Скачать или смотреть DECLASSIFIED: The Secret Fighter Jets America Tried to Forget

This Dronescapes documentary, featuring rare restored and in part colorized historical footage, explores the secret history of obscure aviation prototypes like the Bell D-188A (XF-109) VTOL fighter, the Republic XF-103 Mach 3 interceptor, and the Convair XFY-1 Pogo tailsitter. We declassify the stories of these incredible Cold War experimental aircraft that pushed the very limits of technology.

In the high-stakes crucible of the 1950s Cold War, the race for air superiority led to some of the most radical and visionary aircraft designs ever conceived. While legends like the Century Series fighters and the X-15 were making headlines, other, more secret projects were underway—programs so ambitious they bordered on science fiction. These are the ghosts of the drawing board, the incredible "what ifs" of aviation history, brought to life here with rare and restored footage.

Our journey into the unknown begins with the Bell D-188A, also known as the XF-109. This was America's Mach 2 multi-role fighter that could take off and land vertically (VTOL). With a revolutionary system of tilting engine nacelles, it was a concept that predated the famous Harrier "Jump Jet" by years. We explore the incredible complexity of this eight-engined marvel and the reasons it never left the mockup stage.

Next, we uncover the story of the ultimate interceptor: the Republic XF-103. A true "missile with a man in it," this titanium titan was designed to fly at over three times the speed of sound to hunt down and destroy high-altitude Soviet bombers. With its bizarre periscope cockpit and a radical combination turbojet/ramjet engine, the XF-103 was an unprecedented leap into the future of air combat.

Finally, we look at perhaps the most audacious concept of all: the Convair XFY-1 Pogo. This was a "tailsitter" fighter, a turboprop designed to take off and land vertically from the deck of any ship, no runway needed. While the Pogo actually flew and proved the concept was possible, it also revealed the immense and terrifying challenges for the pilot. Join us as we explore these phantoms of the Cold War, the planes that were truly ahead of their time.

General Information: The Prototypes

Bell D-188A (XF-109)
Role: Mach 2 VTOL Fighter-Bomber
Status: Mock-up completed, cancelled in 1961.
Crew: 1
Powerplant (Planned): 8 × General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojets; two in each of the four tilting wingtip pods.
Max Speed (Projected): Mach 2.3 (1,520 mph, 2,446 km/h).
Key Feature: Four rotating pods, each containing two engines, would tilt vertically for takeoff/landing and horizontally for forward flight.

Republic XF-103
Role: High-speed Interceptor
Status: Mock-up completed, cancelled in 1957.
Crew: 1
Powerplant (Planned): 1 × Wright XJ67-W-3 turbojet feeding a XRJ55-W-1 ramjet.
Max Speed (Projected): Mach 3 (sustained), with dashes to Mach 5.
Key Feature: A radical design made almost entirely of titanium, with a periscopic cockpit and a dual-cycle engine for extreme speeds.

Convair XFY-1 Pogo
Role: VTOL "Tailsitter" Prototype Fighter
Status: One prototype built and flown, program cancelled in 1956.
Crew: 1
Powerplant: 1 × Allison YT40-A-6 turboprop engine driving co-axial contra-rotating propellers.
Max Speed (Tested): Approx. 400 mph (644 km/h); projected top speed was over 600 mph.
Key Feature: Designed to take off and land vertically on its tail, with the pilot looking straight up during landing. It successfully performed transitions from vertical to horizontal flight.

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