American x Planes (NASA Monograph num31 )

AMERICAN XX-V VEHICLES An Inventory—X-1 to X-50 Centennial of Flight Edition by Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony Landis, and Jay Miller

Monographs in Aerospace History No. 31 SP-2003-4531

June 2003

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AMERICAN XX-V VEHICLES An Inventory—X-1 to X-50 Centennial of Flight Edition by Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony Landis, and Jay Miller















Suggested Further Further Readi ding ng A t the E dge of Sp Spa ace: T he X-15 Flig Fligh ht Pro Proggra ram m, by Milton O. O. Thom T hompson, Smi Smithsonian Ins Insti tituti tution on Press, 1992. H yp ype ersonic: T heStory of of theN orth Am A merican X -1 -15 5, by Dennis Dennis R. Jenki enkins ns and Tony R. Landis, Speci cialt alty y Press, 2003. T he X -P -Pla lane nes: X -1 to X-45 X- 45, by Jay Miller, Midland Counties Publishing, 2001. A lways A nother Daw Dawn: T he St Sto ory of a Ro Roccket Te Tesst Pil Pilo ot , by Scott Crossfi fie eld, The T he World World Publis Publi shi hing ng Compa Company, 1960 (rep repri rint nte ed by A rno Pres Press in 1971 and again by Aye Ayer Com C ompany Publi Publishers in 1999). H yp ype erso sonics nics Be B efore th the e Shuttle: A C oncise H isto storry of the the X -1 -15 5, by Denni Dennis s R. Je J enki nkins ns,, SP-20 SP-2000 00-4518 -4518, NA NA SA SA,, 2000 2000.. Toward Towa rd Ma Mach 2: T heD ougla uglass D-5 D -558 58 Pr Program, edit ite ed by by J. J. D. Hunle unley y, SP-42 SP-4222 22,, NA N A SA SA,, 1999 1999.. Flying Wi W ith tho out Wings: Wi ngs: N A SA Lifti fting ng Bodi Bodies and and th the e B irirth th of theSpace Shuttle, by Mil Milton O. O. Thom T hompson and and Curtis Curtis Peebles bles,, Smi Smithsoni thsonian an I nsti nstituti tution on Press, 1999.

Front Cove Cover Photo A group grouppic ictu ture re of Do Dou ugl gla as airp irpla lanes, ta take ken n fo forr a photographic pro rom motio ion n in 19 1954 54 at what is now kn kno own as the Dryd Dryde en Flig Fligh ht Re Ressearc rch h C enter at E dwa wards rds A ir Force Base, C aliforni lifornia a. T he ph photo includ include es theX-3 ( in fr fro ont, A ir Force seriria al numb number 4949-2892) 2892) th the en clockwise clockwise D -558-558-II , XF 4D 4D-1 -1 ( a N avy jet jet fighte fighterr prot proto otype no nott flown by the the N A C A ) , and th the e fir first st D -558-558-II I ( N A C A ta tailil number 143, N avy burea bu reau u numb number 3797 37973) 3) , wh which ich was was flown flown only only once once by the N A C A . (N (NA A SA pho hoto to E-1239)

Library of Cong Congre res ss Cataloging-i taloging-in-P n-Pub ubllicati tion on Data Jenkin Jen ins s, Dennis R. A meri rica can X-vehicl X-vehicle es: an an inve inventory ntory,, X-1 X-1 to X-50/by X-50/by Denni Dennis s R. J enki nkins ns,, Tony La Landis, and Ja Jay Mil Mi ller. p.cm.— .—((Monogra raphs phs in aerospace hi his story; no.) (N (NA SA hi his story seri rie es) (N ( NA SA SPSP-20 2003 03-4531 -4531) I ncl nclude udes bi bibli bliog ograp raphi hica call references and inde index. x. 1. Research ai aircraft— ft—U U ni nite ted d State States s—History. I. I . La L andis ndis,, Tony Tony. II I I . Mil M iller ler,, Ja J ay, 1948-I 8-IIII . Title Tit le.. IV. Serie ies s. V. Serie ies s: NA NAS SA histo torry serie ies s VI. NASA SPSP-4 4531. TL567.R TL56 .R4 47J4 J45 5 2003 629.133’0973—dc21 2003051364















