SW - Republic XF 84H 'Thunderscreech'

In the 1951, US Navy and Air Force together started a project of new long range fighter. The Republic company designed an airplane developed on F-84F Thunderstreak (it has the same wings, part of fuselage and canopy), powered by a ram extended turbine and supersonic propeller. Its nickname was based on the extremely loud noise of its engine - the plane was probably the loudest aircraft ever built. Propeller was moving in supersonic speed and produced continuous visible sonic boom. When taking off, the noise was heard in more than 30km of distance and people standing too close could be knocked down by the sound... There were four prototypes ordered (three for AF and one for N), but two were built only. Both of them flew in 1955, but many problems with the engine occured (11 of 12 flights ended by emergency landing), so Navy first and then AF too stopped to accept it and all the project was canceled in 1956. One of the prototypes is still placed as statue on the Bakersfield airport.