The Douglas Model 1209 High Speed Composite Bomber study was drawn up on approximately 9/10/50 and finalized the following month; the exact dates are not entirely certain, as the original blueprint shown above was scanned from microfilm and the smaller notes and figures are difficult to read. Documentation on this study is lacking and we [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
