Jets 2

Jets 1946-1962

1946/2 - Republic flew its XP-84 prototype straight-wing jet fighter-bomber that was produced during the Korean War as the F-84 Thunderjet

F-84 Thunderjet

1946/4/24 - Russia flew the Mikoyan MiG-9, its first jet fighter, and also flew the Yakovlev Yak-15 fighter.

MiG-9

1947/10/1 - North American flew America's first swept-wing fighter the F-86 Sabre jet. over 10,000 would be produced for service in the Korean War 1950 and stay in use until the 1970s.

F-86 Sabre jet - 2 3

1947/10/14 - Chuck Yeager flew the rocket-powered Bell X-1 to become first to break the sound barrier

Bell X-1

1947/12/17 - Boeing flew the first XB-47 with 18 small rocket JATO units to assist takeoff; became the B-47 jet bomber with a range of 4000 miles and speed of 587 mph; the RB-47 was a reconaissance version the flew missions in Europe and Asia 1954-64; 2035 bombers were built by 1956 when replaced by the B-52.

B-47 jet bomber

1947/12/30 - Russia flew the Mikoyan MiG-15 that proved equal to the F-86 in the Korean War.

MiG-15

1949/5 - Rockwell North American began delivery of the B-45 Tornado, America's first jet bomber.

B-45 from Fortune 1953/06 - 2

1950 - G-E jet engines used in F-80 Sabrejet.

G-E jet engines, ad from Life

1950 - Lt. Russell J. Brown, flying a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, shot down a North Korean MiG-15 in the first jet aerial combat in history.

F-80 Shooting Star

1950/5/4 - The Flying Wing was developed during World War II by John Northrop to meet the need for a long-range bomber capable of flying across the Atlantic to reach Germany. The 4-engine propeller XB-35 first flew June 25, 1946, (see newsreel) but only 3 models were built before the model was cancelled in 1948. Northrop built the 8-engine YB-49 as a jet-powered version of the XB-35.

XB-35 Flying Wing

1950/5/4 - Northrop built the 8-engine YB-49 as a jet-powered version of the XB-35 Flying Wing. See newsreel of the 1st flight Oct. 21, 1947. It was tested at Muroc AFB in California by a team led by Capt. Glen W. Edwards in 1948, but Edwards and 4 crewmen died in a crash June 5. In honor of Edwards, on Dec. 8, 1949, the Muroc base was renamed Edwards AFB. The redesigned YRB-49A with six jet engines, including two located in pods below the wing, and no gunners bubble, was flown May 4, 1950, but the program was terminated and it flew for the last time on April 26, 1951. The AF preferred Consolidated's B-36 with 6 propeller engines, then the B-47 Stratojet after 1952 , then the B-52 after 1955.

YB-49 Flying Wing

1951 - The Convair B-36 competed with Northrop's Flying Wing during WWII as a possible long-range bomber. When the AF became independent in Sept. 1947, it ordered production of the B-36 as the only plane able to deliver atomic bombs to the Soviet Union without refueling. The B-36A was delivered June 18, 1948, and production continued through 1953 with the featherweight B-36J, putting a total of 250 planes in service during the 1950s.

B-36 Peacemaker

1952/4/15 -Boeing test pilot Tex Johnston flew the first test flight of the B-52 long-range bomber, with a range of 10,000 miles and speed of 652 mph, that became the mainstay of the U.S. strategic bomber force.

B-52 jet bomber

1953/7/3 - Boeing flew the first RB-47 reconnaissance version of the B-47 bomber; flew missions in Europe and Asia 1954-64.

RB-47 reconnaissance jet

1954 - B-47 Stratojet pictured in Life

B-47 Stratojet from Life

1954 - B-47 Stratojet with JATO boosters pictured in Life

B-47 Stratojet from Life

1955/5/27 - "Strike" ad for Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass Navy jet fighter in Life

Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass from Life

1955/8/4 - Lockheed test pilot Tony Levier flew the first U-2 spy plane based at Area 51 near Groom Lake NV.

U-2 spy plane

1956 - Dodge ad in Life for "Swept-Wing '57 Dodge Royal Lancer 2-door with dramatic Flight Sweep styling" and "autodynamics has unleashed the thundering power of a new aircraft-type V-8 engine."

Dodge ad for '57 Lancer from Life

1956/8/31 - Boeing flew the KC-135 that became the first jet tanker and built 820 by 1966, with a range of 5000 miles and speed of 600 mph.

KC-135

1957/12/20 - Boeing flew the first 707 jet transport that became one of the most successful commercial passenger jets, with 855 built by 1992.
1962 - Boeing modified two 707 jets as Air Force One presidential jets.

