@tbas8741 imagine what biden would call it. Slupthisashtathfanoshpith. Kamala haris would just Cackle. Obuzzard would call it his muslim/marxist trophy.
If you haven't been back to the Museum of the United States Air Force, and if it's possible for you, I would suggest you go! Many more displays and too much to see in one day.
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.
Likewise, I have a photo of myself at that air museum, ( Tallmantz - Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz ?) sticking out of that intake above the cockpit. Probably dates to 1965.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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
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.
@@Wannes_ Good point. I didn't mention it because the Curator stated that "between the F-106 and the F-117A, there wasn't a US 'Fighter' with an internal weapons bay", so the Thud didn't fit into the picture.
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.
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 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.
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.
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'm glad that at least one other person here in the comments seen that too!👍 That EC-121D is the Triple Nickel (555) that at one time, was stationed here in Sacramento at then, McClellan AFB with the 552nd AEW&C Wing (Airborne Early Warning and Control, the predecessor to AWACS) to which my father was stationed with and more than likely serviced the fuel systems on that aircraft. Ironically at the time, both the F-104 and the F-105 the gentleman in the video was standing next to, were my father's two favorite fighters of that era and had a great respect for the wild weasel crews of the F-105G's. And if my memory serves me correctly, my father was also trained on B-52's and a variety of fighter aircraft to which the F-105 was one of them.
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
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
The post-war years into the early 60's was quite the whirlwind of new prototypes and new production models. It had to be a logistics headache for the AF and Navy maintenance guys.
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.
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)
You need 2-3 days at the USAF Museum in Dayton - FOUR massive hangars stacked to the ceiling with unique, historic, experimental and significant aircraft from 4 major era's (1. Early "1903-1940's (WWI-II) " planes, 2. "Korean/Vietnam era" jets, 3. "Cold War/Modern jet" era, then 4. "Speed, Space and Presidential" aircraft. ... PLUS a missile/rocket section between hangars 3 and 4. I can't express how much there is to absorb in this museum, especially if you like to stop and read the info cards on airplanes, which is a MUST here. They also have Axis aircraft - this is where they test flew them to find their strengths and weaknesses in battle, to develop counter-measure strategies for Allied pilots.
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.
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
Yep sure did see it Over 35 years ago my cousin was a Lt Colonel in the USAF and was at Wright-Patterson AFB the home of the USAF museum visted him and he took us on the tour of the museum and gave me a awesome hard covered book that featured all of the Aircraft of the museum and another book that highlighted all of the experimental Aircraft there like the XB-73 Valkyrie
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....
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.
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! 👍👍👍
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...
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.
No, your eyes are fine - I was also wondering about that. Guesses: Panel removed by maintenance staff, and plane taxied to another part of runway, or it accidentally came off in flight.
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.
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.
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.
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...
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".
When I was at Korat RTAFB in '72, the F-105G WWs were still flying there. I always thought it had the best afterburner light off, and yes, there is a very loud Boom when it lit. Full power, about a half second of dead silence, and BOOM!
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.
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.
I first tried to comment in the general section, but there was nowhere to do it. Then when I tried to post the comment originally in reply to one of your replies, all but the first sentences disappeared. Excellent job on this! But for those studying the history of them, there’s so much more perspective and nuance behind the politics, the procurement process, and the actual performance of each of these aircraft. Without the context of that perspective, the history becomes confusing, and in jeopardy of being meaningless. Too much detail to go into here, but I would highly recommend “Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.” Better, and more accurately stated, it is an absolute prerequisite. The book was recommended to me by a chance meeting with the college roommate of the author, Robert Coram, when he learned that I am a pilot, and that I went to the same college as both he, the author, and the subject of the book. But for a long time, I ignorantly passed off the man’s enthusiasm as affection for, and loyalty to his former roommate. Then much later, I read the book. I have since read it eight times and have listened to it another three times as an audiobook. It is that good. More crucial is that the book is that important. John Boyd was an imperfect person, as we all are, but his imperfections are understandable in the context of his absolutely unswerving, almost unbelievable and literally physically and mentally impossible life long dedication to our nation, and more importantly, to the men and women who serve it. Though an argument can be made the John Boyd literally saved both Air Force and Naval Aviation, saved at least 35,000 lives in Desert Storm (shortening the actual ground war to the relatively tiny amount of time that it took), the Air Force long ago disowned him, and as a result, would not want you reading that book. That’s the only reason I am posting this, rather than simply assuming that you’ve read that book, because I’ve discovered that so many in the Air Force do not even know that it exists. John Boyd’s record from the beginning as the only undefeated fighter pilot ever would be in a compelling enough reason to read the book. But it is his selfless sacrifice in advocating for the American service member, and to the great nation each serves which is the most compelling reason to read it. For without future John Boyds, produced through learning about he and others of the greatest generation, who sacrificed so much for the rest of us, our nation dies.
