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Originally Posted by sclitheroe
I'd argue it wasn't even a great platform at the time - between the rapid evolution of ICBM's, and the harsh lessons about missile-only platforms and high altitude bombing practices in Vietnam a few years later, the Arrow was not only a misguided strategic vision, but basically obsolete before it ever had a chance to make it to production.
The mystique of the Arrow greatly, greatly outweighs any prominence it would have had in production and actual deployment.
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Its was a single use platform designed at a time when the battlefield was changing rapidly.
It was fast, had a high ceiling, wasn't a great dog fighter (It wasn't meant to be) had poor visibility. but it had a innovative weapons concept.
Your right, it has been over romantized over time, but as a straight bore interceptor with one mission in mind, there wasn't anything in the world that would touch it.
But if you asked that plane to dog fight or provide troop support it couldn't do those jobs.