North American YF-107

The F-107A was originally designed as a tactical fighter-bomber version of the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], with a recessed weapon bay under the fuselage; however, extensive design changes resulted in its redesignation from F-100B to F-107A before the first prototype flew.

Special features included an all-moving vertical fin, a control system that permitted the plane to roll at supersonic speeds, and a system (Variable Area Inlet Duct) that automatically controlled the amount of air fed to the jet engine.

On Sept. 10, 1956, the No. 1 F-107A made its initial flight, attaining Mach 1.03 (speed of sound, Mach 1, is about 760 mph at sea level).

The aircraft first achieved Mach 2 (twice the speed of sound) in tests on Nov. 3, 1956.

Three F-107As were built as prototypes and were test flown extensively, but the aircraft did not go into production, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] having been selected as the standard fighter-bomber for the Tactical Air Command.

In late 1957, Nos. 1 and 3 were leased to the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics for high-speed flight research.

TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Four 20mm cannons, 108 2.75-in. rockets and up to 4,000 lbs. of bombs
Engine: Pratt & Whitney J75 of 23,500 lbs. thrust (with afterburner)
Maximum speed: Mach 2-plus
Cruising speed: 600 mph
Range: 1,570 miles
Service ceiling: 48,000 ft.
Span: 36 ft. 7 in.
Length: 60 ft. 10 in.
Height: 19 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 41,537 lbs. maximum
Crew: One