The X-Planes
Bell X-1, Model 44, project MX-653, transonic research aircraft (X-1) and
project MX-984, supersonic research aircraft (X-1A/B/D)
==============================================================================
1 X-1-BE 46-0062 originally designated XS-1-BE; named
'Glamorous Glennis'; first glide flight
01/25/1946 at Pinecastle AAF, FL, with Bell
test pilot Jack Woolams; first powered
flight 04/11/1947 at Muroc AFB, CA, with
Bell test pilot Chalmers 'Slick' Goodlin;
first manned flight faster than Mach 1,
10/14/1947 at Muroc with USAF test pilot
Capt. Charles E. 'Chuck' Yeager; last flight
05/12/1950 with Yeager; 82 flights: (19 by
Bell: 10 with Woolams, 9 with Goodlin; 63 by
the USAF: 32 with Yeager, 10 with Maj. Frank
Everest, 7 with Capt. James Fitzgerald, 6
with Maj. Gustav Lundquist, 5 with Capt.
Jack Ridley, 1 with Col. Albert Boyd, 1 with
Lt. Col. Patrick Fleming, 1 with Maj.
Richard Johnson); at least 14 unpowered; one
was a conventional take-off on 01/05/1949 at
Muroc with Yeager; since 08/06/1950 on
permanent display at the NASM;
1 X-1-BE 46-0063 originally designated XS-1-BE; first glide
flight 10/11/1946 and first powered flight
12/09/1946 at Muroc with Goodlin; given to
NACA 09/25/1947; last flight as X-1
10/23/1951 at Muroc with NACA test pilot
Joseph 'Joe' A. Walker; 74 flights: (18 by
Bell: 17 with Goodlin, 1 with Bell test
pilot Alvin Johnston; 2 by the USAF with
Yeager; 54 by NACA: 14 with NACA test pilot
Herbert Hoover, 13 with NACA test pilot
Robert Champine, 10 with NACA test pilot A.
Scott Crossfield, 9 with NACA test pilot
John Griffith, 6 with NACA test pilot Howard
Lilly, 2 with Walker); at least 5 unpowered;
modified to X-1E;
( 1) X-1E-BE named 'Little Joe', first unpowered flight
as X-1E 12/12/1955 and first powered flight
12/15/1955 at Edwards AFB, CA, with Walker;
last flight 11/06/1958 at Edwards with NACA
test pilot John B. McKay; 26 flights: (21
with Walker, 5 with McKay); at least 3
unpowered; modified with ventral fins during
last 9 flights; on permanent display on pole
in front of NASA's DFRC (without fins);
1 X-1-BE 46-0064 originally designated XS-1-BE, first glide
flight 07/20/1951 at Muroc with NACA test
pilot Joseph Cannon; also last and only
flight; destroyed 11/09/1951 in ground
accident together with its carrier aircraft
(EB-50A-5-BO, serial '46-0006');
1 X-1A-BE 48-1384 first glide flight 02/14/1953 and first
powered flight 02/21/1953 at Edwards with
Bell test pilot Jean 'Skip' Ziegler; last
flight 07/20/1955 at Edwards with Walker; 25
(or 26 ?) flights: (6 by Bell with Ziegler;
18 (or 19) by the USAF: 14 (or 15) with Maj.
Arthur Murray, 4 with Maj. Yeager; 1 by NACA
with Walker); at least 2 unpowered;
jettisoned from its carrier aircraft
(B-29-96-BO, serial '45-21800') 08/08/1955
over Edwards after an in-flight explosion;
totally destroyed;
1 X-1B-BE 48-1385 first glide flight 09/24/1954 at Edwards
with Lt. Col. Ridley; first powered flight
10/08/1954 at Edwards with Murray; to NACA
12/03/1954; last flight 01/23/1958 at
Edwards with NACA test pilot Neil A.
Armstrong; 27 flights: (10 by the USAF: 2
with Ridley, 2 with Lt. Col. Everest, 1 with
Murray, 1 with Maj. Stuart Childs, 1 with
Col. Horace Hanes, 1 with Capt. Richard
Harer, 1 with Brig. Gen. Stanley Holtoner, 1
with Maj. Robert Stephens; 17 by NACA: 13
with McKay, 4 with Armstrong); at least
4 unpowered; last 6 flights with extended
wingtips and RCS installed; since 01/27/1959
on permanent display at the USAFM;
( 1) X-1C-BE (48-1386 ?) high-speed armament tests; canceled; nose
mock-up only;
1 X-1D-BE 48-1386 first glide flight 07/24/1951 at Edwards
with Ziegler; also last and only flight;
jettisoned from its carrier aircraft
(B-29-96-BO, serial '45-21800') 08/22/1951
over Edwards after an in-flight explosion;
totally destroyed;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: For the movie "The Right Stuff" an X-1 mock-up was built,
which is now displayed at the PFM. The USN used 3 Douglas
Skystreak, Model D-558-I, for transonic research flights:
BuNo '37970', later NACA '140', BuNo '37971', later NACA
'141' and BuNo '37972', later NACA '142'.
Bell X-2, Model 52, project MX-743, supersonic swept-wing research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-2-BE 46-0674 originally designated XS-2-BE, first glide
flight 08/05/1955 and first powered flight
11/11/1955 at Edwards with Capt. Everest;
last flight 09/27/1956 at Edwards with USAF
test pilot Capt. Milburn Apt; the aircraft
reached Mach 3.2 but crashed due to inertia
coupling; Apt was killed; 17 flights: (all
by USAF: 12 with Everest, 4 with Capt. Iven
Kincheloe, 1 with Apt); first 4 unpowered;
1 X-2-BE 46-0675 originally designated XS-2-BE, first glide
flight 06/27/1952 at Edwards with Ziegler;
last flight 10/10/1952 at Edwards with
Everest; 3 flights: (2 by Bell with Ziegler
1 by the USAF with Everest), all unpowered;
lost after an in-flight explosion; fell from
its carrier aircraft (EB-50A-5-BO, serial
'46-0011') into Lake Ontario; Bell test
pilot Jean Ziegler and an observer of the
EB-50A crew, Frank Wolko, died;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: For the pilot-film of the tv-series "Quantum Leap" an
X-2 mock-up was built, which is now on display at the
PFM, together with the X-1 mock-up. Two Bell P-63A-BE
Kingcobras were modified to test the swept-wing
configuration (Bell designation XP-63N-BE). They were
redesignated by the USN as 'L-39' (a non-standard
designation). L-39-1 was BuNo '90060', L-39-2 was BuNo
'90061'. Their original purpose was to test the low-speed
flight characteristic of the Douglas Skyrocket (Model
D-558-II) wing configuration, which was the USN high-
speed swept-wing research aircraft design. 3 D-558-II
were built: BuNo '37973', later 'NACA 143', BuNo '37974',
later 'NACA 144', and BuNo '37975', later NACA '145'.
