Re: Bell D188A/Model 2000 Jet VTOL Fighter for the USN (1958)
 

The ninth installment in a series on the Bell D188A/Model 2000 is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

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The article reproduces Bell Progress Reports from April-August 1958 documenting the ongoing evolution of the aircraft. The accompanying image gallery features numerous large photos and illustrations of this ill-fated supersonic VTOL fighter design.

-Jared

Bell D188A/Model 2000 (XF-109/XF3L) Supersonic VTOL Fighter (Part 10)
 

The tenth installment in a series on the Bell D188A/Model 2000 is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6120/6...00cbf74d_o.jpg

The article reproduces Bell Progress Reports from September-December 1958 documenting the continuing evolution of the aircraft. The accompanying image gallery features numerous large photos of the mock-up under construction and scale test models.

-Jared

Re: Bell D188A Jet VTOL Fighter for the USN (1958)
 

The eleventh installment in a series on the Bell D188A is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7168/6...a3ab67c0_o.jpg

The article reproduces a mock-up summary report from January 1958 and features numerous large photos of the completed mock-up and its major components.

-Jared

Bell D188A/Model 2000 Supersonic VTOL Fighter (1959)
 

The twelfth installment in a series on the Bell D188A/Model 2000 supersonic VTOL fighter is now up at RetroMechanix.com:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7146/6...6c5f6793_o.jpg

The article reproduces a pair of reports from early 1959 - a Progress Report from January and a report on aerodynamic and propulsion model testing from February. The accompanying gallery features 43 images, including numerous high resolution photos and illustrations of the aircraft.

-Jared

Bell Model 2000 ("XF-109") VTOL Fighter Mock-up Report 02/06/59
 

A new post is up at RetroMechanix.com reproducing a mock-up report on the Bell Model 2000 dating from February 1959:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6094/7...ac25843f_o.jpg

The accompanying image gallery features 165 images, including many schematics of the fighter's major components and several nice artist's impressions.

-Jared

Bell XF-109 VTOL Fighter Brochure and Mock-up Inspection Program (1959)
 

A new post is up at RetroMechanix.com presenting a Bell "XF-109" brochure and mock-up inspection program dating from February 1959:

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This is the last article in our series on this ill-fated supersonic VTOL fighter; the profusely illustrated color brochure focuses exclusively on the Air Force variant, while the program provides an interesting overview of the mock-up inspection process and the state of Bell facilities in 1959. The article features 72 images reproducing both documents in full.

-Jared