Never-Seen Photos Of Boeing's 1960s Stealth Jet Concept That Predicted The Future

FoxTrot Alpha ^ | 9/22/15 | Tyler Rogoway

[taildragger]

For years, all the aviation world knew about Boeing’s secret stealth project from the 1960s was limited to a name and a single mysterious photo. It seemed like a relic out of time, possessing many stealthy design features that wouldn’t exist until decades later, and even then, only in highly classified black projects.

[lavaroise]

Well, there are plenty of invention, but to take it to the manufacturing Industrial Engineering level is the key. It is quite hard to come up with a team of engineers to breakdown the steps into precise repeatable manufacturing actions and flow. This is where the sweat comes in.

[Sacajaweau]

My grandson is headed to RPI in Troy NY...Wants to design planes. Those little models I bought him when he was a young boy have come full circle.

[SaveFerris]

yep

[DaveA37]

It would really be interesting to know what has been on the drawing board since odumbo came on the scene.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

I know you are very proud and you should be.Great job Grandpa.;)

[CrazyIvan]

“Mr President, our Germans are better than their Germans”

[eartrumpet]

I like the way the hoist trolley is able to move the model from one fluorescent light to the next, almost 10 feet.

[taildragger]

Ah, thank you, so that makes this about 20+ ft, my guess is 23 to 25 ft long. I’d have to compare that with the drawing dimensions in the article, although they are not so readable. I’ll assume the wingspan is about the same or more. It is the size of a One Seat Homebuilt Aircraft approximately...

[GreyFriar]

Boeing stealth jet concept from 1960s

[wrench]

Fascinating read in the Bird of Prey article from the link.

[biff]

IIRC, the one that came apart at the airshow was the result of half the bolts that held on the outer wing panels were left out on the aircraft inspection that took place shortly before the airshow. The pilot pulled some G’s on that pull up resulting in the remaining bolts to shear.

But you are correct, the damn thing was uncontrollable without it ‘puters’.

[V_TWIN]

Yep that was a maintenance issue.

[T-Bone Texan]

Aliens gave us lasers too!

[okie01]

bookmark

[JEDI4S]

It has a rubber band and you wind it ...up...real...tight...

Don’t get the balsa wood wet...and...throw...it...

snorkel...snorkel :-)

[OftheOhio]

Back in the day water tunnels were used just as much as wind tunnels in aircraft design. Wright Patterson had quite a few.

[tanknetter]

And it still looks magnitudes more realistic and operable than that fake Iranian stealth fighter.

[B212]

I may be wrong, but I think those fixtures are radiate heaters, given the garage door...but, never the less, I compliment you on a brilliant observation.....

[Bidimus1]

True so much research from the war years. No “its aliens” required.

[taildragger]

"And it still looks magnitudes more realistic and operable than that fake Iranian stealth fighter."

Oh gosh did all us propeller heads and arm chair aero-geeks just beeotch slap that thing here in FR when it showed it's ugly puss. It was way too funny.