Avro "X-Wing" VTOL Jet Fighter Proposal for USN (1956)
 

Check out this article at RetroMechanix.com on a bizarre Avro VTOL supersonic jet fighter proposal to fulfill US Navy specification TS-140 in 1956:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5278/...04de2e79_o.jpg

It featured two pairs of unswept wings with four jet engines mounted on each wing tip. The aircraft's “X-wing” configuration is apparent when viewed from head-on, prefiguring the famous Star Wars design by several decades. Never before published online, it includes a 73 image slideshow reproducing the entire proposal brochure with many high resolution drawings, artist's impressions, and photos. It's amazing that the Canadian aerospace industry was once capable of producing such advanced concepts!

-Jared

Re: Avro "X-Wing" VTOL Jet Fighter Proposal for USN (1956)
 

Oh,come now!

Canada put up a 'flying saucer' design and the 'Arrow' supersonic fighter as well as the first jet powered airliner. This on a background of other excellent more conventional designs and the improvement of things like the Sabre when Orenda
powered and the Britannia which begat the CL-44 and Aurora. Canada is perfectly
capable of producing anything! Its just a shame that it is overwhelmed by a mighty
neighbour!
Interesting design nevertheless.

Re: Avro "X-Wing" VTOL Jet Fighter Proposal for USN (1956)
 

Pretty cool looking concept.

aeroeng