The Bell D-188A (unofficial military designations XF-109 / XF3L) was a proposed eight-engine Mach 2–capable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) tiltjet fighter that never proceeded past …

Jun 14, 2018 · Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Bell D-188 (XF3L / XF-109) Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Supersonic …

It is designed to provide the performance of the Lockheed F-104 "Starfighter" (straight forward speed above Mach 2) and a broader integrated mission set. The VTOL quality allows the …

Dec 9, 2024 · Concept drawing for what the Bell D-188, unofficially known as the “XF-109,” would have looked like if it had entered production. (Photo Credit: Bell Aircraft Corporation / National …

Jun 3, 2011 · The first report, dating from December 1956, presents the earliest known D188A configuration (at least as presented to the Navy), along with a pair of other designs that share …

Aug 21, 2020 · Six-hundred-thousand engineering man-hours and 3,500 wind tunnel hours went in to the project. The design was bold and the proposal called for a high wing aircraft, powered …

Jul 7, 2011 · In February 1958, the Bell Aircraft Corporation requested that the USAF assign the designation XF-109 to the D-188A project. The Air Force had no interest in the proposal and …

Jun 13, 2023 · The aircraft’s company name was Model 2000, while the USAF variant would be designated XF-109, and the USN one XF3L-1. The aircraft designed by Bell was to be …

The Bell D-188A (unofficial military designations XF-109 / XF3L[citation needed]) was a proposed eight-engine Mach 2-capable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) tiltjet fighter that never …

Bell D188A (XF-109 / XF3L) Jet VTOL Fighter (1957) The fourth installment in a series on the Bell D188A VTOL fighter is now up at RetroMechanix.com: The article reproduces the first third of …