Douglas X-3 Stiletto, Model 499D, project MX-656, supersonic research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-3 49-2892 originally designated XS-3, first flight
(during high-speed taxi tests) 10/15/1952
and first official flight 10/20/1952 at
Edwards with Douglas test pilot William
Bridgeman; to NACA 08/23/1954; last flight
05/23/1956 at Edwards with Walker; mainly
used for 'inertia coupling' research; 51
flights: (25 by Douglas with Bridgeman; 6 by
the USAF: 3 with Everest, 3 with Yeager; 20
by NACA with Walker); since 09/28/1956 on
permanent display at the USAFM;
( 1) X-3 49-2893 originally designated XS-3; canceled; not
finished; used for spare parts only;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: 1 mock-up was built and later given to the USAFM and
lent to the History and Traditions Museum at Lackland
AFB, TX, but was eventually scrapped.
Northrop X-4 Bantam, (aka Skylancer), project MX-810, tailless aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-4-NO 46-0676 originally designated XS-4-NO, first flight
12/16/1948, last flight 01/26/1950 at Muroc
with Northrop test pilot Charles Tucker; 10
flights: (10 by Northrop with Tucker); after
this only used as spare parts bin; to NACA
05/1950; back to the USAF 03/10/1954; on
permanent display at the USAF Academy,
Colorado Springs, CO;
1 X-4-NO 46-0677 originally designated XS-4-NO, first flight
06/07/1949 at Muroc with Tucker; to NACA
05/1950; back to the USAF 03/10/1954; last
flight 09/1953 at Edwards; 102 flights:
(20 by Northrop with Tucker; 82 by NACA, of
which 14 were by USAF pilots: 7 with Maj.
Yeager, 4 with Col. Everest, 1 with Brig.
Gen. Boyd, 1 with Lt. Col. Johnson, 1 with
Capt. J. S. Nash, 1 with another USAF pilot;
and 68 by NACA pilots: 29 with Crossfield,
14 with NACA test pilot Walter P. Jones, 7
with Griffith, 4 with NACA test pilot
Stanley P. Butchart, 2 with Walker, 1 with
NACA test pilot George Cooper, 1 with McKay,
and 9 with other (NACA) pilots); 1955 on
display at Maxwell AFB, AL, since 03/17/1972
on permanent display at the USAFM;
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bell X-5, MX-1095, variable geometry (swing wing) research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-5-BE 50-1838 originally designated XS-5-BE, first flight
06/20/1951 at Edwards with Ziegler; last
flight 10/25/1955 at Edwards with Armstrong;
133 flights: (6 by Bell with Ziegler; 127 by
NACA, of which 2 were flown by the USAF:
1 with Murray and 1 with another USAF pilot,
and 125 by NACA: 78 with Walker, 13 with
Butchart, 10 with Crossfield, 8 with Jones,
6 with McKay, 1 with Armstrong, 1 with NACA
test pilot John P. Reeder from NASA Langley,
and 8 with other NACA pilots); on permanent
display at the USAFM;
1 X-5-BE 50-1839 originally designated XS-5-BE, first flight
12/10/1951 at Edwards with Ziegler; last
flight 10/14/1953 at Edwards with USAF test
pilot Maj. Raymond Popson; crashed during
stall tests (did not recover from spin);
Popson died; 26 flights: (18 by Bell with
Ziegler; 8 by the USAF: 6 with Everest, 1
with Boyd, 1 with Popson);
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The project was based on the first prototype of the 1945
captured Messerschmitt P.1101 V1.
Convair X-6, nuclear powered testbed for WS-125A nuclear powered bomber
===============================================================================
( 2) X-6 ? both canceled, none build;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: 1 B-36H-20-CF, serial 51-5712, was modified to carry a
small 1 MW nuclear reactor. The aircraft (aka NTA) was
used for the ASTR program and temporarily redesignated
XB-36H-20-CF and later NB-36H-20-CF. It was nicknamed
'Crusader' by Convair. It made 47 flights between 09/1955
and 03/1957. Eventually scrapped at Convair.
Lockheed ADP X-7, Model L-171-2, project MX-883, ramjet test vehicle, unmanned
===============================================================================
7 X-7A-LD 55-3167 / 3173 originally designated X-7-LD, redesignated
X-7A-1-LD, first flight 04/26/1951 over the
White Sands Missile Range, near Alamogordo,
NM;
8 X-7A-LD 56-4045 / 4052 redesignated X-7A-1-LD;
13 X-7A-LD 57-6295 / 6307 redesignated X-7A-1-LD;
? X-7A-3-LD ?
5 X-7B-LD ? twelve test flights;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Others were used as target drones with the designation
XQ-5-LD Kingfisher (aka WS-427L, redesignated AQM-60A in
1962) only two serials (56-4054 and 58-1025) are known.
All together (X-7 and Q-5) 61 missiles were built, and
used for about 130 flights, most launched from one of
the following carrier aircraft: B-29B-60-BO, serial
'44-84073', B-29-55-BO, serial '44-86402', JTB-50D-80-BO,
serial '48-0068', and maybe another B-50, but about 6
were ground launches. At least 8 X-7s and Q-5s still
exist: 1 pylon-mounted X-7 displayed at Sunnyvale AFS,
CA, 1 X-7 displayed near Alamogordo, 1 X-7 displayed near
Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX, 1 X-7 stored for the USAFM at the
AMARC, 1 X-7 displayed at Holloman AFB, NM, 1 privately-
owned X-7 in TX, 1 XQ-5 displayed at the PFM, and 1
other.
Aerojet General X-8 Aerobee, project MX-1011, research rocket, unmanned
===============================================================================
30 X-8-AJ ? originally designated RTV-A-1; Aerojet Model
XASR-2; first launch 11/24/1947 at the White
Sands Proving Grounds, Alamogordo, NM by the
Applied Physics Laboratory; first USAF
flight by ARDC 12/02/1949 at Holloman; all
launched;
38 (X-8) ? designated RTV-N-10 by the USN; Aerojet
Model XASR-SC-2; all launched ?;
23 X-8A-AJ 54-2972 / 2994 originally designated RTV-A-1a; Aerojet
7 X-8A-AJ ? Model AJ10-25; first launch 10/17/1951 at
Holloman; all launched;
4 (X-8A) ? designated RTV-N-10a by the USN; Aerojet
Model XASR-SC-2; all launched ?;
1 X-8B-AJ ? originally designated RTV-A-1b; first and
only launch 08/30/1951 at Holloman;
2 X-8C-AJ ? originally designated RTV-A-1c; first and
only launch 02/19/1952 at Holloman;
3 X-8D-AJ ? originally designated RTV-A-1d; apparently
none launched;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: At least 800 additional military and civilian Aerobee
research rockets, including the 40 original USN RTV-N-8a
(Aerojet Aerobee XASR-1 or XASR-SC-1 (ASR stands for
Aerojet Sounding Rocket), were built. Most of the later
models were part of the projects MX-1961 or Aerobee-Hi
(USAF project 'Air Force-Hi' and USN project 'Navy-Hi'),
Aerojet Model Aerobee 150. An interim version was also
built as Aerojet Model AJ10-34. Several Aerobees still
exists, but apparently no original X-8.
