Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.

2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.

3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.

4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.

5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.

6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.

7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.

8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.

9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.

10.It was used for high altitude research initially.

11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.

12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.

13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.

14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.

15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.

16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.

17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared. 18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.

Afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.

Evening clue. And BTW; I will be out of town from noon tomorrow, Friday, through Saturday. I should be back and ready to roll on Sunday. Thanks; Ernie P.Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.

This almost sounds like a NIMROD, but I don't think so

Hydro Junkie; you are correct when you say it isn't the Hawker Siddeley NIMROD. Not even related. But I'll reward your participation with an extra clue and toss in another to make up for my absence tomorrow. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.

Okay; back to the grind. Evening clue. Also Gentlemen; you might benefit from asking “why” in reference to clues (4), (5) and (19). Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft. 1
2.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.

Time for a morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.

I have NO idea! This is a good one!!

Why thank you, Sir. Glad you're enjoying it. And a bonus clue, and an afternoon clue, for your kind comment. Thanks; Ernie P.


And let me repeat:Gentlemen; you might benefit from asking “why” in reference to clues (4), (5) and (19). Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.

It wouldn't be the Horten wing bomber would it? I know they came up with a fighter version that was designed to ram allied bombers and a bigger version that was supposed to be able to reach the US Atlantic coast.
Jack Northrop flew the comparable B-35, B-49 and P-79 in 1945 and 1947 respectively, as did Armstrong-Whitworth

Ernie ,You picked One Heck of a Question I'm stumped and when either you or someone comes up with the correct answer ,Most likely I'll hit my head and go DAH !
Semper Fi
Joe

No correct answers thus far, but thanks for the kind comments. An evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft been ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.

Gentlemen; you might benefit from asking “why” in reference to clues (4), (5) and (19). A morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.

And an afternoon clue. Don't worry about running out of clues; or having to reveal clues which might give away the answer. If I get to that point, we'll just play 20 questions. I'll let you guys ask questions, such as "Was this an Estonian aircraft?" and I'll answer the questions. Thanks; Ernie P.

Gentlemen; you might benefit from asking “why” in reference to clues (4), (5) and (19). Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.

Not a clue; but a reminder. Thanks; Ernie P.Gentlemen; you might benefit from asking “why” in reference to clues (4), (5) and (19). Thanks; Ernie P.

Afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.
31.Fully loaded and armed, they were to have weighed over 80,000 pounds.

Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.
31.Fully loaded and armed, they were to have weighed over 80,000 pounds.
32.Maximum speed was to have been over 350 MPH.

In 1945:
February 2 – The Horten H.IX V2, the second prototype and first powered prototype of the Horten Ho 229, makes it first flight at Oranienburg, Germany.[35] It is the world′s first flight by a turbojet-powered flying wing
February 11 – A jet bomber is shot down in air-to-air combat for the first time, when a Royal Air Force Hawker Tempest Mark V downs a German Luftwaffe Arado Ar 234B Blitz (Lightning)
February 18 –The Horten H.IX V2, the second prototype and first powered prototype of the Horten Ho 229, suffers an engine failure during its third test flight and crashes at Oranienburg, Germany, killing its pilot, Leutnant Erwin Ziller.[45]
[46] The third prototype is never completed, and the crash brings the Ho 229 program to an end.
March 1 – The world's first vertical launch of a manned rocket takes place when the German Bachem Ba 349 Natter rocket fighter makes its first manned launch under rocket power. The 55-second flight ends in tragedy when the aircraft crashes, killing its pilot, Luftwaffe test pilot Lothar Sieber.
March 11 – Luftwaffe pilot Helmut Gerstenhauer and two copilots arrive at Werder, Germany, completing a flight in a Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 helicopter begun from Tempelhof Airport in Berlin on 26 February. Bound for Danzig, navigational problems and bad weather force them to stop at Crailsheim, Wurzburg, and Meiningen on 26 February, Werder on 27 February (which they reach after a 315-kilometer (196-mile) flight from Meiningen), Prenzlau on 28 February, and Stolp on 1 March, before finally departing Stolp on 5 March and arriving at Danzig later that day after a flight over the advancing Soviet Army. Ordered to return to Werder, they make a lengthy flight from Danzig to Werder via Garz. The entire 13-day journey has covered 1,675 kilometers (1,041 miles) – an unofficial helicopter record at the time – with a flight time of 16 hours 25 minutes.
September 6 – A captured German Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 V14, makes the first helicopter crossing of the English Channel when it flies from Cherbourg, France, to RAF Beaulieu in the New Forest, Hampshire, England
September 12 – The first flight of the U.S. Army Air Forces′ Northrop XP-79B turbojet flying wing fighter prototype ends in tragedy when the aircraft goes out of control during a slow roll and crashes 15 minutes into the flight, spinning vertically into the ground. Test pilot Harry Crosby is struck by the plane and falls to his death while attempting to bail out. The XP-79 project is cancelled soon afterward.
​​​​​​​

