The Ugliest Fighter Jet Ever Made - The Boeing F-32 

Dude, no matter how many people call this bird ugly it's intake still smiles like a champ. That level of confidence brings a tear to my eye.

Actually looks good from the angle that you chose for the screenshot

I've always loved the F-32 purely because it looks like a super futuristic F-8 Crusader/A-7 Corsair, and those are both in my top five favorite aircraft of all time.

The fact that the design you made is better than the real life one is insane

The A7 Corsair wasn’t exactly pretty either, but was still a capable intruder.

I actually kinda like how it looks a bit different than your typical fighter. It looks unlike any other modern fighter and it has a sort of scifi look to it

I realized not long ago that the F-32's intake is a bit like that of the A-7. Neither a pretty nor a fast plane, it nevertheless did its job.

The X-32 always reminded me of one of two things, a modern F86 or a whale shark. Ever since I thought about I can't unsee it now.

I like the goofy look of the X-32 and love the sleeker 3D model version. The F-32 looked like a reimagined F-86 Sabre.

The production concept actually looks pretty good at certain angles. It looks like a stealthy Sabre.

That smile is contagious.

I actually don't hate the way the X-32 looks. Especially the version you rendered. Really not a bad looking jet, especially in silouette or in planform.

The skies would have looked a lot more interesting if both the F-32 and the YF-23 had went into production.

If I recall correctly, the Boeing X-32 / F-32 STOVL's issue with ingesting hot air during vertical flight operations was also an issue faced by the Harrier Jump Jet.

when it is made radically different, it usually has a good function. and for me, the function that makes a tool/machine look good

That's not ugly at all, it looks badass.

The prototype certainly looked funny, the proposed production version shown in the animations, didn't look bad to me at all. Almost like a fifth gen F-86. I do believe the F-35 was the right choice for sure. It was the better of the two in terms of performance, especially in VTOL.

I just did a deep dive into this last week and had wished you made a video for it! For those commenting it’s not that ugly, this was the “production style/artist rendering”. You’re in for a treat when you see the test footage.

I love it ! Your 3D model looks like the stealth version of the F-8 Corsair that I always wanted to see 😍

The 3D render looks much better than the prototype. X-32 would've looked cool flying the skies.

It’s important to keep in mind that all we ever get to see is the prototype, the F 35 went through two decades of refinements to get where it is today. The final design of the X 32 would’ve been much slicker and Boeing would have almost certainly redesigned the intake as the technology improved over time.

I never once thought this thing was ugly... it was always my favorite of the two in every way. Super compact and futuristic looking like the drone renders of the time. I always thought the Lockheed was incredibly generic looking, like something a child would sketch.

That "I'll call now" commercial just unlocked from so deep within my brain.

I saw this aircraft at the Museum of the US Air Force storage facility. Yes,it is pretty homely. The Yf-23 on the other hand is gorgeous.

That intake would have been handy for keeping airfields free from leaves, rocks, groundcrew, etc.

I actually find that the final proposed version looks pretty awesome. The overheating issue could have been solved with a lot faster transitions using computer controlled thrust. There really is never any need to hover. Forward movement could be initiated as soon as take off.

It just looks so damn happy with that smile. Some may call it ugly, but i find it somewhat endearing!

One thing not mentioned that really pushed the contest in the X-35s favor was that it was able to transition from vertical takeoff to supersonic flight in a single flight, something that had never been done before. The X-32 was unable to do this and had to be configured for each role. I believe there were some design changes that would correct this issue, but it was too late.

Its interesting how the YF-23 and the X-32 both focused their designs around lowering costs and they both ended up losing.

I always found the X-32 as an stealth version of the A-7 and F-8... for me it looked cool (ugly, but cool), of course the X-35 design was really cool... Anyway I remember both JSF planes way more when back in the early 2000s I used to play the (Eidos) "Joint Strike Fighter" flight simulator. A really advanced game for its time. Greetings.

The updated version of the X32 was much better looking. If it still had the upper hand in the weapons and cost departments it might have been a viable option.