Bell X-9 Shrike, project MX-776A, testbed for GAM-63 Rascal, unmanned
===============================================================================
31 X-9 (52-2166 / 2209 ?) originally designated RTV-A-4, first launch
05/17/1950 and last launch 01/23/1953 at
Holloman from B-50A-1-BO, serial '46-0002'
or B-50D-80-BO, serial '48-0069'; only 28
launched (?); it is not sure if (and which
of) these 44 serials were assigned to the
missiles;
(62) X-9 ? originally designated RTV-A-4; all canceled;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Also 3 unpowered test vehicles were launched, referred to
as airframe 'A', 'B' and 'C'. The only known part of an
X-9 on display is a part of the vertical fin of the 4th
launched missile No. '0405' at the Larry Bell Museum in
Mentone, IN. Several Bell GAM-63 Rascals were test flown
and used operationally from 1955 to 1959. Known serials
are:
45 - 51-17581 / 17625 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
3 - 52-10984 / 10986 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
2 - 53-8195 / 8196 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
1 - 53-8197 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63A-BC
2 - 53-8198 / 8199 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
8 - 53-8200 / 8207 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63A-BC
2 - 53-8208 / 8209 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63-BC
20 - 53-8210 / 8229 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
1 - 53-8230 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63-BC
6 - 53-8231 / 8236 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC
20 - 53-8237 / 8256 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63-BC
3 - 53-8257 / 8259 - XB-63, XGAM-63-BC, GAM-63A-BC
22 - 56-4448 / 4469 - GAM-63A-BC
----
135
North American X-10, testbed for SM-64 Navaho, unmanned
===============================================================================
1 X-10 (GM-19307) originally designated RTV-A-5, first flight
10/14/1953 at Edwards; at least 3 flights;
stored at USAFM;
1 X-10 (GM-19308) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; crashed on 7th (or 10th ?) X-10
flight 07/1954;
1 X-10 (GM-19309) originally designated RTV-A-5, first used
for structural testing; at least 1 flight;
crashed on 14th X-10 (and last Edwards)
flight 03/1955;
1 X-10 (GM-19310) originally designated RTV-A-5;
1 X-10 (GM-19311) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; crashed on 13th X-10 flight 02/1955;
1 X-10 (GM-19312) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; burned out after crash landing on
1st AFMTC flight 08/19/1955;
1 X-10 (GM-19313) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; burned out after crash landing on
15th AFMTC (2nd DRONE) flight 11/13/1958;
1 X-10 (GM 52-1) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 4
flights;
1 X-10 (GM 52-2) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight;
1 X-10 (GM 52-3) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; used for the 30th and last X-10
(16th AFMTC, 3rd DRONE) flight 01/26/1959;
1 X-10 (GM 52-4) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 1
flight; burned out after crash landing on
2nd AFMTC flight 10/24/1955;
1 X-10 (GM 52-5) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 3
flights; burned out after crash landing on
14th AFMTC (1st DRONE) flight 09/24/1958;
1 X-10 (GM 52-6) originally designated RTV-A-5, at least 3
flights;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The serials may be so called GM-serials (Guided Missile
serials) but could also be regular USAF FY-serials
(Fiscal Year serials) (51-19307/19313).
11 flights with XSM-64 Navaho (ex XB-64, originally
XSSM-A-4 Navaho II) and XSM-64A (ex XB-64A, originally
XSSM-A-6 Navaho III) (aka WS-104) were made between
06/1958 and 11/18/1958. A complete SM-64 missile system
is displayed at Cape Canaveral AFS, FL. Known B-64/SM-64
serials are:
3 - 53-8270 / 8272 - XB-64, XSM-64-NT
2 - 52-10989 / 10990 - XB-64, XSM-64-NH
5 - 54-3095 / 3099 - XB-64, XSM-64-NT
2 - 55-4222 / 4223 - XB-64, XSM-64-NT
----
12
Convair X-11 Atlas A, Model 7-1, project MX-1593, ICBM testbed, unmanned
===============================================================================
( 1) X-11 ? number '1A', static tests only;
( 1) X-11 ? number '2A', static tests only ?;
( 1) X-11 ? number '3A', static tests only ?;
1 X-11 ? number '4A', 1st launch 06/11/1957 at Cape
Canaveral, FL; destroyed after 60 sec.;
( 1) X-11 ? number '5A', static tests only ?;
1 X-11 ? number '6A', 2nd launch 09/25/1957 at Cape
Canaveral; destroyed after 3 min.;
1 X-11 ? number '7A', 3rd launch 12/17/1957 at Cape
Canaveral; first successful flight;
1 X-11 ? number '8A', 4th launch at Cape Canaveral;
1 X-11 ? number '9A', 5th launch at Cape Canaveral;
1 X-11 ? number '10A', 6th launch at Cape Canaveral;
1 X-11 ? number '11A', 7th launch at Cape Canaveral;
1 X-11 ? number '12A', 8th launch at Cape Canaveral;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The missile was based on early tests with 3 Convair-built
HiRoc missiles for project MX-774, of which 3 flew. The
X-11 was the same missile as the XSM-65A Atlas A
(originally designated XB-65A), essentially the first
stage of WS-107A Atlas.
Convair X-12 Atlas B, Model 7-3, project MX-1593, ICBM testbed, unmanned
===============================================================================
1 X-12 ? number '?B', 1st launch 07/09/1958 at Cape
Canaveral; marginally successful;
1 X-12 ? number '?B', 2nd launch 08/02/1958 at Cape
Canaveral; successful; range 2,500 miles;
1 X-12 ? number '?B', 3rd launch 08/28/1958 at Cape
Canaveral; successful; range >2,500 miles;
1 X-12 ? number '?B', 4th launch 09/14/1958 at Cape
Canaveral; successful; range >2,500 miles;
1 X-12 ? number '?B', 5th launch 11/28/1958 at Cape
Canaveral; successful; range 6,325 miles;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The X-12 was the same missile as the XSM-65B Atlas B
(originally designated XB-65B), essentially the first
stage and booster (half stage) of WS-107A Atlas.
At least 1 Atlas B was used as a satellite launcher,
launching the communications satellite 'Score' 12/18/1958
as '1958g1' (the g should be the greek letter for g).
