Manufactured by North American Aviation, Inglewood, California, and delivered to the U.S. Air Force on October 3, 1956 (the first F-107 built). September 1956: First flight conducted by North American Aviation test pilot Robert Baker at Edwards AFB, California. October 1956: Beginning of Air Force testing, Edwards AFB, California. November 1957:Transferred to NACA, Edwards AFB, California. June 1958: Returned to North American and placed in storage. 1960s: Placed in storage at Norton AFB, California. June 1974: Loaned to Pima Air & Space Museum by the National Museum of the United States

Photographer: Jim Morrow.

The first flight of the F-107 was on September 10, 1956. The F-107's competitor for the Air Force contract was the Republic F-105. While both aircraft performed very well the decision eventually came down on the side of the F-105 primarily because it had a full internal bomb bay while the F-107 did not. After Air Force testing ended two of the F-107 prototypes were turned over to NASA for experimental testing of the control system for the X-15 and high speed research flights.

The F-107 was North American's entry into the 1950s USAF tactical fighter-bomber design competition and was based on the F-100 but with the over-fuselage engine air-intakes as the main innovation. The competition was eventually won by the F-105 Thunderchief and in the end only three test F-107s were produced. This was the first example built and is now on display at the superb Pima Air & Space Museum.