That was the big fear with this aircraft, but it had a rocket-powered ejection seat that would (hopefully) clear the air intake. From Wikipedia: "In an emergency, the ejection seat was designed to blast directly through the non-jettisoning canopy and bring the pilot swiftly clear of the air intakes."
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
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.
5:15 I have never figured out how the F-105-G was able to lift the Wild Weasel crews into the air. Those guys had the most massive balls ever to be flown in an airplane.
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.
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.
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.
@@edfederoff2679 Not totally sure, but there were grumblings in the Military about his cuts in programs. But he also pushed for the USAF and USN to use a lot of the same aircraft. There was a push for the Navy to use a version of the F-111 as a carrier based fighter. It was discovered that the new Soviet fighters out performed the F-111 so the push to the Navy was dropped. I think he got the nick name Mack and the "the knife" from a popular song just followed right along. By the time I got out of school and into the Navy in 1965 the nickname was well established. It could have even followed him from Ford. He did cut some programs there resulting in a money losing corporation making money again.
![The Giant Airliner With Cabins In Its Wings | Junkers G38 [Aircraft Overview #19]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/5uFNOtsucKE/mqdefault.jpg)
![The Giant Airliner With Cabins In Its Wings | Junkers G38 [Aircraft Overview #19]](/img/tr.png)
Wouldn't this make the F107 the "Super Duper Sabre"? That would have been fun.
Sound like something Trump would name after his "We Have Super Duper Missiles"
i beleve it was nicknamed the ultra sabre
edit didnt get to that part of the video
@tbas8741 imagine what biden would call it. Slupthisashtathfanoshpith. Kamala haris would just Cackle. Obuzzard would call it his muslim/marxist trophy.
Yeah it was called the Ultra Sabre but it was never official. Like the SR-71 "Blackbird".
Ba ha ha ha ha…😂
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.
If you haven't been back to the Museum of the United States Air Force, and if it's possible for you, I would suggest you go! Many more displays and too much to see in one day.
@@rickeymitchell8620 my father went a year ago. He was impressed with how much they have expanded it in the past 20 years.
@@rickeymitchell8620 Devote at least two days to it. The number and quality of aircraft is mind-boggling.
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.
What a lovely memory. Thanks for sharing!
Likewise, I have a photo of myself at that air museum, ( Tallmantz - Frank Tallman and Paul Mantz ?) sticking out of that intake above the cockpit. Probably dates to 1965.
@@ruediger113 was that the coolest thing at the time or what?
The Thunder Chief was the first model I ever made, my father helped me it is still one of my greatest moments with him.
I had one too.
Always got a model of a Military airplane , vehicle or ship for B days and Christmas.
@@davidjanbaz7728 I'm grateful I had that when i was a kid too. Good memories :)
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!
Bomber? But can't agree more I love the XB 70 I have model kit of it I just love it : ]
@@hilarybrown2271 yes, my bad the : XB 70 bomber *
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.
The engineers and designers were still learning - supersonic flight still had many tricks to be revealed.
They had a lot of help from captured German tech and research and Operation Paper Clip German engineers
Glad you enjoyed the video!
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
Excellent presentation. Covering all the important data on each aircraft.
I've been to that museum 3 times. Best air and space museum in the world.
What a great series - and a great curator. He's OUR GUY! (I live just north of Denver).
Finally, back in the cool part of TH-cam.
😎
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.
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.
This is awesome, thanks so much for visiting and telling the great stories!!!
I am in love with the F105.
My father was a Crew Chief on them and has amazing stories.
Thank you
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.
agreed. By far my favorite design of the Century series.
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.
I saw that very plane today! Wonderful museum, especially the 390th exhibit.
Yes, I have seen one of these in the Pima Air Museum in Tuscon AZ. Many, many years ago!
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.
@tonydeangelo7317 - Came here looking for this comment. Was not disappointed.
Yes, if the situation ever got so bad that you had to eject, you were dead either way!
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.
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.
Good to hear Kartveli's name. Amazing man that is criminally underappreciated.
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
I love all models of the 'century series' of aircraft. But the F-106 is absolutely the most beautiful :)
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.
The F-105's internal bomb bay is also oft forgotten ... usually plugged with a fuel tank
@@Wannes_ Good point.
