Early Lockheed XF-90 Concepts — L-153, L-167 and L-169 Studies

jzichek · February 16, 2012, 07:37:56 PM

Check out this article at RetroMechanix.com on early concepts for the Lockheed XF-90 long range penetration fighter:

The article features 26 images, including high resolution three-views of some very unusual configurations. Plenty of inspiration for some interesting scratchbuilt models!

-Jared

sandiegobrit · February 16, 2012, 08:28:51 PM

Reminds me a bit of a Gloster Javelin

PR19_Kit · February 16, 2012, 10:28:04 PM

The L-153-34 looks waaaaay ahead of its time! Variable sweep outer wings but married with a Nene engine for goodness sake!

Not to mention a belly intake too.....

jcf · February 16, 2012, 10:46:10 PM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 16, 2012, 10:28:04 PM
The L-153-34 looks waaaaay ahead of its time! Variable sweep outer wings but married with a Nene engine for goodness sake!

Not to mention a belly intake too.....

Yep, wonderfully mondo bizarre.
Have to wonder if those guys were spending lots of time at the beach and burnin' some rope.

The Rat · February 17, 2012, 04:19:27 AM

That L-153-2 looks like it would be damned easy.

perttime · July 28, 2025, 01:30:45 AM

Ancient thread but...
I had no idea bout the XF-90. I just saw a mention about a remaining (wreck or restored?) one. And saw a wikipedia photo.

You cannot view this attachment.

NARSES2 · July 28, 2025, 05:14:55 AM

It's quite a nice looking aeroplane

jcf · July 28, 2025, 04:09:49 PM

The only surviving airframe was recovered from the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, decontaminated - which required removing all the rivets to make sure they removed all of the radioactive sand - and put on display at the USAF Museum in a diorama showing it as found.

jcf · July 28, 2025, 04:33:39 PM

The F-90 is also one of the aircraft used by the Blackhawk in the comic books. Albeit it was drawn as a single engine rather than a twin engine aircraft.
Here's a model of the "F-90B" that was built by Dan Thompson back in the mid-90s.

Here's a page of more of Dan's models of some of the various Blackhawk aircraft. Including a VTOL F-105.
🤣
It's a very old dial-up era site so the pics are small and low res.

Blackhawk Aircraft and Machines

The Rat · July 28, 2025, 07:40:05 PM

I've always thought that it was a sexy beast, but the rounded tips on everything is a bit anachronistic. It would look more modern with them squared off. Which is exactly what I would do with one if I could procure a kit.

kerick · July 28, 2025, 07:44:27 PM

Looks like Anigrand makes a 1/72nd kit and the Ginter book is the only thing with similar information.
Ditch the tip tanks and replace with Sidewinders too. Definitely have a natural metal finish unless you go with overseas sales. Then you could have some interesting schemes.

The Rat · July 28, 2025, 07:51:25 PM

Quote from: kerick on July 28, 2025, 07:44:27 PMLooks like Anigrad makes a 1/72nd kit and the Gintner book is the only thing with similar information.
Ditch the tip tanks and replace with Sidewinders too. Definitely have a natural metal finish unless you go with overseas sales. Then you could have some interesting schemes.

I had one of the Aurora examples, but gave it away years ago.

perttime · July 28, 2025, 08:21:42 PM

Quote from: jcf on July 28, 2025, 04:33:39 PMThe F-90 is also one of the aircraft used by the Blackhawk ....

Blackhawk Aircraft and Machines

The much slimmer F-90C looks good too. Perhaps it could be built based on F-104?

Dizzyfugu · July 30, 2025, 01:25:21 AM

F-80/94s with swept wings are really elegant aircraft - and the F-90 demonstrates this in hardware well. Too sad that there were no better engines available at its time.

chrisonord · September 01, 2025, 12:25:41 PM

I have the Anigrand kit of the XF90 in the stash, mine will be a 1950's-60's RAF fighter.