Several hundred Atlas' in several versions were built as
ICBMs (which were later redesignated PGM-16A, PGM-16B,
PGM-16C, CGM-16D, CGM-16E and HGM-16F) and as launch
vehicles. Known serials are:
3 - 55-5132 / 5134 - XB-65A, XSM-65A-CO, (PGM-16A)
10 - 56-6741 / 6750 - XB-65A, XSM-65A-CO, (PGM-16A)
3 - 57-1771 / 1773 - XB-65A, XSM-65A-CO, (PGM-16A)
13 - 57-1774 / 1786 - XB-65B, XSM-65B-CO, (PGM-16B)
4 - 57-1787 / 1790 - XB-65C, XSM-65C-CO, (PGM-16C)
7 - 57-2612 / 2618 - XB-65C, XSM-65C-CO, (PGM-16C)
15 - 57-2619 / 2633 - SM-65D-CO, (CGM-16D)
45 - 58-2187 / 2231 - SM-65D-CO, (CGM-16D)
61 - 58-7056 / 7116 - SM-65D-CO, (CGM-16D)
24 - 58-7117 / 7140 - SM-65E-CO, (CGM-16E)
----
185
Ryan X-13 Vertijet, Model 69, tail-sitting VTOL test aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-13-RY 54-1619 redesignated X-13A-RY; first conventional
flight 12/10/1955, first pure VTOL flight
05/28/1956 and first transition from
vertical take-off to level flight and back
to vertical landing 04/11/1957 all with Ryan
test pilot P. F. 'Pete' Girard at Edwards;
last flight about late 1958 or early 1959;
to NASM, on long term loan to the San Diego
Aerospace Museum, San Diego, CA;
1 X-13-RY 54-1620 redesignated X-13A-RY; first conventional
flight 05/28/1956 with Ryan test pilot P. F.
'Pete' Girard at Edwards; last flight about
late 1958 or early 1959; on display at the
USAFM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: A full-scale mock-up and a VTOL test rig were built.
A fighter version with the preliminary USAF designation
XF-109-RY (serials 59-2109 and 60-2715) never left the
drawing board. (It is possible that the two serials were
instead allocated to the Bell Model D-188A designated
XF-109-BE, which was also an unsuccessful, later, and
also canceled VTOL fighter project, even though a mock-up
was built.)
Bell X-14, Model 68, deflected thrust VTOL research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-14-BE 56-4022 first hovering flight 02/17/1957 and first
full transition 05/24/1958 with Bell test
pilot Dave Howe at Bell's Niagara Falls
(Wheatfield), NY, facility; transferred from
Bell to the USAF and directly to NASA's ARC
10/02/1959 as 'NASA 234' and registered
'N234NA'; modified to X-14A;
( 1) X-14A-BE first flight during 1961; 1971 modified
again to X-14B as 'NASA 704' and registered
'N704NA';
( 1) X-14B-BE first flight 02/1971; damaged in landing
accident on last flight 05/29/1981 with NASA
test pilot Ron Gerdes; more than 25 pilots,
including Armstrong, flew the X-14 in over
20 years of test flying; stored at ARC until
05/1989; now on permanent display at the
USAAM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: A VTOL test aircraft, the Bell Model 65 ATV, registered
'N1105V' was built and test flown, but never completed a
full transition. The X-14 utilized the wings, ailerons,
and landing gears from an early Beechcraft 35 Bonanza and
the tail section from a Beechcraft T-34A Mentor.
North American X-15, Model NA.240, high-speed/altitude research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-15-NA 56-6670 first captive flight on B-52 (not released)
03/10/1959, first glide flight 06/08/1959
and first powered flight with XLR11 engines
01/23/1960 all with North American test
pilot A. Scott Crossfield at Edwards, first
flight with XLR99 engines 08/10/1961 with
USN test pilot CDR. Forrest S. Peterson at
Edwards; last flight, also last X-15 flight
10/24/1968 with NASA test pilot William H.
Dana; 135 flights: 53 captive/aborted, (5
by North American with Crossfield, 25 by
NASA: 9 with McKay, 9 with Walker, 7 with
Milton O. Thompson, 2 by USN with Peterson,
21 by USAF: 8 with Maj. Michael J. Adams,
5 with Maj. Robert A. Rushworth, 5 with
Capt. Robert M. White, 3 with Capt. Joseph
H. Engle), 2 glide flights, (1 by North
American with Crossfield, 1 by USN with
Peterson), 80 powered: 20 with XLR11,
(1 by North American with Crossfield, 9 by
NASA: 5 with Walker, 2 with McKay, 2 with
Armstrong, 2 by USN with Peterson, 8 by
USAF: 6 with White, 2 with Rushworth) and
60 with XLR99, (24 by NASA: 10 with McKay, 8
with Walker, 5 with Thompson, 1 with
Armstrong, 1 by USN with Peterson, 35 by
USAF: 11 with Rushworth, 7 with Engle, 6
with Dana, 6 with Capt. William J. Knight,
5 with Adams); displayed at NASM (with
wingtip pods attached);
1 X-15-NA 56-6671 first captive flight on B-52 (not released)
07/24/1959, first powered flight with XLR11
engines 09/17/1959 and first flight with
XLR99 engines 11/15/1960 all with Crossfield
at Edwards, was seriously damaged following
an emergency landing at Rosamond Dry Lake
11/05/1959 with Crossfield, nearly totally
destroyed in landing accident 11/09/1962
with McKay (seriously injured) at Mud Lake,
NV; 52 flights: 21 captive/aborted, (11 by
North American with Crossfield, 10 by NASA:
7 with White, 2 with Walker, 1 with McKay),
31 powered: 9 with XLR11 by North American
with Crossfield, 22 with XLR99, (3 by North
American with Crossfield, 14 by NASA: 6 with
White, 5 with McKay, 3 with Walker, 1 by USN
with Peterson, 4 by USAF with Rushworth);
after crash landing rebuilt as X-15A-2;
( 1) X-15A-2-NA first captive flight as X-15A-2 06/15/1964,
and first powered flight 06/25/1964 with
Rushworth at Edwards; last flight 08/21/1967
with Knight at Edwards; 45 flights: 23
captive/aborted, (7 by NASA with McKay, 16
by USAF: 8 with Knight, 8 with Rushworth),
22 powered (with XLR99), (6 by NASA with
McKay, 16 by USAF: 8 with Knight, 8 with
Rushworth); displayed at USAFM;
1 X-15-NA 56-6672 first captive flight on B-52 (not released)
12/19/1961 and first powered flight with
XLR99 engines 12/20/1961 with Armstrong at
Edwards; disintegrated on last flight
11/15/1967 with Adams over Johannesburg, CA;
96 flights: 32 captive/aborted, (24 by NASA:
7 with Dana, 5 with Walker, 4 with
Armstrong, 4 with White, 2 with McKay, 2
with Thompson, 8 by USAF: 4 with Engle, 4
with Rushworth), 64 powered (with XLR99),
(41 by NASA: 9 with Dana, 9 with Thompson, 9
with Walker, 6 with McKay, 4 with Armstrong,
4 with White, 23 by USAF: 9 with Engle, 9
with Rushworth, 3 with Adams, 2 with
Knight);
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: All 3 aircraft together made 328 flights, with 12 pilots;
129 of which were captive/aborted and 199 released, of
which 2 were glide flights; the first and the last X-15
might have been redesignated X-15A-NA in 1962; there are
three full-scale mock-ups on display:
1 X-15A-2 metal mock-up displayed as 'NASA 66671' at the
Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL;
1 displayed together with one of the carrier-aircraft,
NB-52A-1-BO (serial '52-0003'), at the Pima Air Museum,
Tucson AZ;
1 displayed as X-15 #3 '56-6672' on pole in front of
NASA's DFRC;
(it is possible, that the one from Pima was relocated and
repainted to become the one at DFRF);
Bell X-16, Model 67, project MX-2147, high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft
===============================================================================
(28) X-16-BE 56-0552 / 0579 canceled 10/1955 in favor of Lockheed U-2;
none was completed, all produced parts and
the full scale mock-up were scrapped;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: As an interim high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, the
USAF ordered 20 RB-57D from Martin under the 'Bald Eagle'
program, until the Lockheed U-2s, which were initially
build for the CIA, became available.
