5 Forgotten Aircraft the U.S. Air Force Tested and Quietly Scrapped

The Air Force has tested a lot of interesting and unique technology, but some just don't make the cut. For example, these are a few forgotten aircraft the U.S. Air Force tested and quietly scrapped. These experimental aircraft were built or evaluated by ambitious military projects, with many being put through flight testing or research programs, and ultimately denied a place in the operational fleet. Let's explore some of the top examples.

5. Boeing X-32

One that many might know about when it comes to forgotten aircraft the U.S. Air Force tested but ultimately scrapped is Boeing's X-32. According to the National Museum , this was an experimental fighter demonstrator built to compete for the Joint Strike Fighter contract.

The aircraft completed 66 test flights over four months, demonstrating handling, supersonic flight, and other capabilities. However, Lockheed Martin's competing X-35 won the competition and became the foundation for the F-35 Lightning II. The X-32 never entered production or operational service.

4. McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

According to the National Museum of the Air Force , the McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was designed to be carried inside a B-36 bomber. Interestingly enough, it was supposed to launch in midair, protect the bomber from enemy fighters, and then reconnect with its mothership. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi novel.

The Air Force tested the unusual egg-shaped fighter using a modified B-29. However, turbulent air made reconnecting dangerously difficult, and roughly half the flights ended in emergency landings. The program was canceled in 1949 in favor of aerial refueling.

3. Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing

Another one of the many forgotten aircraft the U.S. Air Force tested but quietly scrapped, according to the National Museum , is this experimental jet bomber. This one looked radically different from traditional military aircraft, featuring a flying-wing design without a conventional fuselage and tail.

The Air Force conducted flight tests beginning in October 1947, and the aircraft demonstrated promising performance. However, stability concerns during simulated bombing runs, a fatal crash, and changing military priorities contributed to the program's cancellation.

2. North American XB-70 Valkyrie

This sleek-looking aircraft never saw the light of day, according to the same National Museum . Designed to fly at three times the speed of sound, the XB-70 was an ambitious attempt to create a high-altitude nuclear bomber. However, advances in surface-to-air missiles and intercontinental ballistic missiles made the original mission increasingly impractical.

The Air Force continued testing two XB-70 prototypes as research aircraft, completing 129 flights, yet the research program eventually ended in 1969. Crazy enough, one aircraft was destroyed in a midair collision, while the surviving aircraft was preserved at the Air Force museum.

1. Northrop YF-23 Black Widow II

Moving on, we have the YF-23 . This was an advanced stealth fighter developed to compete for the Air Force's Advanced Tactical Fighter program. It underwent extensive flight testing against Lockheed's YF-22, according to the National Museum, and demonstrated impressive speed, stealth characteristics, and supercruise capabilities.

Despite its performance, the Air Force selected the competing YF-22 in 1991, which eventually became the F-22 Raptor. Both YF-23 prototypes were retired from flight testing and eventually transferred to museums.