That redesign looks a ton better. That intake is a lot smaller as the original was laughably huge. I miss the original delta wing though but it is an interesting note about the weapon payload and costs. A cheaper fighter able to deliver more firepower to a location is an interesting dynamic and its a shame we'll probably never see the fighter put to its real paces. Not as sad as the YF-23 but its second in sadness to that.

I personally love the chin-intake look. I adore the A-7. I think this thing looks better than the '35, especially the rendering of the updated possible production model.

That looks like an Advanced F86 sabre! I really don't know why people call this ugly, it's literally beautiful, plus the futuristic design and the nose intake makes it more cool!

That little smile is heartwarming

Kind of reminds me to the F-8 Crusader and A-7 Corsair II with that intake, it's maybe not the prettiest design but still looks cool

Honestly the CGI animations you did of how the final version could have looked like, look awesome! I say resurrect the plane, make it a drone/loyal wingman for the F-35. Honestly the A-10 and B-52 are ugly too, but their ugliness is part of their charm to a lot of people.

Man, that commercial brought me right back to the 90s!

Saw this at an Oceana airshow back in the 90's. Strange looking plane.

You make the F-32 look beautiful, awesome job modeling this.

I was lucky enough to have worked on both the X-32 and X-35 back in 1998-99 as a NC programmer of machined parts for a supplier to both Boeing and Lockheed Martin. I programmed some of the largest metal parts on both aircraft. I always thought the X-32 was hideous and X-35 beautiful and was very pleased when the X-35 won since that is my hometown team. I have now worked on the F-35 for the last 20 years and plan to retire on it. The proposed F-32 redesign was so much better looking but came so late in the JSF selection process that it’s fate was already sealed from the hot gas injection problems, not to mention the X-35B’s hat trick of short takeoff, supersonic flight, and vertical landing that had never been done before in the history of flight.

Dude the artwork on this channel is superb... #🤘

I love the smiling duck!

It looks like they taped an F-22 to the hull of a speed boat

Hes not ugly, hes just a happy lil guy 😤

Great work!

It had a problem Lifting off vertically with the Intake lip installed, it performed well during lift off but didn't handle well without the intake lip removed

I think it looks great. Reminds me of the Mig-17, A-7 Corsair, or F-86 Sabre with that massive front intake.

Actually looks like a futuristic f-86 sabre

I remember watching [Battle of the X Planes] on cable TV back in the day and loving every moment.

Such a neat bird! I got to see one up close at Patuxent River NAS in Lexington Park Maryland, they have a museum and one is one their flight line.

It's like a chubby Su-75. Although I have to say it looks so weird it's cool again. Just like the YF-23 Edit: a cool suggestion for a future video would be the FB-22 and F-22B The FB-22 would have been a delta wing aircraft similar in purpose to the F-15E and Su-34. And according to the design from some games it would have looked amazing. The F-22B was the supposed 2-Seater variant, however that never happened. Which is also why the J-20 is the first two-seater 5th generation aircraft. As there have been photos of a two seater variant dubbed J-20S or J-20B by the media.

The Boeing actually looked amazing! And any military that makes a decision based on "beauty or ugliness" of an instrument can be called foolish, and might lose the possibility of having a capable instrument at hand when needed.

WHY THE PRODUCTION VARIANT ACCTUALLY LOOK GOOD THO 🔥

i love it . With the intake under the nose like an f8 crusader!

F-32 really went and said “😀”

I think this design still has much potential. If they design a variant sans VTOL capability, lengthen the wings a bit, the added space could afford it more space within it for even greater weapons/fuel loadouts. I believe it would make for an amazing Marine multi-role fighter. Using the lessons learned from the F-16 VISTA programme, the thrust vector capability of the F-22 could make it a better performer than the current F-35 models. Plant F-32's on all our Marine bases to augment/compliment our Navy patrol areas. Despite the issues with the prototype, this is still a well-thought of design.

The F8 crusader with its front intake was one of the best fighter planes out there at the time. It’s little buddy, the corsair, did its role very well for being sub sonic.