Table of Conte Contents Bell XBell X-1 1 (First (First Ge Gene nera ration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Bell Be ll XX-1 1 (Seco (Second nd Gene Genera ration) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Bell Be ll XX-1E 1E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Bell Be ll XX-2 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Douglas XX-3 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Northr orthrop op XX-4 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Bell Be ll XX-5 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Consoli olida dated-V -Vultee ultee XX-6 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Lockheed X-7 X-7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 A erojet Genera rall XX-8 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Belll XBe X-9 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 North Am A merican X-10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 16 Consoli olida dated-V -Vultee ultee XX-11 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 .17 Consoli olida dated-V -Vultee ultee XX-12 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 .18 Ryan X-13 X-13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Bell X-14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 North Am A merica rican n X-15 X- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 North Am A merica rican n X-15 X- 15A -2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Bell X-16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Lockheed X-17 X-17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Hil iller ler X-18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Curtiss-Wright X-19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Boeing XX-20 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Northrop XX-21 21A A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Bell X-22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Martin Marietta X-23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Martin Ma M arietta X-24A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 31 Martin Marietta X-24B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Bens Be nse en X-25 X-25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Lockheed / Schwe Schweizer X-26 X-26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Lockheed X-27 X-27 Lancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Pereira / Os O sprey X-28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Grumman X-29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 National Team X-30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Rockwell I nte nterna rnationa tionall / MBB M BB X-31 X-31 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Boeing XX-32 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Lockheed Ma Marti rtin n X-33 X-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Orbital Sciences X-34 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Lockheed Ma Marti rtin n X-35 X-35 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Boeing XX-36 36 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Boeing XX-37 37 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 NA SA X-38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 A FRL X-39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Boeing XX-40 40A A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 X-41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 X-42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Microc icrocra raft ft X-4 X- 43 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Lockheed Ma Marti rtin n X-44 X-44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Boeing XX-45 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 Boei XX-46 46 . . . 56















For a whi hille, it it seemed th the e seri eries es of experim experimental air aircraft craft sponsored by th the e U. U. S. govern rnm ment had had run its i ts course. Between the the late late1940sand the late late 1970s, almos almost thi thirt rty y designati nations ons hadbeen allocated to aircraft aircraft meant to to explore explore new flig fli ght regimes or untried untri ed technol technolog ogies. T hen, larg l argely, it i t ended. ended. But th there ere was a resurgence in the the mid- to to late late 1990s, and as we enter the the fourt fourth h year of the the new millenni ennia, a, the designati signations ons are up to XX-50. Many have amisconcepti tion on that that XX-vehicl vehicles eshavealwaysexpl xplored ored the hig highh-s speed and hig hi ghh-alt altiitude fli flight regimes— somethi ething ng populari populariz zed by Chuck Yeager in th the e ori orig ginal XX-1 and the the expl xploi oits ts of the twelve men that flew fl ew th the e X-15. X-15. A lth thoug ough thes these fli flight regimes have always been in in the the spotl potliight ht,, many others others have been explored by X-vehicl X-vehicles es. The lit little tleBensen X-2 X-25 5 never exceeded 85 mph, and oth the ers were limited to speeds of several hu hundred mph. There has been some criti itic cism th tha at th the e use of X de designatio tion ns has been corrupted somewhat by in inc clu lud din ing g what are essenti entiall ally y protot prototype ypes of future future operati rational onal aircraft, aircraft, especi cia ally the two JSF JSF demonstrators onstrators.. But thi this s is not new—th the e X-11 and X-12 X-12 from th the e 195 1950s 0s were goi oing ng to be protot prototype ypes of the the Atl Atlas as int nterconti ercontinental nental balli ball isti tic c missile, and the sti tilll-born Lockheed X-27 X-27 wasalwaysintende ntended d as as aprotot prototyp ype e of a producti roduction on aircraft. aircraft. So So althoug although thi this s practi ractice ce does not rep repres resent the the best use of “X” designati nations, ons, it it is not with without out precedent nt..

