are more powerful than the engines of the 1960s. As such they require a larger volume of air be delivered to them. Because of this, the inlet size for modern engines are going to be larger than older designs.

Not sure what you mean about being 'integrated' as any non-integration would result in aerodynamic inefficiency.

While the X-32 has a single inlet feeding a single engine, the F-35 has bifurcated inlets feeding its single engine.

I can understand that many folks do not like the looks of the X-32, but its aerodynamic efficiency and stealth capabilities are right up there with the F-22 and F-35.

What it lacked, and probably why it lost out to the F-35 was in STOVL testing. The Lockheed-Martin F-35 vertical take-off and landing system was more technically advanced and therefore, superior to the Boeing system which copied the Harrier design.

37 posted on 07/23/2025 10:57:18 AM PDT by Ol' Dan Tucker (For 'tis the sport to have the engineer hoist with his own petard., -- Hamlet, Act 3, Scene 4)
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