North American XF-108 (F-108) Rapier

[sferrin]

In the book "Valkyrie - North American's Mach 3 Superbomber" they indicate that North American continued developement of the F-108 even after it was cancelled. They have a "1960" configuration that is a little puzzling. Either the canopy and windows shrunk considerably or the aircraft as a whole grew. Also in the drawing the afterburner detail is a bit different. That in itself isn't unusual except that it's different than all the rest. (Kinda wondering if it grew a LOT and those are GE4s ) Anyway I'm wondering if anybody has any info on the final developement of the F-108. Thanks.

 

[GTX]

sferrin,

Airpower Vol 34 No. 9 Sept 2004 has an extensive article on the XF-108 including numerous drawings of the design as it developed/evolved. I will try to scan you a copy if you would like.

Regards,

Greg

 

[sferrin]

That would be great. sferrin#xmission,com.

 

[SOC]

In the book "Valkyrie - North American's Mach 3 Superbomber" they indicate that North American continued developement of the F-108 even after it was cancelled.

Part of the reasoning behind that was because the LRI requirement still remained, even though the XF-108 had been cancelled. Eventually the LRI requirement was to be filled by the F-12B. Of course, the worst SecDef in US history had something to say about that.

 

[Matej]

For the rest of us - here is the exact AirPower answer:

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This is an interesting point raised by Scott Ferrin (sferrin) - the 1960 evolution of the F-108 seems to be MUCH larger, based on the size of the canopies.

 

[sferrin]

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".

 

[hesham]

Hi,

I have two drawings to F-108,one with two addition tail fins and one main fin and the second
with one main tail fin.

 

[Jemiba]

From FlugWelt 2/1960, a drawing that probably shows a very early layout.

 

[flateric]

For sale at Boeing Photo Store -

'Three Views of the North American F-108 Rapier'
http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=gallery&gallery_id=3328&provider_id=237&ptp_photo_id=boeing:302948&sequencenum=24
F-108 Rapier Cutaway Drawing
http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=gallery&gallery_id=2966&provider_id=237&ptp_photo_id=boeing:238682&sequencenum=24

Why I'm not Roma Abramovich?

 

[Skybolt]

From FlugWelt 2/1960, a drawing that probably shows a very early layout.

Mmmmm, could be "disinformazija", the wing leading edge angle seems not trisonic.

 

[Skybolt]

And a little "tweaking": photos of SST PROTOTYPE construction....
http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?gallery_id=2963&sequencenum=12&provider_id=237&process=gallery&page=thumbnails

 

[Orionblamblam]

From FlugWelt 2/1960, a drawing that probably shows a very early layout.

It showed what Flugwelt thought the F-108 might look like.

 

[LowObservable]

From the same series..

http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?process=gallery&gallery_id=3328&provider_id=237&ptp_photo_id=boeing:1596103&sequencenum=0

If he's really landing, I'd advise him to make sure the nose gear gets all the way down first.

 

[Orionblamblam]

If he's really landing...

Looks like takeoff to me.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Indeed it is. I think he was being funny ;D

 

[Orionblamblam]

Indeed it is. I think he was being funny ;D

Ah, but the Boeing caption writer wasn't.

But then, Boeing has no sense of humor that they are aware of.

 

[Orionblamblam]

For sale at Boeing Photo Store -

Seems kinda pricy. Anyway, I got scans of these some years ago. Given that Boeing is selling 'em, I'll not post high-rez complete versions, but here's a glimpse at the F-108 cutaway....

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh 8) 8) 8) 8)

Post some more previews of different parts and I'll fire up Photoshop

 

[Orionblamblam]

Post some more previews of different parts and I'll fire up Photoshop

I'm pretty sure the Boeing Ravenous Buglawyer Beasts of Litigation would hurt me if I did that...

Anyway, this is what Boeing had in their F-108 PR art folder a few years back. I know they wnat to *eventually* scan and make available *everything* they have, so *someday* these should all be available via Boeings store. Don't ask me when, though...

 

[frank]

And it's an F-108 development?? That's the connection?

And a little "tweaking": photos of SST PROTOTYPE construction....
http://pictopia.com/perl/gal?gallery_id=2963&sequencenum=12&provider_id=237&process=gallery&page=thumbnails

 

[Justo Miranda]

Here some additional stuff...

 

[Justo Miranda]

Here some additional stuff...(post-2)

 

[Justo Miranda]

Here some additional stuff...(post-3)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Justo, you are aware of forum rules, right?

Posts should have their sources named, and scans from published books should be small.

 

[Justo Miranda]

Of course I forgot to include it
"Airpower" september 2004 and
http://hsfeatures.com/f108pb_1.htm

 

[sferrin]

 

[saturncanuck]

Wow, thats a cool video.

I always loved the XF-108. Always reminded me of a Mach 3 version of the Arrow. Designed to the same basic concept, they even resembled one another.

I wish we could see more of the video, though.

 

[frank]

The narrator sounds like the same narrator from the "Wings" series shown on The Discovery Channel back in the late '80s / early '90s (in the USA). This may be a clip from one of those on another a/c.

Wow, thats a cool video.

I always loved the XF-108. Always reminded me of a Mach 3 version of the Arrow. Designed to the same basic concept, they even resembled one another.

I wish we could see more of the video, though.

 

[saturncanuck]

Yes, after listening to it again, I agree.

Still, I want to see more of the video.

The narrator sounds like the same narrator from the "Wings" series shown on The Discovery Channel back in the late '80s / early '90s (in the USA). This may be a clip from one of those on another a/c.

Wow, thats a cool video.

I always loved the XF-108. Always reminded me of a Mach 3 version of the Arrow. Designed to the same basic concept, they even resembled one another.

I wish we could see more of the video, though.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Merged some existing topics. This is early version of NAA F-108 supplied by Tony Buttler liberated from another topic.

 

[circle-5]

Here's another variant of the above NAA WS-202A, with wingtip tanks, different canards and larger ventral fins.

 

[RyanC]

Close up of the F-108's FCO's (Guy in Back) weapon select panel

The original pic was a bit unfocused...Found this in five so called boxes of F-108 material at Archives II. So many "this is cool, but we have decided it's classified so sucks to be you" fun defeaters...

 

[RyanC]

While I was at the Archives with a bunch of guys, I found a booklet detailing the Mockup Inspection for the F-108.

I scanned in all of the photographs in it at 600 DPI and saved them in TIFF.

Here they are resized down to 1500 pixels width and saved in JPEG so they won't break the forum.

First up, the General Glamour Shots.

 

[RyanC]

The Electronics Mockup.

 

[RyanC]

The GAR-9 (AIM-47) Falcon.

 

[RyanC]

Pilot's Cockpit Mockup.

 

[RyanC]

Fire Control Operator (FCO) aka RIO aka GIB Seat.

 

[RyanC]

First is the Cockpit Module Mockup which contained the Pilot/FCO seats I showed earlier.

Next is a vision mockup that could swing up and down to show people how much the pilot could see at different angles of attack.

 

[flateric]

ohhh, what a beauty! thanks, thanks, thanks!