Jay Mill Jay Mille er A rlin rlinggton, Texa Texass

D ennis R. Jenkin kinss C ape C anavera rall, Florid Florida a

Tony La Ton Lan ndis Lan La ncaster, C alifo ifornia rnia















Bell Aircraft Co Company

First Generation

X-1

First Fi rst Fli Flig ght:

25 Janua January 1946

Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:

23 October 1951

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 1.45 (960 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

157

Highest Flig Flight:

69,000 feet

T he sec second ond of the the three fifirrst generation generation Bell Bell X-1s. X- 1s. C huck Yeage Yeager used the fifirrst XX-1 to break the the sound barrier on 14 Octo O ctobe ber 194 1947. 7. (Bell A ircra ircraft ft via the J ay Mililler ler Colle Coll ection)

I ni niti tiall ally y designated the XSXS-1, 1, (the (the S, which whi ch stood for Supersonic, was dropped early in in the the program), the the X-1 X-1 was was the first aircraft given an “X” designation, and became the first aircraft to exceed the speed of sound in controlled lam morous Gle G lennis nnis) was piloted by Captain level flight on 14 October 1947. On this flight, the first X-1 (nicknamed G la Charles E. “Chuck” “C huck” Yeager, who achieved 700 700 mph (M (Mac ach h 1.06) at approxi approxim mately 45,000 feet. Beginni nning ng a precedent th that at survi survives vesto thi this s da day, the the X-1 X- 1 was air-l r-lau aunched—i nched—in n thi this s case carri rried ed under a Boeing B-29 B-29 Superfortr Superfor tres ess to an alti titude tude of approxi pproxim mately 20,000 feet. The T he X-1 X-1 programwasextremely product roductiive, proving provi ng much of th the e technolog technology y necessary to produce the first-ge fi rst-generati tion on of supersonic combat aircraft. Many struct tructura urall and aero

















X-1

Second Generation

Bell Aircr rcra aft Co Corp rpo orati tio on


24 Jul July y 1951

Sponsors:

USAF,, NACA USAF NAC A

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 2.44 (1,650 (1,650 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

54


90,440 feet


















X-1E


12 Decem December 1955

Sponsors:


Last Flig Flight:

6 Novem N ovember 1958

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 2.24 (1,450 (1,450 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

26


75,000+ feet

















X-2



27 June June 1952 1952

Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:

27 Septem September 1956

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 3.196 3.196 (2,094 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

20


125,907 feet

















Douglas Aircr cra aft Co Company

X-3


20 October 1952

Sponsors:


Last Flig Flight:

23 May May 1956

Fastest Fli Flight:

0.95 Mach (650 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

51


35,000+ feet

















X-4

North thr rop Aircraft Co Corporati tio on



Sponsors:


Last Flig Flight:

29 Septem September 1953

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 0.90 (630 mph) (approx)

Total Fli Flights:

102


42,300 feet (approx)




















X-5


20 June June 1951 1951

Sponsors:


Last Flig Flight:

25 October 1955

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 0.98 (705 mph) (app pprox) rox)

Total Fli Flights:

149


42,000 (approx)



















X-6

Consolidated-Vul ulte tee Aircraft


Not Ap A ppli plica cable

Sponsors:

USAF USA F, AEC A EC

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:

Not App A pplica icable ble

Total Fli Flights:

None





















Lock ckhe heed Missiles & Space Co.

