If you are interested in vintage project and prototype aircraft, please visit RetroMechanix.com, which currently features a comprehensive set of articles devoted to the US Navy OS-130 Day Fighter competition of 1953 that ultimately yielded the F8U Crusader and F5D Skylancer. These articles are accompanied by approximately 500 high resolution images available to freely view and download of the Convair Carrier Based F2Y, Douglas Model 652, Grumman Design 97, Lockheed L-242 Navalized Starfighter, McDonnell Model 90/91, North American OS-130 Class VF Day Fighter, Northrop Model N-94, TEMCO Model 31, Vought V-383/V-384, and Vought XF8U-1 Mock-up Inspection. All of it is based on primary documents and the majority is previously unpublished.



I've also added a new article on a proposal known as the "Sapphire powered Grumman Cougar" dating from the early 1950's:



This was an intermediate study between the F9F-6 and the Design 97, a stage in an evolution that eventually culminated in the F11F Tiger. The article features 12 never before published images and a short summary of the design.

Going forward, we will be regularly updating the site several times per week with new articles on various aerospace studies, prototypes, modifications, etc. Please check back frequently, add us to your RSS feed, etc.

Thank you for your consideration; I hope you enjoy the site and visit frequently.

Best Regards,

Jared Zichek
Editor, RetroMechanix.com

New articles up at RetroMechanix.com:

North American navalized F-100 Super Fury proposal of 1953:



It is accompanied by 58 high resolution images, the majority of which are previously unpublished.

Other additions include a short article on the North American ESO 4705 CIC/AEW studies of the early Cold War period:



It features three interesting configuration drawings, one of which looks like the mutant offspring of Vincent Burnelli and Charles Zimmerman.

Also recently posted was an article on the Douglas Model 1209 High Speed Composite Bomber of 1950, a possible GEBO study:



It features one large blueprint of a sleek, supersonic bird that looks like it's doing Mach 3 standing still.

There are many more interesting articles planned in the coming weeks, so please check the site frequently; you'll undoubtedly see something that you've never seen before, as the majority of the material is based on original documents found in the US National Archives and is previously unpublished. If you are a scratchbuilder, kitbasher, or general enthusiast, you will find much to enjoy on the site.

-Jared

New articles up at RetroMechanix.com:

Our most recent article summarizes the proposal for the North American All Weather Super Fury (an evolution of an earlier navalized F-100 proposal) from 1954:



It features 78 high resolution images, most previously unpublished. We also have an article on the Bell Supersonic Research Test Aircraft proposal of 1954:



...and an article on the McDonnell Douglas Quiet Attack Aircraft proposal of 1974, an early attempt at stealth:



All articles feature previously unpublished, high resolution images; this is ideal information for the historian, enthusiast, model scratchbuilder, etc. There are many more articles to come in the weeks ahead, so please visit frequently!

Best Regards,

Jared Zichek
Editor, RetroMechanix.com

New articles up at RetroMechanix.com:

A feature on the Douglas Model 1875 Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Logistic Carrier of 1955:



It features two high resolution blueprints and 3 configurations; the aircraft appears to have utilized components of the C-133.

Next up is an article on the turboprop Vought V-358 Attack/Fighter Design Study of 1947:



It features 27 high resolution images of this little known naval turboprop proposal.

This is ideal information for the historian, enthusiast, kitbasher, scratchbuilder, etc. There are many more articles to come in the weeks ahead, so please visit frequently!

-Jared