Lockheed (LMSC) X-17, WS-107A, re-entry-vehicle test rocket, unmanned
===============================================================================
26 X-17-LD ? all launched between 04/17/1956 and
08/22/1957 from Cape Canaveral, FL;
one X-17 shell, structural test specimen or
static display article stored at AMARC for
the USAFM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Before the 26 X-17 research vehicles, 3 quarter-scale
vehicles, 3 half-scale vehicles, and 6 developmental/test
vehicles were launched between 05/23/1955 and 06/26/1956
also from Cape Canaveral, FL.
Seven additional X-17-like test rockets were build for
'Project Argus', to test the effect of exo-atmospheric
nuclear explosions; 4 unarmed rockets were launched off
San Clemente, CA, during the fall of 1958, and three
nuclear-armed rockets were launched from the USS Norton
Sound in the South Pacific between 08/1958 and 09/1958.
Hiller X-18, tilt-wing VTOL research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-18-UH 57-3078 rebuilt Chase YC-122C-CA glider, serial
'49-2883'; first flight (hop) 11/20/1959
and first (real) flight 11/24/1959 with
Hiller test pilots George Bright and Bruce
Jones at Moffett Field, CA; all other 18
flights (last one in 07/1961) from Edwards
with Bright and Jones; probably dismanteled
and scrapped at Edwards;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The test results were later utilized in the design of the
similar but four engined LTV/Ryan/Hiller XC-142A-VO, of
which 5 were built: serials '62-5921' - '62-5925'. One
(serial '62-5924') was later used by NASA as 'NASA 522',
and is now displayed at the USAFM.
Curtiss-Wright X-19, Model X-200, tilt-propeller VTOL research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-19-CU 62-12197 first (hover) flight 11/20/1963 with
Curtiss-Wright test pilot Jim Ryan at
Curtiss-Wright's Caldwell test facility, NJ;
crashed and totally destroyed 08/25/1965 on
its 50th flight with test pilots Jim Ryan
and Bernard Hughes at the FAA's NAFEC near
Atlantic City, NJ; all but the last flight
were only hover or slow-speed/altitude
partial transition test flights; (other
pilots were: USAF test pilots Maj. Robert L.
Baldwin and Maj. Donald P. Wray and USN test
pilot Lt. Richard W. Homuth);
1 X-19-CU 62-12198 never flew; may have been dismanteled and
scrapped at the Caldwell facility;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: 1 proof-of-concept aircraft, the Curtiss-Wright Model
X-100 was built and test flown. It was registered 'N853'.
Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar, S-464L & S-620A, hypersonic/suborbital research aircraft
===============================================================================
(10) X-20-BO 61-2374 / 2383 maybe redesignated X-20A-BO, but canceled
12/10/1963 before any airframe could be
completed; all parts were used for testing
or were scrapped;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: 1 full-scale mock-up was built and was later probably
scrapped, too. McDonnell built 6 small re-entry vehicles,
under the ASSET program, which generally resembled the
X-20A configuration. They were all launched down the
Eastern Test Range by Thor-Delta and Thor boosters from
09/1963 to 03/1965. At least 1 was recovered and is on
display in the MSFC Museum, Huntsville, AL.
Northrop X-21, boundary layer control research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-21A-NO 55-0408 rebuilt Douglas WB-66D-DT '55-0408'; first
flight 04/18/1963 from Northrop's Hawthorne,
CA facility to Edwards with Northrop test
pilot Jack Wells; last flight 1964 (?);
stored (in poor condition) at the Edwards
photo test range;
1 X-21A-NO 55-0410 rebuilt Douglas WB-66D-DT '55-0410' first
flight 08/15/1963 from Hawthorne to Edwards
with Wells; last flight 1964 (?); stored
(in poor condition) at the Edwards photo
test range;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Originally, Douglas WB-66D serial '55-0409' was planned
to be rebuilt as the 2nd X-21A, but was damaged in a
landing accident on delivery to Northrop.
Bell X-22, Model D-2127, tandem ducted propeller VTOL research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-22A-BE BuNo 151520 first (hover) flight 03/17/1966 with Bell
test pilots Stanley Kakol and Paul Miller
at Wheatfield; first STOL flight 06/30/1966;
crashed 08/08/1966 at Wheatfield; crew was
uninjured; the forward fuselage section was
converted to a ground simulator and used by
Calspan Corporation; other surviving parts
were used for the other X-22A;
1 X-22A-BE BuNo 151521 first (hover) flight 01/26/1967 with Bell
test pilots Stanley Kakol and Richard Carlin
at Wheatfield; also first full transition
03/01/1967; last flight 10/1984 at Calspan's
Buffalo airport facility, NY; 501 flights;
(this number may include the flights of the
other airframe, which in this case would be
only a handful); (228 flights at Bell, 273
flights at Calspan); supposed to be given to
a New York area museum for permanent display
in 1987/1988;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Several advanced configurations, ranging from X-22A-1,
X-22B and X-22C to the Bell Model D-2172 were proposed.
Martin Marietta X-23, SV-5D PRIME, maneuverable re-entry vehicle, unmanned
===============================================================================
1 X-23A-MG ? launched 12/21/1966 on a General Dynamics/
Convair SLV-3 Atlas from Vandenberg AFB;
lost over the Pacific;
1 X-23A-MG ? launched 03/05/1967 on a General Dynamics/
Convair SLV-3 Atlas from Vandenberg AFB;
lost over the Pacific;
1 X-23A-MG ? launched 04/18/1967 on a General Dynamics/
Convair SLV-3 Atlas from Vandenberg AFB, CA;
recovered intact off Kwajalein Island in the
Pacific Ocean; displayed at the USAFM;
1 X-23A-MG ? never launched; disposition unknown;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The X-23A was also known as SV-5D (D = Drone ?) PRIME,
and was part of the START program.
