History
After the North American F-100 Super Sabre was in production, the design was reconfigured to meet Air Force requirements for a fighter-bomber capable of delivering a nuclear payload at Mach 2 speeds. The first versions were designated F-100B, but when the U.S. Air Force ordered prototypes, the designation changed to YF-107A (NA-212).
The air intake was located behind the cockpit to permit installation of a fire control radar. The YF-107A was the last fighter North American Aviation built for the USAF, and it flew Mach 2 in its first all-out test flights during 1957.
The three YF-107As provided valuable data for advanced flight research. They were followed by the F-108 (NA-257) Rapier, which entered the design stage as a Mach 3 interceptor, but was never produced.
| First flight: | Sept. 10, 1956 |
|---|---|
| Span: | 36 feet 7 inches |
| Length: | 61 feet 8 inches |
| Gross weight: | 39,755 pounds (empty) |
| Power plant: | 24,000-pound thrust (with afterburner) Pratt & Whitney J75-P-9 turbojet |
| Speed: | Mach 2 |
| Crew: | One |
| Operating altitude: | 53,200 feet |
| Armament: | Four 20 mm M-39E cannon, up to 10,000 pounds of bombs |