Bell D-188A/ XF-109

In the mid-1950s, both the US Navy and the USAF expressed interest in a VTOL-capable fighter/bomber/interceptor. Bell presented the D-188A for the USAF and the XF3L-1 for the USN. The general configuration included a whopping eight engines: four mounted in articulated wingtip nacelles, two in the fuselage for lift, and two in the rear.

Ordnance would be carried on what little wing space the aircraft offered, as well as in a small bomb bay. In promotional material, Bell called this the XF-109, although this designation was never officially assigned by the Air Force. Like many projects from this era, what was advertised was far beyond what the aircraft could actually achieve. The program was canceled in the early 1960s by McNamara, who chose to focus efforts on the TFX program.

Crew - 1 (Pilot)
Length - 62'
Wingspan - 23' 9 "
Height - 12' 9"
Max Takeoff Weight - ~23,917 lb
Powerplant - 8 × General Electric J85-GE-5 turbojets
Thrust - 2,600 lbs each