First flights[edit]

• Aeronca 11 Chief
• Auster A.O.P.6
• Cierva W.9
• Thorp T-211
• Yokosuka D3Y Myojo ("Venus")

January[edit]

• January 26
  • McDonnell XFD-1, prototype of the FD Phantom, later redesignated FH Phantom, the first jet aircraft to operate from a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.[165]
  • Miles M.57 Aerovan

February[edit]

• February 1 – Kawasaki Ki-100
  [166]
• February 2 – Horten H.IX V2, first powered prototype of the Horten Ho 229
  [35]
• February 7 or 11[167] – Consolidated-Vultee XP-81 (with piston engine)[164]
• February 21 – Hawker Sea Fury prototype SR661
• February 23 – Bachem Ba 349 Natter (first unmanned vertical launch under rocket power)[55]
• February 25 – Bell XP-83
  [168]
• February 27 – Curtiss XF15C
  [169]

March[edit]

• Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi ("Sabre")[170]
• March 1 - Bachem Ba 349 (first manned vertical launch under rocket power)[55]
• March 2 - Hispano Aviación HA-1109-J1L
• March 3 - Mikoyan-Gurevich I-250 (N), first Soviet thermojet
• March 7 - Piasecki HRP Rescuer
• March 18 - Douglas XB2D-1, prototype of the AD Skyraider

April[edit]

• Kokusai Ki-105 Ohtori ("Phoenix")[171]
• Nakajima Ki-87
  [172]
• Rikugun Ki-93
  [173]
• April 15 – North American XP-82, prototype of the P-82 Twin Mustang
  [174]
• April 19 - de Havilland Sea Hornet prototype PX212
• April 27 - Pilatus P-2

May[edit]

• May 8 – Yokosuka R2Y1 Keiun ("Beautiful Cloud"), piston-engined prototype of the R2Y2, projected as the first Japanese jet attack aircraft[175]
• May 17 – Lockheed XP2V-1 Bu48237, prototype of the P2V Neptune (later P-2 Neptune)[176]

June[edit]

• June 10 - Ilyushin IL-16
• June 14 - Avro Tudor 1 G-AGPF, the first British pressurised civilian aircraft
• June 22 - Vickers Viking prototype G-AGOK

July[edit]

• July 3 – Northrop F-15 Reporter
• July 5 – Fairey Spearfish prototype RA356
• July 7 – Mitsubishi J8M Shusui ("Sword Stroke"),[177] first Japanese rocket-powered aircraft

August[edit]

• August 3 - Kyushu J7W Shinden ("Magnificant Lightning")[178]
• August 7 - Nakajima Kikka ("Orange Blossom"), first Japanese jet[179]
• August 13 - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-8 Utka ("Duck", from its canard design, as in the French word canard for "duck")

September[edit]

• September 5 – Douglas C-74 Globemaster
• September 12 – Northrop XP-79B Flying Ram
  [180]
• September 25 – de Havilland Dove

October[edit]

• October 26 – Miles M.65 Gemini
• October 27 - Bristol Buckmaster
• October 28 - LWD Szpak

November[edit]

• November 10 - Yakovlev Yak-11
• November 13 – Bellanca 14-13 Cruisair Senior
• November 15 - PZL S-1
• November 20 - Saaborn 91 Safir

December[edit]

