As the Cold War rose as the most critical conflict in the world and the menace of Soviet bombers became increasingly real, the call was sent out for an all-American solution.
However, in the race to dominate the skies, many early jet designs encountered a lethal flaw: the dreaded Sabre dance, an often fatal aerodynamic stall phenomenon that plagued the North American F-100 Super Sabre, claiming multiple models.
Amidst the wreckage of these failed designs, only one company dared to defy design rules to try and fix the problem: Republic Aviation with the XF-91 Thunderceptor.
Bearing a feature as unusual as its name, the model had an inversely tapered wing, which expanded in length from root to tip. This unique configuration, according to engineers, would ensure a smooth stall across the entire wing.
The Thunderceptor was also equipped with a dual propulsion system: a turbojet engine for cruising and rocket engines for rapid ascents. This powerful combination empowered the aircraft to ascend to dizzying heights, all in the impending era of aerial combat.
In an audacious venture, Republic Aviation dared to try many novel concepts at once with an aircraft like no other.
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
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