North American F-108 Rapier

North American F-108

Designed as a Mach 3 high altitude interceptor during the late 1950’s, the North American F-108 was at the pinnacle of aircraft design during the period. The aircraft, like its larger stable mate, the North American XB-70 strategic bomber, was, however, ultimately doomed due to high costs and a looming redundancy due to a shifting strategic threat in the shape of Inter-Continental Ballistic Missiles, which were then on the cusp of taking over the mantle of strategic nuclear strike from manned bombers.
This volume looks at the genesis and development of the various iterations of the F-108A from the program inception to beyond its cancellation in 1959. The volume is supported by a number of photographs, technical drawings and planned performance charts.