Wouldn't this make the F107 the "Super Duper Sabre"? That would have been fun.

That F-106 deserved to survive, glad it's the one in the museum

Went to this museum as a kid. It is absolutely awe inspiring. One of the greatest collections of aircraft in the world.

The Thunder Chief was the first model I ever made, my father helped me it is still one of my greatest moments with him.

The 107 that ended up Orange County Airport (John Wayne) was in a very accessible area and my Dad was working to get his pilot's license in 62/63 and one afternoon, he took me out there to see it and crawl around on and in it. By "in" just means the engine was gone and I climbed from the tail up to the intakes to look out over the cockpit. Time has only made that visit more special.

All great aircraft. That big, beautiful EC-121D sitting behind the F-105 is 'Triple Nickel", an aircraft that I was lucky enough to have worked on as a mechanic when I was stationed with the 5th OMS at McClellan AFB in Sacramento CA in 1970.

( 12:23 ) If viewers have not already discovered them, the A 5 "Vigilante" and the XF 108 "Rapier" designs are also fantastic! The XB 70 'Valkyrie" supersonic bimber is in a legendary class all its own ( despite the... stupid / tragic way one was lost ). Thanks for this informative video!

It always amazes me how many different aircraft were designed and built in such a short time back then, and considering jet technology was relatively new, it's even more amazing. Thanks for sharing.

Just a few "possible" corrections (not an engineer), F-105 was felt by many to have the best airframe shape for the Thunderbird paint scheme. The F-106 was unbeatable at altitude, I worked F-4s when we flew against them in training and to beat them, we had to bring them to lower altitude. I was told the Vari-ramp was to prevent the supersonic shockwave from entering the intake and damaging the engine (one of the systems I worked on). Now about the "Century Series", the F-4 was going to be called F-110 by the AF, but that was when the Pentagon decided to align Navy and AF numbering systems, so it remained F-4 and Navy retained F-4J of their original numbering system and if the series includes any over 100, you can say the F111 and F117 are included as well.

I’m surprised you don’t mention the pilots’ nickname for the 107: Maneater because of the location of the air intake just above the cockpit.

I love The Museum of Flight! Absolutely amazing collection and wonderful people working there! I had the honor of being a student in a two year program there and it was a life changing experience! Thanks to them I'm on my way to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to pursue my BA and become a Pilot

I have lived in Fairborn, Oh my whole life. This F-107 was stored outside along Central Ave in the “Wood City” portion of the WPAFB for many years. I remember seeing it setting there many times. It’s finally in the AF Museum.

Love the Six! I used to see them fly out of Tyndall AFB back in the mid '70s, as they chased drones to shoot down over the Gulf of Mexico. One of the most beautiful fighters ever built.

Finally, back in the cool part of KZfaq.

An F-107. Saw one back in the later 1980s at the Pima Air Museum. I have seen the entire Century series, both on static display and a few in flight. The XB-70 at Wright Patterson is quite impressive.

This is awesome, thanks so much for visiting and telling the great stories!!!

What a great series - and a great curator. He's OUR GUY! (I live just north of Denver).

My mother worked at Edwards AFB 1957 at the photo lab. When my dad took a job at Vandenberg in 1958 the photo lab presented her with a nice photo of the F107A in flight gear down with Edwards AFB in the back ground. I still have the photo. My mother told me that it was taken with Ansco 35 mm film. Love this photo as well as the F107. copy

Talking about a Thud with that big beautiful Connie right behind him. Nice gig.

Re: weapons bays on US 'fighters': The F-111 had a weapons bay between the F-106 and the F-117. True, in most configurations they installed the Pave Tack pod in said bay, but bombs could definitely be mounted internally if the mission dictated.

That intake! If the situation with the F-107 ever got so bad that you had to eject, you were dead either way!

That’s something like 10 years after the ME-262. Impressive.

The F107 has been at WPAFB museum for a very long time. I thought this all looked familiar as I have been going there since the early 1960s with my dad and uncles who were in the USAAF in WW2.

After seeing this series on the Century series of aircraft, it makes me want to see a series on the first american jet bombers, such as the b-45, B-46, and B-57, along with any other of those late 40's and all the way through the 50's experimental bombers that still survive!

I love all models of the 'century series' of aircraft. But the F-106 is absolutely the most beautiful :)

My Uncle Jack flew the 101 and F4 in Vietnam and also volunteers at the museum. He gives tours in that area and has some great stories. After his military service was done, he was part of the development team for the F117.