KC-135

Links:

Air Force 50th Anniversary: November history

Jet Genesis from University of Southhampton includes British Meteor and American Fireball and F-80 and Italian Caproni and German Arado 234 jet bomber and Me262 fighter and Japanese Nakajima Kikka

B-45 and RB-47 and U-2 and SR-71 and Area 51 at Groom Lake NV from FAS

Boeing History includes Jet Age Begins and B-47 and B-52

Jet Aviation gallery at the National Air and Space Museum

Science Museum London

Timeline start | Links | Jets 1 2 3 | revised 4/5/02

1946/2 - Republic flew its XP-84 prototype straight-wing jet fighter-bomber that was produced during the Korean War as the F-84 Thunderjet	F-84 Thunderjet
1946/4/24 - Russia flew the Mikoyan MiG-9, its first jet fighter, and also flew the Yakovlev Yak-15 fighter.	MiG-9
1947/10/1 - North American flew America's first swept-wing fighter the F-86 Sabre jet. over 10,000 would be produced for service in the Korean War 1950 and stay in use until the 1970s.	F-86 Sabre jet - 2 3
1947/10/14 - Chuck Yeager flew the rocket-powered Bell X-1 to become first to break the sound barrier	Bell X-1
1947/12/17 - Boeing flew the first XB-47 with 18 small rocket JATO units to assist takeoff; became the B-47 jet bomber with a range of 4000 miles and speed of 587 mph; the RB-47 was a reconaissance version the flew missions in Europe and Asia 1954-64; 2035 bombers were built by 1956 when replaced by the B-52.	B-47 jet bomber
1947/12/30 - Russia flew the Mikoyan MiG-15 that proved equal to the F-86 in the Korean War.	MiG-15
1949/5 - Rockwell North American began delivery of the B-45 Tornado, America's first jet bomber.	B-45 from Fortune 1953/06 - 2
1950 - G-E jet engines used in F-80 Sabrejet.	G-E jet engines, ad from Life
1950 - Lt. Russell J. Brown, flying a Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star, shot down a North Korean MiG-15 in the first jet aerial combat in history.	F-80 Shooting Star
1950/5/4 - The Flying Wing was developed during World War II by John Northrop to meet the need for a long-range bomber capable of flying across the Atlantic to reach Germany. The 4-engine propeller XB-35 first flew June 25, 1946, (see newsreel) but only 3 models were built before the model was cancelled in 1948. Northrop built the 8-engine YB-49 as a jet-powered version of the XB-35.	XB-35 Flying Wing
1950/5/4 - Northrop built the 8-engine YB-49 as a jet-powered version of the XB-35 Flying Wing. See newsreel of the 1st flight Oct. 21, 1947. It was tested at Muroc AFB in California by a team led by Capt. Glen W. Edwards in 1948, but Edwards and 4 crewmen died in a crash June 5. In honor of Edwards, on Dec. 8, 1949, the Muroc base was renamed Edwards AFB. The redesigned YRB-49A with six jet engines, including two located in pods below the wing, and no gunners bubble, was flown May 4, 1950, but the program was terminated and it flew for the last time on April 26, 1951. The AF preferred Consolidated's B-36 with 6 propeller engines, then the B-47 Stratojet after 1952 , then the B-52 after 1955.	YB-49 Flying Wing
1951 - The Convair B-36 competed with Northrop's Flying Wing during WWII as a possible long-range bomber. When the AF became independent in Sept. 1947, it ordered production of the B-36 as the only plane able to deliver atomic bombs to the Soviet Union without refueling. The B-36A was delivered June 18, 1948, and production continued through 1953 with the featherweight B-36J, putting a total of 250 planes in service during the 1950s.	B-36 Peacemaker
1952/4/15 -Boeing test pilot Tex Johnston flew the first test flight of the B-52 long-range bomber, with a range of 10,000 miles and speed of 652 mph, that became the mainstay of the U.S. strategic bomber force.	B-52 jet bomber
1953/7/3 - Boeing flew the first RB-47 reconnaissance version of the B-47 bomber; flew missions in Europe and Asia 1954-64.	RB-47 reconnaissance jet
1954 - B-47 Stratojet pictured in Life	B-47 Stratojet from Life
1954 - B-47 Stratojet with JATO boosters pictured in Life	B-47 Stratojet from Life
1955/5/27 - "Strike" ad for Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass Navy jet fighter in Life	Chance Vought F7U-3 Cutlass from Life
1955/8/4 - Lockheed test pilot Tony Levier flew the first U-2 spy plane based at Area 51 near Groom Lake NV.	U-2 spy plane
1956 - Dodge ad in Life for "Swept-Wing '57 Dodge Royal Lancer 2-door with dramatic Flight Sweep styling" and "autodynamics has unleashed the thundering power of a new aircraft-type V-8 engine."	Dodge ad for '57 Lancer from Life
1956/8/31 - Boeing flew the KC-135 that became the first jet tanker and built 820 by 1966, with a range of 5000 miles and speed of 600 mph.	KC-135
1957/12/20 - Boeing flew the first 707 jet transport that became one of the most successful commercial passenger jets, with 855 built by 1992. 1962 - Boeing modified two 707 jets as Air Force One presidential jets.	KC-135