You Won’t Believe These Planes Never Made It To Production
Nation: United States
Price: $84 billion (per unit)
Top Speed: 580 mph
Interesting Fact: Super Hornet uses the GE F414 turbofan engine
Developed as a replacement for the A-6 Intruder to be phased in by 1994, the Navy wanted to buy 620 A-12’s from McDonnell Douglas, while the Marines wanted 238. But by early 1990, it was becoming evident that delays and cost increases were pushing back the release of the A-12. In response, Secretary of Defense Cheney demanded a government report to dispel reasons why he should cancel the program altogether. They couldn’t persuade him otherwise, and that was that.