Mr Curator can you do a show on Marine Corps Aviation !! Thank you for your amazing Videos

I remember the F106 at Loring AFB, they had to keep them plugged in to keep the electronics warm so they could take off at a moments notice.

Yes, I have seen one of these in the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon AZ. Many, many years ago!

The 49th FIS that 106 served with was the last active duty USAF squadron that flew it, flying out of Griffiss AFB in Rome, NY. They were still flying it when I was initially stationed there in 1985. I think the 106 was also one of my father's projects when he was a Convair engineer.

I've been to that museum 3 times. Best air and space museum in the world.

A slight correction, both the F105 and F111 also had internal weapons bays before the F117.

I saw one decades ago at Pima Air Museum. Definitely an interesting design.

I have not been to the Museum of Flight in years. First time there I flew from Portland's Hillsboro (KHIO) in a rented 172 into Boeing Field (KBFI). I felt very welcome. Having grown up just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, I had been to Wright-Pat many times during the 60s with the last time was about 1972.

I am in love with the F105. My father was a Crew Chief on them and has amazing stories. Thank you

I ❤ The National Museum of the United States Air Force

I have loved the 106 story of it landing in a field for years.

Recognized the F-107 from the thumbnail in the KZfaq sidebar. I was a volunteer docent at the USAF Museum from 92 - 96.

I was wondering where this guy went and now I know! Glad he is still in the biz.

Good to hear Kartveli's name. Amazing man that is criminally underappreciated.

You should do a Canadian tour!! The guys in Windsor at the Canadian Aviation Museum can be a teaser. They have some cool stuff, both airworthy and under restoration. Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton is amazing, the best things in their collection are airworthy and fly regularly. The Lancaster is fully booked for this summer. They have a backlog as Vera has been in and out of surgery for the last 2 years. She rattled my windows today though so I know she's back. But they could probably use a boost as they aren't great at social media and would probably get you a ride in something else cool. The Norseman, or Fairey Firefly perhaps? Give them a call. The Canadian Air and Space Museum in Ottawa is great too. It's all static so, kinda graveyard vibes, but, they have most of what is left of the Avro Arrow is on display there.

I specifically took vacation and visited this museum this past Dec. for 2 solid days, it's beyond awesome. I've also gone to the museum that Mr.Burchette used to be at in Denver, also a very cool place.

I grew up in that museum. First time i was probably a couple years old but by 1960 it was something my family went to very often and i spent alot of my time with my dad whom worked at WPAFB until 1988 at retirement. Great place to grow up. If i wasn"t at my grandparents farm i was at the museum

Awesome series, love the NMUSAF live only 45 min away, would love to see you come back and do this for more of the one of a kind aircraft that call this museum there home.

lots' of great info in a small package. Top shelf vid

Thanks for the fun/informative vid! The Museum is my favorite of all, as I grew up in nearby Springfield and got to watch it grow over the years. I now live distant (Texas), but almost every single visit home includes a trip to see the progress.

I live in the Columbus, Ohio area and was just over there a few months ago. Spent two days walking around this fantastic museum.

F106 - The most beautiful plane of all time.

I and my friends grew up making plastic models of these great aircraft and going to airshows. I also lived in St. Louis Missouri where the McDonald Douglas factory was located when they were making the F-4 Phantom. Phantom flyovers where I lived were common, and I always ran outside for a look. Great episode.

l am an old fighter pilot in my 80's and i just Sub'ed to this amazing channel.....Thank you.... Shoe🇺🇸

The F-107 used to be displayed outside on the 'taxiway' east & north of the original building. Not until the additional buildings were built did it go inside. Been there many times and seen it then & now. Did you know the original museum had displayed some a/c on Patterson field (mid 50s)? They were outside in the elements before being moved to Wright field. Looks as if the F-107 is now in the 'rehab' hanger not in the major part of the museum complex.

Great video...👍

I wondered where you ended up after Colorado, now I know, somehow YT decided to tell me today.

If y'all haven't been, I suggest a good long visit to The Air Force Museum in Dayton. It's incredible.

I have a lifetime goal of visiting this museum. I live in Europe but have made it to quite a few USA aviation museums. (Udvar-Hazy being my favourite so far)

Around 1971-1972, My dad was assigned to the 23rd TFW out of McConnell AFB Kansas. He was directly involved in the Wild Weasel program with the -105 in a program call T-Stick II which was a terrain avoidance system. The Wild Weasel program is still active to this day but with different planes. The F -105 G Wild Weasel was a bad bitch in a SAM fight.