• December 2
  • Bristol 170 G-AGPV
  • Handley Page Hermes G-AGSS
• December 8 – Bell 47 prototype[181] NC1H
• December 19 – Grumman XTB3F-1, prototype of the AF Guardian
  [182]
• December 21 Consolidated Vultee XP-81 (with turboprop engine, first American turboprop-powered flight)[164]
• December 22 – Beechcraft Bonanza
  [183]
• December 28 – Edo XOSE-1, prototype of the Edo OSE
  [184]

In 1947:
August 20 – Flying the Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak, U.S. Navy Commander Turner F. Caldwell sets a new world air speed record of 640.796 mph (1,031.878 km/h) over Muroc, California, the first aircraft ever officially to exceed Heini Dittmar's October 2, 1941, unofficial record of 624 mph (1,005 km/hr), set in a Messerschmitt Me 163A rocket fighter prototype
October 14 – The United States Air Force test pilot, Captain Chuck Yeager, flies a Bell X-1 rocket plane faster than the speed of sound, the first time it has been accomplished
August 25 – Flying the Douglas Skystreak, United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Marion Carl achieves another world air speed record, reaching 650 mph
November 2 – With Howard Hughes at the controls, the Hughes H-4 Hercules, also known as the "Spruce Goose," makes its first flight, traveling at 135 mph (217 km/hr) for about a mile (1.6 km) at an altitude of 70 feet (21 meters) over Long Beach Harbor in California with 32 people on board. Both the largest flying boat and the aircraft with the largest wingspan (319 feet 11 inches; 97.54 meters) ever built, it never flies again

First flights[edit]

• Aeronca Sedan
• Beriev LL-143, early prototype of the Beriev Be-6 (NATO reporting name "Madge")[46]

January[edit]

• January 8 – Yakovlev Yak-19
• January 11 – McDonnell XF2H-1, prototype of the F2H Banshee
  [47]

February[edit]

• February 12 – Sikorsky S-52
  [48]

March[edit]

• Lavochkin La-156
• March 14 – Lockheed L-749 Constellation
• March 16 – Convair CV-240 Convairliner
  [49]
• March 17 – North American XB-45, prototype of the North American B-45 Tornado

April[edit]

• April 1 – Blackburn Firecrest
• April 2 – Convair XB-46
  [50]

May[edit]

• May 19 – Tupolev Tu-4 (NATO reporting name "Bull")
• May 28
  • Sukhoi Su-11 (1947), first aircraft with Soviet-designed jet engines
  • Douglas Skystreak
• May 30 – Boulton Paul Balliol

June[edit]

• Yakovlev Yak-15U, a prototype of Yak-17
• Lavochkin La-160, first Soviet swept-wing fighter
• June 22 – Martin XB-48
• June 25 – Boeing B-50
• June 30
  • Avions Fairey Junior OO-***
  • Vickers Valetta VL249

July[edit]

• July 8 – Boeing 377 Stratocruiser
• July 8 – Yakovlev Yak-23
• July 10 – Airspeed Ambassador G-AGUA
• July 16 – Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 TG263
• July 21 – Aero 45
• July 24 – Ilyushin Il-22
• July 27
  • Tupolev Tu-12, first Soviet jet bomber
  • Bristol Sycamore, first British helicopter

August[edit]

• August 9 – FMA I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I
  [51]
• Mid-August – Miles M.71 Merchantman
• August 22 – Miles M.68
• August 31 – Antonov An-2 ("Colt")[52]

September[edit]

• September 2 – Hawker P.1040 VP401
• September 25 – Skyhook balloon

October[edit]

• October 1 – North American XP-86, prototype of the F-86 Sabre, by George Welch
  [53]
• October 21 – Northrop YB-49 jet-powered flying wing
• October 24 – Grumman XJR2F-1, prototype of the UF-1, later HU-16, Albatross[54]

November[edit]

• November 2 – Hughes H-4 Hercules ("Spruce Goose")
• November 2 – Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)
• November 17 – Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
• November 24 – Grumman XF9F-2, prototype of the F9F-2 Panther
  [55]

December[edit]

• December 3 – Beriev Be-8 (NATO reporting name "Mole")[46]
• December 17 – Boeing XB-47, prototype of the B-47 Stratojet
• December 30 – Mikoyan-Gurevich I-310, prototype of the MiG-15

Hydro Junkie; interesting... I don't see this aircraft in your list. But perhaps this morning clue will direct you toward the correct answer. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?
Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.
31.Fully loaded and armed, they were to have weighed over 80,000 pounds.
32.Maximum speed was to have been over 350 MPH.33.At over 35,000 feet.

