In this bumper-size final issue of The American Aerospace Archive, we revisit the theme of early postwar strategic bomber development (originally covered in Issue 3) and introduce two new subjects: the USAF XC Heavy Transport and Parasite/Missile Carrier as well as selected Fighter-Conveyor (FICON) studies from the early 1950′s. A common thread throughout this issue [...]
This issue focuses on little-known aspects of McDonnell naval fighter development in the early Cold War period, with special emphasis on the development of the F3H Demon. The magazine covers the following subjects: • Model 40/40A (1945 day fighter proposal—5 images) • XF2H-2/-3/-4 Swept-Wing Banshee (9 images) • Model 58 (original proposal for the F3H Demon—20 images) • Model [...]
In this issue, we examine proposals submitted to the Army Air Force heavy bombardment competition of 1946, which ultimately yielded the legendary Boeing B-52. Though Boeing won the initial competition, it struggled to keep the contract as changing Air Force requirements and rival companies put intense pressure on the program. One of its most aggressive [...]
In the second issue of the American Aerospace Archive, we present a highly detailed overview of the North American FJ-5 fighter, a proposal for a navalized derivative of the F-107A prepared for the Bureau of Aeronautics on July 6, 1955. With its dorsal inlet and sleek aerodynamics, the FJ-5 was among the more unusual and [...]
In 2008, Jared Zichek launched The American Aerospace Archive magazine using the MagCloud print-on-demand service. The inaugural issue reprints a lavish promotional brochure from 1944 of the Martin JRM Mars Transport Airplane, a commercialized version of the world’s largest production flying boat. The magazine covers three proposed versions of this luxurious “flying hotel” with 65 [...]
In his second book, Jared Zichek presents the comprehensive story of some of the most radical attack aircraft ever designed to operate from an aircraft carrier. These incredible projects were developed in 1948 to equip the USS United States, an immense 65,000-ton supercarrier that was to have been the core of the Navy’s nascent strategic [...]
Besides running RetroMechanix.com, author Jared Zichek has written the definitive study of the innovative yet unsuccessful Boeing XF8B-1 “Five-in-One” naval fighter of World War II. This enormous aircraft was the last piston engine fighter built by Boeing and very nearly the last fighter built by the company until its merger with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. [...]
Mother Ships, Parasites and More: Selected USAF Strategic Bomber, XC Heavy Transport and FICON Studies, 1945-1954 (American Aerospace Archive 5) “If you are interested in these unusual concepts that were being contemplated by the US Air Force, then this book will make a valuable addition to your library.” -Rob Baumgartner, Hyperscale.com “I knew about the FICON [...]
