The Bachem Ba 349 Natter was a secretive, vertical take-off, single-seat rocket interceptor intended to offer high-speed defence of key targets. This radical aircraft offered …
Even before the spectacular success of its X-1 rocket-powered aircraft in breaking the ‘sound barrier’, the adventurous Bell Aircraft Corporation was already pushing ahead with a …
As Europe plunged into World War II, Hitler ordered the development of a hi-tech secret weapon capable of taking the war across the Atlantic – the Messerschmitt Me 264. Chosen from …
The six Douglas D-558 research aircraft, built as two variants, were produced for a US Navy and NACA collaborative project to investigate flight in the high subsonic and supersonic …
In 1935 the USAAC wanted to build a potential intercontinental bomber, a 'Guardian of the Hemisphere,' and granted Donald Douglas a contract to build the world’s largest bomber. …
Half a century before the 'flying wing' B-2 stealth bomber entered service, John K. ‘Jack’ Northrop was already developing prototypes of a large 'flying wing' strategic bomber, …
The XB-40 and XB-41 were secret, little-known experimental modifications of the B-17F and B-24D, respectively, into heavily-armed bomber gunships sometimes referred to as “bomber …
At the dawn of the supersonic jet age, aircraft designers were forced to devise radical new planforms that suited the new power of the jet engine. One of the most successful was …
The revolutionary X-15 remains the fastest manned aircraft ever to fly. Built in the two decades following World War II, it was the most successful of the high-speed X-planes. The …
In late 1944, the German Air Ministry organised what it called an ‘Emergency Fighter Competition’ intended to produce designs for quick-to-build yet technically and tactically …