I didn't mention it because the Curator stated that "between the F-106 and the F-117A, there wasn't a US 'Fighter' with an internal weapons bay", so the Thud didn't fit into the picture.
@@malusignatius ; The irony of course being that the F-117 also isn't a fighter.
I was wondering where this guy went and now I know! Glad he is still in the biz.
We keep him busy!
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.
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.
lots' of great info in a small package. Top shelf vid
Brilliant commentary and information.
can you showcase the xf8u-1 in a future episode?
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.
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.
Very good video. Keep them coming.
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!
Thanks for the suggestion! We'll add it to the list.
l am an old fighter pilot in my 80's and i just Sub'ed to this amazing channel.....Thank you....
Shoe🇺🇸
Talking about a Thud with that big beautiful Connie right behind him. Nice gig.
I'm glad that at least one other person here in the comments seen that too!👍
That EC-121D is the Triple Nickel (555) that at one time, was stationed here in Sacramento at then, McClellan AFB with the 552nd AEW&C Wing (Airborne Early Warning and Control, the predecessor to AWACS) to which my father was stationed with and more than likely serviced the fuel systems on that aircraft.
Ironically at the time, both the F-104 and the F-105 the gentleman in the video was standing next to, were my father's two favorite fighters of that era and had a great respect for the wild weasel crews of the F-105G's.
And if my memory serves me correctly, my father was also trained on B-52's and a variety of fighter aircraft to which the F-105 was one of them.
A slight correction, both the F105 and F111 also had internal weapons bays before the F117.
So does the F-106 Delta Dart.
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
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.
I saw one decades ago at Pima Air Museum. Definitely an interesting design.
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
That’s something like 10 years after the ME-262. Impressive.
The post-war years into the early 60's was quite the whirlwind of new prototypes and new production models. It had to be a logistics headache for the AF and Navy maintenance guys.
Thank God for the alien tech we picked up in 1947. Lol.
It's equally bonkers to remember that only 66 years passed between the Wright Brothers' first flight and the Apollo 11 moon landing.
@@Willigula Yeh, those alien bar codes and scanners made inventory much easier. 😀
Mr Curator can you do a show on Marine Corps Aviation !! Thank you for your amazing Videos
Oooh, good idea!
I live in the Columbus, Ohio area and was just over there a few months ago. Spent two days walking around this fantastic museum.
I have loved the 106 story of it landing in a field for years.
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.
their home
Excellent stuff bro
Thanks, great video and explaining the jets, showing ACTUAL jets.
Fantastic
show
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)
You need 2-3 days at the USAF Museum in Dayton - FOUR massive hangars stacked to the ceiling with unique, historic, experimental and significant aircraft from 4 major era's (1. Early "1903-1940's (WWI-II) " planes, 2. "Korean/Vietnam era" jets, 3. "Cold War/Modern jet" era, then 4. "Speed, Space and Presidential" aircraft. ... PLUS a missile/rocket section between hangars 3 and 4. I can't express how much there is to absorb in this museum, especially if you like to stop and read the info cards on airplanes, which is a MUST here. They also have Axis aircraft - this is where they test flew them to find their strengths and weaknesses in battle, to develop counter-measure strategies for Allied pilots.
Well done, thank you.
Great video, learned something new about eatly jets 🙂👍
9:15 thats an F102 NOT a 106. You can tell by the pointed vertical stab whereas the 106 has the clipped vertical stab.
Excellent breakdown and video! 🍻
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.
Hey! I finally found you after you left the Wings over the Rockies museum! Subbed!
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 for this 👍✈️
Growing up by Holloman AFB in the 50s&60s i saw a lot of fighter aircraft. My favorite was the RF-101 Voodoo .
Yep sure did see it
Over 35 years ago my cousin was a Lt Colonel in the USAF and was at Wright-Patterson AFB the home of the USAF museum visted him and he took us on the tour of the museum and gave me a awesome hard covered book that featured all of the Aircraft of the museum and another book that highlighted all of the experimental Aircraft there like the XB-73 Valkyrie
we had the 106 at loring afb back in 82 when i got there, really cool plane.
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....
I’ve seen it 3 times. Beautiful aircraft. USAF Museum has one.
Recognized the F-107 from the thumbnail in the TH-cam sidebar.
I was a volunteer docent at the USAF Museum from 92 - 96.
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.
Thanks for adding more to the story!
Thanks for the video. How about some tours of the museums across America?
Great video...👍
Great stuff 😊🇺🇸
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! 👍👍👍
I BUILT AND MODELED A MONOGRAM 1:48 Scale Thunderchief 30 yrs back .
I have pics of the 107A when it first arrived at the museum.