Martin Marietta X-24, SV-5P PILOT, lifting body research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-24A-MG 66-13551 first (captive) flight 04/04/1969 on
N(R)B-52B-10-BO (serial '52-0008') at
Edwards; first (glide) flight 04/17/1969 and
first powered flight 03/19/1970 with USAF
test pilot Jerauld Gentry at Edwards; last
flight (as X-24A) 06/04/1971; 28 free
flights (10 unpowered and 18 powered); (16
by USAF: 13 with Gentry (8 unpowered / 5
powered) and 3 with test pilot Cecil Powell
(1 unpowered / 2 powered) and 12 by NASA
with John Manke (1 unpowered / 11 powered);
modified to FDL-7 configuration and
redesignated X-24B;
( 1) X-24B-MG first glide flight 08/01/1973 and first
powered flight 11/15/1973 with Manke and
last (glide) flight 11/26/1975 with NASA
test pilot Thomas McMurty at Edwards; 36
free flights (12 unpowered and 24 powered);
(14 by USAF: 12 with Lt. Col. Michael Love
(2 unpowered / 10 powered) and 2 (unpowered)
with Capt. Francis Scobee and 22 by NASA: 16
with Manke (4 unpowered / 12 powered), 2
(powered) with Dana, 2 (unpowered) with
Einar Enevoldson, 2 (unpowered) with
McMurty); on display at the USAFM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The X-24A was also known as SV-5P (P = Piloted) PILOT.
Additionally 2 SV-5J (J - Jet powered) low-speed trainers
were built, but never officially accepted by the USAF and
also never flown. One (probably the 2nd) is displayed (as
an X-24A) at the USAFM. One SV-5J or a mockup used the
(fictitious) tail number '13552'. A follow-on project,
the X-24C NHFRF aircraft (FDL-8 configuration) was not
realized. Other lifting bodies were:
- the NASA Dryden built M2-F1 (Shape M2, Flight-model 1)
registered 'N86652', made about 40 ground tows and 100
free flights, displayed at NASA's DFRC, on loan from
the NASM;
- the Northrop M2-F2, c/n 'NLB 101', (later modified to
M2-F3 configuration), 'NASA 803', displayed at the
NASM;
- the Northrop HL-10, c/n 'NLB 102', (HL = Horizontal
Lander), 'NASA 804', registered 'N804NA', displayed on
pole in front of NASA's DFRC;
Bensen X-25, gyroglider and gyrocopter
===============================================================================
1 X-25 ? gyroglider; aka DDV (Discretionary Descent
Vehicle); no manned flights; apparently
dismantled; disposition unknown;
1 X-25A 68-10770 gyrocopter; based on Model B-8; first flight
06/05/1968 with Igor Bensen, Ph.D. at the
Raleigh-Durham Universal Airport, near
Raleigh, NC; displayed at the USAFM;
1 X-25B 68-10771 gyroglider; modified to gyrocopter; based
on Model B-8; first flight 01/23/1968 with
Bensen at Raleigh; stored at the USAFM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Bensen built several Model B-8 gyrocopter, one of which
is displayed as 'X-25' at the Museum of Aviation, Robins
AFB, Warner Robins, GA. Another Model B-8M, named the
'Spirit of Kitty Hawk', registered 'N2588B', is displayed
at the NASM.
Schweizer X-26A Frigate glider / Lockheed X-26B quiet motor glider
===============================================================================
1 X-26A-SW BuNo 157932 Schweizer SGS.2-32; used by NTPS for roll-
coupling training; first flight 07/03/1962
at the Schweizer home field near Elmira, NY;
lost in accident (03/1971 or 05/18/1972);
1 X-26A-SW BuNo 157933 Schweizer SGS.2-32; used by NTPS for roll-
coupling training; lost in accident (03/1971
or 05/18/1972);
1 X-26A-SW BuNo 158818 Schweizer SGS.2-32; c/n 74; used ny NTPS for
roll-coupling training; lost in accident
09/19/1980;
1 X-26A-SW BuNo 159260 Schweizer SGS.2-32; used by NTPS for roll-
coupling training;
1 X-26A-SW ? Schweizer SGS.2-32; US Army / USAF aircraft;
to NTPS as '760086' (?); used for roll-
coupling training;
1 X-26B-LO 67-15345 Lockheed modified Schweizer SGS.2-32;
planned as QT-1 ('Quiet Thrust', single
seater), but modified to QT-2 two-seater;
first flight 07/1967 with Lockheed test
pilot Quinten Burden at Tracy Airport, near
San Jose, CA; registered 'N2471W'; modified
to QT-2PC 'Project Prize Crew'; used for
covert operations in Vietnam; redesignated
X-26B and transferred to NTPS as X-26B with
the non-standard BuNo '715345';
1 X-26B-LO ? Lockheed modified Schweizer SGS.2-32;
planned as QT-1 ('Quiet Thrust', single
seater), but modified to QT-2 two-seater;
registered 'N2472W'; modified to QT-2PC
'Project Prize Crew'; used operationally in
Vietnam; redesignated X-26B and transferred
to NTPS as X-26B, but only used for spares;
is/was owned by Bruce Miller, Boulder, CO;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Another Schweizer SGS.2-32, c/n 37, is/was registered
'N99858', belonging to the USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB;
another, c/n 38, is/was registered 'N9929J', belonging to
the NOAA; another, c/n 70, is/was registered 'N7794S',
belonging to NASA (Mech. Engr. Dept., Univ. of Texas,
Austin, TX). Similar 'military' aircraft are:
1 Lockheed Q-Star; a more extensively modified Schweizer
SGS.2-32; a direct follow-on to the QT-2, registered
'N5713S'; on display in a transportation museum in CA;
14 Lockheed YO-3A, serials '69-18000' to '69-18013'; the
prototype '69'-18000' is on display at the USAAM;
'69-18003', registered 'N123LT', is/was owned by
Richard Osborne, Brookfield Center, CT; '69-18004' (?)
registered 'N33YQ' is/was owned by Elliot Bruce,
Mount Vernon, WA; '69-18005', registered 'N64495', is/
was owned by the Special School Dist. of St. Louis
County, Rock Hill, MO; '69-18010' is/was used by NASA
ARC as 'NASA 718', registered 'N718NA'; and two were
registered 'N14425' and 'N14426' and used by the State
of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries;
2 Schweizer RG-8A Condor, serials '85-0047' and
'85-0048', transferred to USCG as '8101' and '8102';
one (other ?) was later leased to the CIA as drone
control and data relay aircraft for the Tier 1
(General Atomics Gnat 750) surveillance drones; the
US Army and the USCG may have/had more than 2 RG-8A;
1 Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor, registered 'N61428'; 2
more to be built; the first two are modified RG-8A,
while the third will be build using a set of RG-8A
spare wings stored by the USCG; RU-38A is not an
official military designation;
Lockheed ADP X-27 Lancer, Model CL-1200, fighter interceptor project
===============================================================================
( 1) X-27 ? based on the F-104G Starfighter; only a
mock-up was built, which was probably later
scrapped; the project was canceled;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: 2578 F-104 Starfighter of all versions were built world-
wide.