1978. 1/75th Ranger BN. 29 Palms Marine Corps Base. Set up M-60 machine gun targets down range between 400m to 800m away from the firing positions in a valley. After walking back in the summer sun to the gun positions we had some C-Rat chow for lunch. As we were finishing up we saw two aircraft screaming down the valley from our right, they popped up and then proceeded to destroy our 600m and 800m clusters of pIastic Ivan targets with what appeared to be 250lb low drag bombs. An then left the AO never to return. They were F-105 Thunder Chickens.

I've always been a fan of the delta dart. If Convair had stayed around longer, the skies would look much different than they do today for sure, when you think 50's or 60's futuristic looking aircraft, convair is usually the one that built it

I'm a volunteer at the National Museum of the US Air Force. I'll be there on July 8th volunteering. If you come by, say hello!

My father worked on the F107 ( I am 75 ) he always said that the 107 was better than the 105 but lost do to politics. I think it was used as a chase plane for the X15. It was fast.

Not only have I seen it, I have a stack of originals my uncle took of the first one along with the very first F-5 prototype at Edwards AFB when he was Chuck Yeager’s crew chief.

192nd FW (when at Richmond VA) had F-105 Thunderchief my dad worked avionics for A-7 & F-16. He told me the older guys went on a bombing training run hit the tops of the pine trees and they were still partially embedded in the wing an flow home didn't even realize it till they landed. Said it was the strongest plane they ever flown.

Brilliant commentary and information.

Great stuff 😊🇺🇸

First of all thank you for your videos and I don't know why your face looks familiar cuz you're not old enough for me to remember it as a child, but I grew up with my father being an X cheap Aviation electrician during the Korean conflict on the Midway! I spent my childhood getting cut up by sheet metal rivets and God knows what else cables you name it, crawling through Wing Roots underneath control panels in fuselages tail cones as well as nose cones on multiple vintage warbirds as well as Jets! Thank you so much for the video it brings me back I remember seeing these Jets sitting outside Martin Marietta Marietta Georgia

In the 70’s and early 80’s my grandfather got buzzed a few times while out fishing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and the F106’s where out of K I Sawyer Air Force Base. So he called it complain and make a deal with them because every berry picking season he would get kicked off of the base in the fields picking berries so in the end he got to pick berries and every time the pilots found him on his favorite lake they would buzz him. Funny but true.

Hi. The yellow squadron shield is from the 561st Squadron, last stationed at George AFB, CA. I was there working on the F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft, from 1977 to 11980.

we had the 106 at loring afb back in 82 when i got there, really cool plane.

But you left out the F-110. Many may not know of it but it was built by McDonnell. It was actually the Air Force's version of the Navy F4H-1 Phantom, although the AF called it the Spectre. Robert McNamara (whom all those in the Military called Mack the Knife) pushed universal aircraft designation resulting in the F4H-1 becoming the F-4A, the F4H-2 became the F-4B and the F-110 becoming the F-4C. As a Freshman at Texas A&M taking AF ROTC, the text books in 1961 had photos of the F-110 Spectre. We all commented it looked at lot like the Navy's Phantom.

I’ve seen it 3 times. Beautiful aircraft. USAF Museum has one.

Probably my favorite experimental aircraft ever. Researched showed it could go Mach 2 however it was never tested to hit those speeds. Very sleek and modern aircraft for its time

When I was a kid in the early 80s they still had a few F-106s on the flightline at OTIS AFB.

I have pics of the 107A when it first arrived at the museum.

A big reason the USAF chose the F-105 Thunderchief over the F-107 (which had superior performance) was the F-105 had an internal bomb bay. Ironically, the bomb bay was never used, and was filled with a gas tank instead due to its poor range. Moreover, the F-105 was designed as a low-altitude bomber (as said in video), but they used the F-105 as a high altitude bomber.

Very good video. Keep them coming.

well, the final would've been the F108 Rapier. That was slated to be a WONDEROUS platform. SR-71 speed, designed to be an escort of the B-70 Valkyrie....