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...
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.
Interesting idea. We also have some Canadian planes in our collection.
I ❤ The National Museum of the United States Air Force
What is the apparent 'notch' behind the cockpit at 9:04 on the timeline? Is it just an optical
illusion or a problem with my old eyes?🤔
No, your eyes are fine - I was also wondering about that. Guesses: Panel removed by maintenance staff, and plane taxied to another part of runway, or it accidentally came off in flight.
It's the F-106B prototype
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.
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.
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.
That intake! If the situation with the F-107 ever got so bad that you had to eject, you were dead either way!
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...
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".
Never heard that one
When I was at Korat RTAFB in '72, the F-105G WWs were still flying there. I always thought it had the best afterburner light off, and yes, there is a very loud Boom when it lit. Full power, about a half second of dead silence, and BOOM!
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.
4:50 This really surprised the NVAF. Especially as Robbin Olds figured out a way to do it mid flight.
The NVAF Lost a lot of it's MiGs that day.
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.
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.
I first tried to comment in the general section, but there was nowhere to do it. Then when I tried to post the comment originally in reply to one of your replies, all but the first sentences disappeared.
Excellent job on this! But for those studying the history of them, there’s so much more perspective and nuance behind the politics, the procurement process, and the actual performance of each of these aircraft. Without the context of that perspective, the history becomes confusing, and in jeopardy of being meaningless.
Too much detail to go into here, but I would highly recommend “Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War.” Better, and more accurately stated, it is an absolute prerequisite. The book was recommended to me by a chance meeting with the college roommate of the author, Robert Coram, when he learned that I am a pilot, and that I went to the same college as both he, the author, and the subject of the book. But for a long time, I ignorantly passed off the man’s enthusiasm as affection for, and loyalty to his former roommate.
Then much later, I read the book. I have since read it eight times and have listened to it another three times as an audiobook. It is that good. More crucial is that the book is that important. John Boyd was an imperfect person, as we all are, but his imperfections are understandable in the context of
his absolutely unswerving, almost unbelievable and literally physically and mentally impossible life long dedication to our nation, and more importantly, to the men and women who serve it.
Though an argument can be made the John Boyd literally saved both Air Force and Naval Aviation, saved at least 35,000 lives in Desert Storm (shortening the actual ground war to the relatively tiny amount of time that it took), the Air Force long ago disowned him, and as a result, would not want you reading that book. That’s the only reason I am posting this, rather than simply assuming that you’ve read that book, because I’ve discovered that so many in the Air Force do not even know that it exists. John Boyd’s record from the beginning as the only undefeated fighter pilot ever would be in a compelling enough reason to read the book. But it is his selfless sacrifice in advocating for the American service member, and to the great nation each serves which is the most compelling reason to read it. For without future John Boyds, produced through learning about he and others of the greatest generation, who sacrificed so much for the rest of us, our nation dies.
So, how does the ejection process work on that F-107? It would seem to be a bit more hazardous than other designs.
That was the big fear with this aircraft, but it had a rocket-powered ejection seat that would (hopefully) clear the air intake.
From Wikipedia:
"In an emergency, the ejection seat was designed to blast directly through the non-jettisoning canopy and bring the pilot swiftly clear of the air intakes."
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
You gotta love the thunder chicken. It is just a bad ass looking plane.
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.
You should get back to see it, since the F-107 and XB-70 are rightfully in the new hanger attached to the original hangers
5:15 I have never figured out how the F-105-G was able to lift the Wild Weasel crews into the air. Those guys had the most massive balls ever to be flown in an airplane.
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.
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.
GREAT video guys! I've been to PIMA several times and Wright Patterson only once. Hope to get there again soon.
Owen Wilson has a new job I see!
Wow!
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.
There never was an F4H-2 Phantom, that was actually the F4H-1F, which became the F-4B.
Did R. McNamara earn that nickname from the pilots because his ROE in Viet Nam were basically a knife in their backs?
@@edfederoff2679 Not totally sure, but there were grumblings in the Military about his cuts in programs. But he also pushed for the USAF and USN to use a lot of the same aircraft. There was a push for the Navy to use a version of the F-111 as a carrier based fighter. It was discovered that the new Soviet fighters out performed the F-111 so the push to the Navy was dropped. I think he got the nick name Mack and the "the knife" from a popular song just followed right along. By the time I got out of school and into the Navy in 1965 the nickname was well established. It could have even followed him from Ford. He did cut some programs there resulting in a money losing corporation making money again.
If y'all haven't been, I suggest a good long visit to The Air Force Museum in Dayton. It's incredible.