Dang Ernie!!!
I'm glad H J at least guessed something...it looks like we are all scratching our heads (or maybe somewhere else ? :) )

RCU has disappeared several times...nothing there when I try to visit the site...since this re-do...

Anyway...just wanted to say keep up the good work, cuz I ain't got nuthin' else, at the moment...lol

Proptop I'll agree with you,RCU really sucks lately ,wait until you try and upload photo's ,took me 30 mins to load 8 photos ...... And ERNIE's question is a real head(or other places) scratcher
Semper Fi
Joe

Glad you're all enjoying the ride. Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947. 2
9.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.
31.Fully loaded and armed, they were to have weighed over 80,000 pounds.
32.Maximum speed was to have been over 350 MPH.
33.At over 35,000 feet.
34.This aircraft was designed by a major designer and manufacturer of aircraft; one easily recognized.

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

Question: What warbird do I describe?

Clues:
1.This aircraft was originally an attempt to redesign and correct the design flaws in an earlier, failed aircraft.
2.It essentially married together the design features of the failed aircraft, with the design features of a remarkably successful aircraft.
3.It also, in turn, influenced the design of a very famous aircraft, although that program was never completed.
4.One of the interesting things is that the aircraft was designed in one country, but built in another.
5.And eventually completed and flown by the second country.
6.It was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber.
7.But the plane wasn’t completed in time to participate in the war; and was abandoned by the designer country.
8.But there is no question that, had it been completed in time, it would have been almost invulnerable to interception.
9.It was completed and used by the builder country for some years.
10.It was used for high altitude research initially.
11.Then it was used for research into air launched experimental aircraft.
12.This project actually began as a proposal to build a high altitude version of the failed bomber project which served as the “parent” of what later became this aircraft.
13.The idea was to create a high altitude version of a twin engined bomber by adding pressurized crew compartments, reducing the number of crew members and defensive armament and extending and redesigning the wings.
14.This eventually led to a complete redesign, which added two engines.
15.The result was an aircraft which was considerably faster; and which could fly at more than twice the altitude of the parent aircraft.
16.The combination of altitude and speed was such that it was felt the opposing fighter aircraft would be unable to intercept the aircraft.
17.At the same time, a very long range version of the new design was being prepared.
18.Since the offspring of our subject aircraft was also coming into being at the time, this resulted in three different, but very closely related, projects being developed simultaneously.
19.Thus, the decision was made to have this, our subject aircraft, built in a different country; one with considerable experience building aircraft and with a lot of unused capacity in terms of facilities and trained technical staff.
20.The offspring of our subject aircraft was, ironically, itself a twin engined aircraft.
21.Thus the cycle of two engines, four engines, two engines; in the succession of what were three different aircraft designs; versions of each which were intended to fulfill a variety of roles ranging from bomber to long range and high altitude bombers.
22.And, to complete the irony, the offspring aircraft, originally designed as a bomber, was redesigned as a high speed fighter.
23.A night fighter.
24.Our subject aircraft was to have been a high speed, high altitude bomber, but was only flown as an experimental, high altitude research aircraft; which was later used to launch test experimental high speed aircraft.
25.Our subject aircraft was first envisioned in 1938.
26.And first flew in 1945.
27.Had any of the three parallel development aircraft become operationally ready a bit earlier; they would be household names today.
28.The second aircraft was first flown in 1947.
29.And those two were the only ones ever built.
30.Empty, they were to have weighed over 45,000 pounds.
31.Fully loaded and armed, they were to have weighed over 80,000 pounds.
32.Maximum speed was to have been over 350 MPH.
33.At over 35,000 feet.
34.This aircraft was designed by a major designer and manufacturer of aircraft; one easily recognized.
35.The eventual completion and flight use was also done by an easily recognizable aircraft manufacturing entity.