X-7


26 A pril 1951

Sponsors:

USAF USA F, USA, USA , USN

Last Flig Flight:

20 Jul July y 1960

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 4.31 (2,881 (2,881 mph)

Total Fli Flights:

130


106,000 feet



















X-8

Aerojet Ge General


24 A pril 1947

Sponsors:

NA CA , USA USAF F, USN

Last Flig Flight:

U nknow nknown n

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 6.0 (4,020 mph) (approx)

Total Fli Flights:

108



T he X-8 was conc The nce eived to fu fulfill lfill a requirement for a relati atively vely inexpe inexpensive upper air research vehi vehicl cle e and soundi ounding ng rocket. Most X-8 flights were conducted at eith the er the the Whi hite te Sands Missile Range, or nea nearby Holl ollom oman AFB, A FB, Ne N ew Mexi xico. co. The missile was la lau unched fr fro om a 143-f -fo oot high tower elevated at an angle of approxima approxi matel tely y 87 degrees. The standard X-8 vehic icle le consisted of a payload secti ection on with with the experi rim mental package, a parachute parachute recovery system, a liquid-fueled sustainer engine, stabilizing fins, fi ns, and a ol oliid-fuel d booster engi



















X-9

Bell Aircr rcra aft Co Corp rpo orati tio on First Fi rst Fli Flig ght:

28 A pril 1949

Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 2.0 (1,300 mph) (approx)

Total Fli Flights:

28























X-10

North American Avia Aviati tio on


14 October 1953

Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 2.05 (1,350 mph) (app pprox) rox)

Total Fli Flights:

27
























X-11



Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:


Total Fli Flights:

None



When the Atl A tla as ICBM IC BM was being de deve velloped, Convair proposed construct constructiing two increm incremen tal test vehicles to assist in verifying the enor mous technol technological ogical developments nece necessary





















X-12




Sponsors:

USAF

Last Flig Flight:


Fastest Fli Flight:

Not App A pplicable

Total Fli Flights:

None


Not App A pplicable

The X-12 was envisio ion ned as th the e sec ond increm incremental test vehicl vehicle e for the five fi ve-engine A tl tla as ICBM design. Thi This s vehicl vehi cle e woul ould d have added the four





















Ryan Ae Aeronauti utica cal Company

X-13



Sponsors:

USN, USAF

Last Flig Flight:

30 Jul July y 1957

Fastest Fli Flight:

483 mph (approx)

Total Fli Flights:

U nknow nknown n (many)


10,000 feet (approx) The X-1 X-13 3 wa was designed to explo lorre the feasibility of building a pure-jet verti ve rtica cal ta take keoff off and and landing (VT (V T OL OL)) fighter fi ghter aircr rcraft. aft. Secondary Secondary purposes





















X-14



17 February 1957

Sponsors:

USAF USA F, NAS NA SA

Last Flig Flight:

29 May May 1981

Fastest Fli Flight:

172 mph

Total Fli Flights:

U nknow nknown n (many)

























North American Avi via ati tio on

X-15























X-15A-2

North American Avi via ati tio on
























X-16























X-17

Lock ckhe heed Missiles & Space Co.























Hiller Ai Aircraft Co Corporati tio on

X-18



















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































LIFTING BODIES First Fi rst Fl Fliight:

16 A ugust 1963 1963 (M2-F1)

Sponsors:

NASA

Last Flig Flight:

17 July July 197 1970 (HL (H L-10 -10))

Fastest Fli Flight:

Mach 1.86 (HL-10)

Total Fl Flights:

43 (M2) / 37 (HL-10)

Highest Fl Fliight:

90,303 feet (HL-10)

T he th three ree lilifti fting ng bodie diess teste tested d duri uring ng the196 1960s: 0s: T heA ir Force X-24 X- 24 ( descri scrib bed separate rately) ly) is at left, theM 22-FF3 is i s in in thece cente nter,r, an and d the H L-10 is at ri right. A ll proved to be be remarkably remarkably capa capable mac achines, hines, espec eciially given gi ven the lilim mited budget used used for their develo velopm pment.