I grew up with these jet and had a personal access to some. My father was stationed at SAC bases around the US after the Korean War. I was smitten at the age of 9. I would later join the US AirForce at the age of 19 and before I chose my AFSC, type of job code the AirForce uses, I asked and was granted a personal up close & hands on of the F106, A, & 104 at Castle AFB before I chose my AFSC. The recruiter asked me after, so what do you think...I said " No oil, no grease all take it. I became an electrician. These jets past through the base I don't think they were stationed there...too long ago to remember. But I'll never forgot the days of the sonic booms, back then my father took me to a lot of air shows. In addition, everywhere he was stationed there were jets and sonic booms, I was used to them. But air shows always had a few jets break the sound barrier. Standing on the hot tarmac with all those jets put me into a path to work on them. Of course by the time I got in new jets took their place. But I'll never forget the jets in those days, like Hot Rods you just can't get the same look & sound anymore. All was well in my career, a Lifer, that what people called us. We joined and never left until retirement, disability, or death. Unfortunately, during the Gulf War I was injured so bad I was medically discharge, out of the game, with honor & full benefits. But I was hopeful, I made it through and without dieing...so I thought. Twelve years later I would be diagnosed with cancer from chemical contact....aahhh, you got me ! Ha, ha. Not to worried I accept my fate and proud of it, I fought before I'll do it again as my whole family would say keep fighting...between my father, brothers, and sister we have 109 years of military service, wars, skirmishes, police action and some untold stuff...3 members of my family had top secret clearance, one a captain in the Navy & one Chief of the Boat on nuclear subs. My dad held so many AFSC's I can't recall all of them, but he did finish up in nuclear silos. I remember the metal ICBM pin he had to wear on his uniform. Anyway great video, thanks for the memories...

Back in the early 60's in the UK, my first plastic model kit was a 1/72 scale model aircraft kit. Many were to follow. One of the loudest planes I've ever heard....

Fantastic show

You mentioned the F-108 in passing, but nothing else. Plus there was the F-109 (VTOL), F-110 (Air Force name for the F-4), or the FB-111 (Aardvark/Flying Pig)

Growing up by Holloman AFB in the 50s&60s i saw a lot of fighter aircraft. My favorite was the RF-101 Voodoo .

My late Dad worked extensively on the tooling for those F-107 prototypes, along with the F-86 Sabrejet, the Navy's FJ-Fury series, and the F-100 Super Sabre. That airframe is REAL familiar to my memory...

In my younger days I was in USAFJROTC and CAP. My JROTC instructor was Major and flew 106s and A10s. He talked about how bad an idea it was to solo trail a TU95. He said he was censured for not getting closer while he had no wingman.

Being an Air Force brat and a career airman. I've seen all these century fighters fly before their retirement with exception of the weird 107. Langley AFB had the 106's as interceptors and I saw them and heard them take off regularly. Those J75s have a unique "loud" signature sound. The only other fighter I've ever been around that was louder was the F-111

Thanks, great video and explaining the jets, showing ACTUAL jets.

I gotta get over to Pima! Better bring my sunscreen too it’s hot in AZ right now

The air intakes of The Six were not variable geometry, instead, they were fixed, with variable splitter plates mounted to the side next to the fuselage. Only the F-14, F-15, B-1A, Tornado, MiG-29, and SU-27 family have variable geometry air intakes.

Thanks for this 👍✈️

All cool But I did noticed the sweet Superconnie in the hangar and it is always cool

For stability at low level and ability to deliver a nuke, the best obvious one was the Blackburn Buccaneer, a naval fighter bomber that was gleefully flown later by thenRAF as a low level interdiction aircraft.

My tax guy was an F-106 pilot, we used to talk military stuff (I was a tanker on the M60A1) and his face would light up talking about the days of flying the 106.

There’s a whole EC-121 in there!

This guy is a good host/presenter…and the video is not peppered with obnoxious background music during his presentations. Overall, this video was interesting, informative and NOT aggravating. Good work.

I have indeed seen that exact XF-107, I was at the AF museum in 2014 and was able to get out to that hanger that has it. It also has one of two YF-23, and an XB-70.

I built a model of one of these when I was a kid. My dad worked on the avionics systems of these and others during the Vietnam era.

When I was a refueler in the AF I refueled one of those in the early 80's and a delta dart

The "Thud"...... what a beast

The F105 was still in use by the Utah Air National Guard in my years at Hill AFB, 1979-1982. The water injection caused a thud from the motor when first turned on, hence the name "Thud".

The 107, performed well but the intake ducts on top created ejection seat issues. The Navy used a similar configuration for a " seaplane " fighter configuration. Most of those early Vietnam fighters provided a lot of pilots reservations at the Hanoi Hilton, especially the Thud which IS the sound they made when crashing. All Century series aircraft performed poorly because they were not used for the mission designed, except for the F100 which turned into an excellent ground support aircraft.

Man! That unusual over the fuselage air intake! The reverse of the usual chin-mounted or under the belly type. North American F-107A Ultra Sabre was a real beauty, a bigger brother of the F-100 nicknamed "Super" Super Sabre or the Ultra Sabre! 👍👍👍