20 radical military aircraft that didn’t make the cut
Convair F2Y
In 1948, the Navy held a contest for defense contractors to build a new supersonic interceptor aircraft. At this point in history, supersonic warplanes were not conducive to carriers, requiring long runways for takeoff and landing and lacking stability at low speeds. So Convair brought back the seaplane platform by putting skis on its F-102 Delta Dagger interceptor. The F2Y first flew in 1953 and the Navy toyed with the idea of putting Convair’s design on submarines. The unstable prototype was cancelled – but not before the F2Y became the first seaplane to fly Mach 1.
As soon as I finish my “slideshow” on Cold War-ERA TAC warplanes — which has become more of a full-length article with 1,500 words and counting — I’ll jump right on that, Colonel!
Thanks for your service,
Chris
Excellent article and fascinating pictures. Would like to see a similar one for pre-ww1, ww1 and post-ww1 aircraft. Thanks, Colonel Buzzsaw, USAF-ret. Retired SADO/13B/DO for 601 AOC.