The lif liftin ting g body program in inv volv lve ed several separatevehic icle les s—th —the e X-23s, X-24, M2 M2,, and HL-1 HL-10 0—th —tha at provid ide ed data on wingles wingless lift ftiing bodi bodies es from orbital orbital reent ntry ry vel veloci ociti tie es to approach and landing landing speeds. The T he X-23 X-23 and XX-24 pro pro grams are discussed earl rliier in in thi this s publi blicati cation. on. Thepilo ilote ted lif lifti tin ng body program began in September 1962 when R. DaleReed, at th the e NA NAS SA Flig Flight Research Ce Cen nter, began work on the the M2-F M2-F1. 1. Thi T his s plywood vehicl vehicle e wastowed behin ehind d various varioustr trucks ucks and carsto get airborn airborne, e, and proved the basic concept. concept. NA N A SA then awarded a contract contract to to Northrop Northrop to to build build a metal ve vers rsiion calle called the M2-F2, M2-F2, powered by















D-558

Douglas Aircr cra aft Co Company

First Fi rst Fl Fliight:

14 A pril 1947 (-I -I))

Sponsors:

Last Flig Flight:

Flight: 12 December 1956 1956 ((-I I ) Fastest Fli

Total Fl Flights:

228 (-I) / 161 (-II)

Highest Fli Flight:

USN, US N, NACA 650.8 mph / 1,291 mph 40,000+feet / 83,235 feet feet

T he D -5 -55858-II use used d straight straight wings and a sisingle turbo turbojet jet engine—th engine—the e D-558 D- 558-I-I I use used d swe swept wings and thesa sam me Reaction Mo M oto tors rs XLR11 thatt powe tha powerred the X-1 ( and many othe otherrs) s).. T his O ctober 1949 19 49 ph photo oto sho shows ws the Sk Skystr ystre eak in in its its later later white paint paint schem scheme with an an early early N A C A sh shiield on theve verti rtica call stabili stabilize zer.r. (N A SA ph photo oto E49-09 -090) 0)

U sually overlooked overlooked when when XX-vehi vehicl cles esaredi dis scussed, the the two Navy N avy-sponsored Douglas D-558 D-558 designs did not not use the A ir Force Force “X “X” designati nation on seri ries es, but nevertheles nevertheless pl play ayed an important rol role e in advancing advancing aeronauti ronautics cs duri during ng the late 1940s 1940s and early early 1950s. I n th the e public’s mind, much of th the e research perfor rform med by the D-558 D- 558--I Skystreaks was quicklly overshadowed by quick by Chuck Chuck Yea Yeager and and the the XX-1. Reg Regardless, the the Skystreak performed performed an im important rol role e in in aeronauti ronautical cal res research by flyin flying g for extended peri riods ods of ti time at trans transoni onic c speeds, complementi enting ng the XX-1 that that flew fl ew for li l imited perio periods dsat supersoni rsonic c speed eds s. The T he later D-558 D-558--I I s would foll fol low the X-1’s X-1’slead and use rocket propuls propulsion. The th thrree DD-5 558-I Sk Skystr tre eaks were turboje jett-p powered air irc craft th tha at to too ok off from th the e ground under th the eir own power. The fir irs st air irc craft is on displa lay y at th the e Na Nav val Av Avia iatio tion n Mu Mus seum in Pensacola la,, Flo lorrid ida a. The second DD-5 558-I crashed on 3 Ma May 194 1948, kill kil ling NA NA CA pil pilot ot How H owa ard C. Lililly ly.. The T he thi third rd Skys Skystre trea ak is is ow owne ned d by by the Caroli rolina nas s Historical















Test pilot A . Scott C rossfi ossfield eld used oneof the D -55 5588-II I s to bec becom ome the the fir first per person to exce exceed edtwi twice ce the speed of of so s ound—bare rely ly—h —he managed Ma Macch 2.005 on 20 N ovember 1953 1953 aft fte er be bein ingg dro rop pped fro from m a Bo Boe eing P2B-1S ( theN avy de designation for the B -2 -29) 9) , similar to the on one e in the bac ackgr kgro ound und.. (N (NA A SA pho hoto to E-2499)















National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Office of External Relations NASA History Office Washington, Washingto n, DC 20546

American x Planes (NASA Monograph num31 )

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