USAF interim medium bomber: 1957-59

[Archibald]

WS-302A and Martin XB-68 were to fill that role but were cancelled early 1957. Now, the B-57 and B-66 are proof that USAF can buy an interim type from a "stranger" if needed. So whatif they did the same for an interim light bomber ?
Possible competitors
-B-58 "light" with only two engines
-A3J Vigilante
-Avro Arrow in a strike variant

Of course this would butterfly the F-111...

 

[danwild6]

Wasn't the F-111 a replacement for the F-105?

 

[Apophenia]

The Vigilante looks like the winner in that list.

NAA did propose a de-navalized NA-247 variant to the USAF in 1957 but with a booster rocket clogging up the 'bomb tube'. Probably would have done better with the original, USN 'stores train' arrangement.

 

[Scott Kenny]

WS-302A and Martin XB-68 were to fill that role but were cancelled early 1957. Now, the B-57 and B-66 are proof that USAF can buy an interim type from a "stranger" if needed. So whatif they did the same for an interim light bomber ?
Possible competitors
-B-58 "light" with only two engines
-A3J Vigilante
-Avro Arrow in a strike variant

Of course this would butterfly the F-111...

Of that list? The Vigilante is a likely winner.

Probably still would have seen something like the F-111, developed in the later 1970s as the replacement for the Vigilante, since McNamara would have had a harder time forcing the USAF medium bomber and USN Fleet Air Defense programs together.

Which leads to a different question entirely: With no TFX program, what would the USN's Fleet Air Defense fighter look like?

 

[SSgtC]

Of that list? The Vigilante is a likely winner.

Probably still would have seen something like the F-111, developed in the later 1970s as the replacement for the Vigilante, since McNamara would have had a harder time forcing the USAF medium bomber and USN Fleet Air Defense programs together.

Which leads to a different question entirely: With no TFX program, what would the USN's Fleet Air Defense fighter look like?

Probably still pretty similar to the Tomcat in specifications if not in form. The Navy knew they needed a fighter that could perform both the Fleet Air Defense mission and be able to tangle with enemy fighters while escorting strike packages. Assuming Vietnam still happens here, the Navy will still learn that lesson. Whether Grumman or Vought or McDonnel wins that competition? You're guess is as good as mine

 

[Scott Kenny]

Probably still pretty similar to the Tomcat in specifications if not in form. The Navy knew they needed a fighter that could perform both the Fleet Air Defense mission and be able to tangle with enemy fighters while escorting strike packages. Assuming Vietnam still happens here, the Navy will still learn that lesson. Whether Grumman or Vought or McDonnel wins that competition? You're guess is as good as mine

Agreed on the specifications part.

Thing is, Grumman learned a lot about VG wings from the F-111, which all got put into the F-14. One of the biggest pieces is width of the hinge box, how far out the pivot point is from the fuselage. The F-111's wing hinges much closer to the fuselage than the F-14's does. The engineers agree that the F-111's hinge point is generally too close to the fuselage, and I'm not sure that the lesson would be learned in time without that chunk of time trying to make the F-111B.

For example, the GD Model 44 appears to still have the hinge pretty close to the fuselage like the F-111. In comparison, the Vought 507 appears to have much wider hinges. The MDC 225 may have the widest hinges.

 

[Pioneer]

Agreed on the specifications part.

Thing is, Grumman learned a lot about VG wings from the F-111, which all got put into the F-14. One of the biggest pieces is width of the hinge box, how far out the pivot point is from the fuselage. The F-111's wing hinges much closer to the fuselage than the F-14's does. The engineers agree that the F-111's hinge point is generally too close to the fuselage, and I'm not sure that the lesson would be learned in time without that chunk of time trying to make the F-111B.

For example, the GD Model 44 appears to still have the hinge pretty close to the fuselage like the F-111. In comparison, the Vought 507 appears to have much wider hinges. The MDC 225 may have the widest hinges.

Would it be correct to say that GD based this wing hinge close to the fuselage arrangement based on data provided by NACA?

Regards
Pioneer

 

[Scott Kenny]

Would it be correct to say that GD based this wing hinge close to the fuselage arrangement based on data provided by NACA?

That I don't know. Possibly.