On Sat, 14 Feb 2004 22:26:45 -0500, "Paul F Austin"
wrote:


"B2431" wrote in message
...
From: (robert arndt)
Date: 2/14/2004 10:53 AM Central

"Dave Kearton" wrote in
message ...
"robert arndt" wrote in message
om...
| Check out one of the F-102's competitors. This aircraft is truly "out
| there" when compared to the technology of the time:

Correct link to Mock-up:
XF-103 Mock-Up: http://wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/fighter/f103-1.jpg

Rob

Try http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/resea...ghter/f103.htm


Thanks.

Looking at it, the aircraft would likely have had the same sort of
performance shortfall that the F102 prototype had because of lack of area
ruling. During that period, transonic aerodynamics were very poorly
understood and engine development failed a lot. The J-67 was one of those
failures IIRC.


AFAIK the "coke bottle" fuselage shape is only an indicator of area
ruling. There are many high speed aircraft over the years that didn't
have a coke bottle shape to the fuselage. Area ruling takes in the
whole package, not just the fuselage.