I never knew it was nicknamed monica 😂 . Monica must have had some great skills.

The redesigned intake makes it look like an F-86 Sabre, or hell, even the FJ Fury family of naval jets... truly beautiful IMO

Love how goofy it looks, like it looks so weird... Su-75 is basically the same thing but it slimmed down the chubby, nothing against cubby things, just the F-32 got it... well... chubby...

The XF-32 has captured my attention since I was a kid. It’s final design definitely looks way more defined, more fighter-esque and less like a testbed. I remember my dad calling the 32 “The Swallow” and the 35 “The Martin” (both referring to the same family of bird, but a clever play on words). If the name wasn’t already taken the Nighthawk/Nightjar would make an absolutely fitting name, being stealth and with that still large air intake.

The final version actually looked awesome. Where did you get the videos and the models from by the way?

I remember watching a nova episode on PBS Years ago. It was the competition between the x-32 AND x-35. We all now what won but it’s amazing what technology was put into both planes. The x-32 had various problems with VTOL and midair refueling.

not gonna lie, from the way you show it in these animations, it looks fire. It also looks like its head game is INSANEEE

Waiting for the NATF-22 and the Lockheed Boeing AFX.

The updated design looks amazing

omg i remember that SEARS commercial. that's insane how long it's been.

It's such a cool plane. Looks great from every angle, except from the front.. and from that direction it's hilarious. I love it.

The animation sequences can only make you wonder how awesome of a fighter aircraft it would have been. It is highly reminiscent of the F86 Saber with its visually dominant engine intake. The actual fighter livery looks good on it too.

poor boy, the x32 was just happy to be there D:

Idk what ur talking about, this thing is a beauty ❤

I think it looks amazing, you can see where a lot of jet designs get inspiration for drag coefficient management etc from birds of prey, like the f32 profile looks like a peregrine falcon like the B-2.

Ngl I think this one looks better than the F-35… Not only is it at least a bit more unique looking than any other 5th gen we see, but it’s got that Sci-Fi vibe to it like I would not be shocked to see this flying around in a Halo or Elite game… Willing to bet it’s not just me

Lol at that Sears commercial. That thing was on every movie I taped on vhs

The biggest problem with the F-32 is that too many design compromises were made for STOVL abilities. While the A and C models wouldn't have come equipped to land vertically, the engine placement was baked into the design whether wanted or not. Engines are mounted at the back for a reason, and that's something Lockheed got right by allowing the A and C to benefit from the space occupied by the lift fan. The long tunnel behind the F-32 engine made the design wider and heavier than it had to be.

I remember back when I first saw the F-32 and my first thought was "How on Earth could its designers ever let a prototype plane THAT ugly see the light of day and NOT know it was doomed from the start?"

It’s also good we didn’t choose this as the JSF because it looks me it could only fit a smaller radar that would reduce range detection capabilities compared to the F-35.

I think it looks great in your renders! Shame we couldn't see it produced.

you can see the same air craft in the back round of top gun maverick in the air craft carrier scene right before takeoff on the catapult.

OMG, that Sears commercial! Completely forgot about it! Thx for making me feel old! LOL IIRC, the Super Hornet has radar blockers in the air intakes and entered service around the same time as the public unveiling of the JSF prototypes, so saying the technology didn’t exist is incorrect As an extension of the discussion on the hot air ingestion, the cold air generated underneath the fuselage from lift fan on the F-35 also acts as a shield to prevent exhaust from circulating to the front to be ingested by the air intakes Personally, while the X/F-32 is ugly looking, it does have potential for good looks as the proposed Su-75 Checkmate borrows a lot of the looks from it IMO

I remember watching a documentary back in like 2002 about the devolpment of these two jets.

The FINAL redesigned version of the x32 actually looks pretty cool. I bet this thing would have been much less expensive to develop and manufacture than the F35. However, the F35 is what we have and it works. Keep it.

I love it, looks like the Corsair, one of my favorites.