Pereira X-28 Osprey I, single-seat seaplane, home-built
===============================================================================
1 X-28A BuNo 158786 first flight 08/12/1970 with George Pereira
at Sacramento, CA; previously registered
'N3337'; last flight 10/22/1971; USN pilot
Lt. Dave Edwards also flew the X-28; the
aircraft was stored at Philadelphia, before
it was given to the USMCM; the X-28A was
temporally lent to the YAFM, but returned
and is now on display at the USMCM;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Many other Osprey I homebuilts were built and flown.
Grumman X-29 FSW, Model 712, forward-swept wing research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-29A 82-0003 rebuilt Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter,
serial '63-8372', which was previously
stored at AMARC; first 'hop' (during high-
speed taxi tests) 12/05/1984 and first
flight 12/14/1984 with Grumman test pilot
Charles A. 'Chuck' Sewell at Edwards; 242
'Phase 1' flights: (27+ by Grumman: 22+ with
Kurt Schroeder, 5+ with Sewell, and maybe
others), (56+ by NASA: 32+ with Stephen
Ishmael, 24+ with Rogers Smith, and maybe
others), (26+ by USAF: 15+ with Maj. Harry
Walker, 10 with Lt. Col. Theodore 'Ted'
Wierzbanowski, 1+ with Brig. Gen. Yeager,
and maybe others), (2+ by USN with LCDR. Ray
Craig and maybe others); stored at DFRF (?);
1 X-29A 82-0049 rebuilt Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter,
serial '65-10573', from the RNoAF; stored
at Grumman's Calverton, NY, facility until
first flight 05/23/1989 at Edwards; equipped
with spin-chute; 132 'Phase 2' flights by
NASA, USAF and USN; last flight 09/30/1991
at Edwards; stored at DFRF;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The General Dynamics FSW design, a version of the F-16
Fighting Falcon, and the Rockwell International FSW
design, called Saberbat, both lost against the Grumman
design. Rockwell built a mock-up of the Saberbat.
X-30, hypersonic test vehicle for NASP project
===============================================================================
( 2) X-30A ? the project was canceled, before the design
was finished, but a 50-ft. mock-up was built
by engineering students of the Mississippi
State University, Starkville, MS; several
companies were competing for the contract,
including Boeing, Lockheed, MDD, and
Rockwell International; some general tests
relating to hypersonic flight are still
planned;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The X-30 was supposed to be a test vehicle for the so-
called National AeroSpace Plane (NASP), which was also
canceled.
Rockwell/MBB X-31 EFM, high AoA/enhanced maneuverability research aircraft
===============================================================================
1 X-31A BuNo 164584 first flight 10/11/1990 with Rockwell test
pilot Norman 'Ken' Dyson at Rockwells
Palmdale plant; (67 flights in 'Phase 1'
from Palmdale); moved to NASA DFRF for
'Phase 2' flights; crashed 01/19/1995 near
Edwards; German Air Force test pilot Karl-
Heinz 'Charly' Lang ejected successfully and
sustained only minor injuries; 292 flights;
1 X-31A BuNo 164585 first flight 1991 at Palmdale; dubbed the
'Evil Twin'; (41 flights in 'Phase 1' from
Palmdale); moved to Edwards for 'Phase 2'
flights; active in flight test program at
Edwards;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The following pilot flew or fly the X-31: Rockwell test
pilots: Dyson and Fred Knox, MBB test pilot Dietrich
Seeck, USN test pilot CDR. Al 'Killer' Groves, USMC test
pilot CAPT. C. J. 'Gus' Loria, German Air Force test
pilots Lang and Maj. Quiran or Quirin Kim.
X-32 ASTOVL/CALF and JAST stealthy attack aircraft demonstrator projects
===============================================================================
2 X-32A ? CTOL aircraft, (based on JAST/CALF);
2 X-32B ? STOVL aircraft, (based on ASTOVL/CALF);
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The following companies are participating in the project
and have built propulsion demonstrator mock-ups:
- Lockheed ADC: P&W F119 engine; shaft-coupled Allison
lift-fan; based on F-22 and ASTOVL design
work; 86% scale mock-up;
- MDD: GE F120 engine; gas-coupled lift-fan;
full-scale mock-up;
- Boeing: PW F119 (or GE F120) engine; direct lift;
no lift fan; 94% mock-up;
All three lift systems were designed by or with help from
Rolls Royce. All three companies are developing STOVL,
CTOL and carrier-based X-32 (JAST) versions.
X-33, RLV (SSTO) demonstrator project, unmanned
===============================================================================
2 X-33A ? SSTO demonstrator for commercial space
launches; the configuration is probably a
VTOHL design, but MDD is also working on a
VTOL design, similar to the MDD DC-X;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: The following companies were participating in the project
before the three preliminary companies were selected:
* Lockheed Advanced Development Corp., Palmdale, CA with:
- five other Lockheed divisions,
- Lockheed Martin (Martin Marietta)
- Rocketdyne Division of Rockwell International
- Rohr Industries
- AlliedSignal
- Bankers Trust Co.
- Space Express
Lockheed proposes its 'AeroBallistic Rocket' design,
a VTOHL lifting body with an Aerospike engine;
* Rockwell International's Space Division, CA, with:
- its Rocketdyne Division (propulsion)
- Northrop Grumman (composite airframe structures)
- Federal Express (operations planning/requirements)
- Orbital Science Corporation (commercial planning)
Rockwell proposes a VTOHL delta-winged, twin tail,
vehicle with 5 engines; Rockwell proposes a half-scale
X-33 technology demonstrator, which could not reach
orbit;
* McDonnell Douglas with:
- Boeing
MDD's design is not yet completed, but MDD favors a
VTOL design; even though a VTOHL version will also be
prepared; MDD is also working on its DC-X and DC-XA
VTOL launch vehicle demonstrators for NASA;
* Space Access; CA; is not longer in the competition;
OSC/Rockwell/NASA X-34, small RLV project, unmanned
===============================================================================
2 X-34A ? small air-launched booster; to be started
from OSC's Lockheed L-1011 TriStar; a full-
scale mock-up was built; the booster looks
like a bigger Pegasus launcher;
2 X-34B ? bigger air-launched booster; to be started
from NASA Boeing 747;
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related designs: Both designs have a so-called second stage, which is an
expendable orbital vehicle with the attached payload,
carried in the cargo bay. Only one design will finally
realized.
The following companies were participating in the project
before OSC/Rockwell was selected:
- Space Access; CA
- Kelly Space & Technology, Inc.; San Bernadino, CA
- Orbital Science Corporation; Dulles, VA
--- APPENDIX ---
Sources:
===============================================================================
Most of the data is from the book:
The X-Planes - X-1 to X-31, by Jay Miller, published by Aerofax Inc.