Tbh, the X-32 is still my favourite experimental plane. Truth be told though, another major contributing factor as to why the X-32 failed is because the wings also did not generate enough lift to carry a full payload especially with the delta wing configuration. The wing added too much weight and, even though it did take off in the tests, it barely did. They had to come up with a 2nd design that had elevators just to help shave off some weight and, even then, it was still not enough. It's really ill-fated but I love my ugly duckling just the same.

Hey there, love your videos! I need to point out a few errors in your script. First off, the X-32 did not use vectored thrust for vertical takeoff, it used it for maneuverability and was far more maneuverable than the X-35. In fact, the X-32 had a lifting segment much more reminiscent of the Harrier, where it had two vertical lift ducts/nozzles hidden under doors on the belly of the fuselage. These nozzles could move fore and aft independently for maneuvering, but the aircraft also had bleed air driven thrusters in the wings and tail. The ultimate reason it failed was NOT hot air ingestion, and not a radar cross section issue. The issue is that the aircraft could not take off vertically, reach super sonic cruise, and land vertically in one flight. This is because the Intake required for super-cruise would not work for vertical take off demonstrations, due to the engine over heating, and having to run at higher N2 (core RPM). The higher throttle/N2 setting was due to the intake "choking" the high bypass fan, which provides most of the thrust. These were easy issues to fix, and Boeing wasn't allowed to fix them, despite a controversial development phase with ever changing goal posts. You can see this in your own video where the hovering demonstrations used a completely different intake. It did suffer from some hot air ingestion as well, but this was all oart of the makeshift intake design. In fact, I believe Boeing already had a fix, and asked for a few weeks or months to implement it. Other than the one critical hover - super cruise - hover test, the X-32 outperformed the X-35 in almost every way, and was very realistically the better option. (Remember, this was old Boeing before their demise. Arguably, the loss of the JSF program could have kicked off the downturn, in addition to many corporate changes happening in the early 2000's, such as their relocation from Seattle to Chicago.) The X-35 demonstrator and the F-35 production variants share almost no parts, and almost nothing beyond design concepts is remotely similar. They don't have the same dimensions in any axis, not even the same engine.

The X-32 is just one happy boy. He was happy to just have a chance.

There was a Top Gun game for PS2 I think it was called Top Gun: Combat Zones and it had this plane in it. And I grew to really appreciate the look after playing that game.

I want to request a video on a potential future aircraft, the Bell HSVTOL. It's like a stealth cargo plane and I think you could make some really incredible renders! Thank you.

Nice vid! I def think one of the major factors even though it is irrelevant is the aesthetics of the plane even though if they modified the tail and from above painted in that RAM black made it look pretty cool it def came down to the fact the x-35 looked more like a sexier fighter similar to how the F-22 looked a lot simpler and conventional compared to the yf-23 even though that aircraft was also beautiful it just didn’t fit the design language the military is used to next to the much more conventional design of the F-22 I know looks aren’t everything but they def count more than people admit and that’s in all things in life

The render one looks awesome 👌

I think the delta wing design in particular was really cool. This would've made a great fighter imo

I could give a crap about how "pretty" a war fighting machine is - what's important is how well it works. My issue with the F-32 design would be the giant foreign object scoop on the front, which also happens to be the feature everyone gripes about the look of. I only would care about how impractical it seems to be.

Or as some people at Boeing call it: The Oogie Boogie." Look at it from the front and you'll know why.

I love planes - i can continue looking at them

Not ugly, it shared a lot of design commonalities with the Vought F8 Crusader and A7 Corsair II. It would have been a great plane in time.

Its like a modern F8 or A7, both of which I think look amazing, that final version does really look a lot better. Its a pity we didn't get the F23 and F32 they'd be such a cool combo.

I have seen some amazingly good looking renderings of the final production version. The F32 that flew was an early proof of concept demonstrator.

Honestly the F-32 looks like boeing tried making the F-86 Sabre into a 5th generation Fighter jet.

I am sure they continued development, with thrust vectoring and microprocessing today the recycled plans would work very well. It most likely can stop on a dime and hover in mid air, turned into a drone etc.