--------------------------
--- --- --- ---
Inertia Coupling:
===============================================================================
The crash of the first Bell X-2-BE, serial '46-0674' on 09/27/1956 and several
previous crashes of North American F-100 Super Sabres were attributed to a
phenomenon called 'inertia coupling'. McDonnell F-101 Voodoos showed related
problems, and Joe Walker made (inadvertent) several 'inertia couple' research
flights with the Douglas X-3 Stiletto, serial '49-2892'.
The phenomenon could be described with the tendency of an aircraft to pitch
and/or yaw when it is rolling. This tendency is not a problem when:
a) the aircraft is flying with an angle of attack of zero (aerodynamic axis
and roll axis are the same),
b) the aircraft is flying relatively slow,
c) the aircraft is rolling relatively slow, and
d) the aircraft has a high roll-inertia configuration (like a short fuselage
and a long wingspan).
If, for example, an aircraft is starting to roll while flying with a positive
angle of attack, the elevators of the aircraft will be subjected to wind-
forces, which induce a pitch-moment. After the aircraft has rolled for 90
degrees, the same forces will act on the rudder, and induce a yaw-moment.
Of course these forces act during the complete roll in variable strengths and
can under some circumstances lead to an uncontrollable flight condition or even
to structural failure.
--- --- --- ---
Used Acronyms and Abbreviations:
===============================================================================
aka also known as
c/n construction number
AAF Army Air Field
ADC Advanced Development Company (Lockheed)
ADP Advanced Development Projects (to ADC)
AFB Air Force Base
AFFTC Air Force Flight Test Center (USAF)
AFMTC Air Force Missile Test Center (USAF)
AFS Air Force Station
AMARC Aerospace Maintenance And Regeneration Center (USAF)
AoA Angle of Attack
APL Applied Physics Laboratory (USAF)
ARC Ames Research Center (NASA)
ARDC Air Research and Development Command (USAF)
ASR Aerojet Sounding Rocket (X-8)
ASSET Aerothermodynamic/elastic Structural Systems Environmental Tests
ASTOVL Advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing aircraft (X-32)
ASTR Aircraft Shield Test Reactor (1 MW nuclear reactor)
ATV Air Test Vehicle (Bell Model 65)
BuNo Bureau of Aeronautics Number (aka BuAerNo)
CALF Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (X-32)
CIA Central Intelligence Agency
CTOL Conventional Take-Off and Landing
DASA Deutsche Aerospace SA (now Daimler-Benz Aerospace)
DDV Discretionary Descent Vehicle (X-25)
DFRC Dryden Flight Research Center (NASA)
DFRF Dryden Flight Research Facility (NASA)
ASSET Aerothermodynamic/elastic Structural Systems Environmental Tests
ASTOVL Advanced Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing aircraft (X-32)
CALF Common Affordable Lightweight Fighter (X-32)
DDV Discretionary Descent Vehicle (X-25)
DRONE ? (X-10)
DSV Delta Space Vehicle (?) (designation)
EFM Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability aircraft (X-31)
FAA Federal Aviation Agency
FDL Flight Dynamics Laboratory (USAF)
FSW Forward Swept Wing aircraft (X-29)
FY Fiscal Year (serials)
GM Guided Missile (serials) / (designation)
HL Horizontal Landing (HL-10)
ICBM Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile
JAST Joint Advanced Strike Tactical (X-32)
KSC Kennedy Space Center (NASA)
LaRC Langley Research Center (NASA)
LMSC Lockheed Missiles & Space Company
LTV Ling-Temco-Vought
MBB Messerschmitt Boelkow-Blohm (to DASA)
MCAF Marine Corps Air Facility
MDD McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Corporation
MSFC Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA)
MW MegaWatt
NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (to NASA)
NAFEC National Aviation Facility Experimental Center (FAA)
NAS Naval Air Station
NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration
NASM National Air & Space Museum (Smithsonian Institution)
NASP National AeroSpace Plane (X-30)
NHFRF National Hypersonic Flight Facility aircraft (X-24C)
NOAA National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
NTA Nuclear Test Aircraft (NB-36H)
NTPS Naval Test Pilot School (USN)
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy (any doctorate degree, any discipline)
PILOT PIloted LOw-speed Tests (SV-5P)
PFM Planes of Fame Museum
PRIME Precision Recovery Including Maneuvering Entry (SV-5D)
QT Quiet Thrust (X-26)
RCS Reaction Control System
RLV Reusable Launch Vehicle
RNoAF Royal Norwegian Air Force
RPV Remotely Piloted Vehicle
RTV Research Test Vehicle (designation)
SLV Space Launch Vehicle (designation)
SM Strategic Missile (designation)
SSM Surface-to-Surface Missile (designation)
SSTO Single Stage To Orbit
START Spacecraft Technology and Advanced Reentry Test program (X-23/X-24)
STOL Short Take-Off and Landing
STOVL Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing
US United States
USAAF United States Army Air Force
USAF United States Air Force
USAFM United States Air Force Museum (USAF)
USCG United States Coast Guard
USMC United States Marine Corps
USMCM United States Marine Corps Museum (USMC)
USN United States Navy
USS United States Ship
VTOHL Vertical Take-Off and Horizontal Landing
VTOL Vertical Take-Off and Landing
--- --- --- ---
Used Aircraft Designations: ('x'/'y'/'z' represent letters, 'n' is a number)
===============================================================================
Xyz-n ==> x = Status Letter:
E = Exempt (operated by civilian company);
J = used/modified temporary for tests;
N = used/modified permanently for tests;
X = eXperimental/prototype;
xYz-n ==> y = Modified Mission Letter:
T = used as Trainer;
xyZ-n z = Mission or Type Letter:
==> B = Bomber;
1924 - 1962: (B-1 - B-87 -- including missiles);
1962 - today: (B-1 - B-2 -- continued);
==> F = Fighter;
1948 - 1962: (F-80 - F-111 -- plus some ex P-n);
1962 - today: (F-1 - F-23 -- continued, plus F-117);
==> P = Pursuit (fighter/interceptor)
1925 - 1947: (P-1 to P-89 -- redesignated F-n);
==> Q = aerial target or drone;
1948 - 1962: (Q-1 to Q-14... -- redesignated xxM-n);
==> S = Supersonic research aircraft;
1946 - 1947: (S-1 to S-5 -- redesignated X-n);
==> T = Trainer;
1948 - 1990 : (T-28 to T-48 -- plus some ex AT-n and PT-n);
1962 - 1990 : (T-1 to T-2);
1990 - today: (T-1 to T-3 -- continued);
==> X = eXperimental/research aircraft;
1948 - today: (X-1 to X-34 -- continued);
--- --- --- ---
Used Missile Designations: ('x'/'y'/'z' represent letters, 'n' is a number)
===============================================================================
Xyyy-n ==> x = Status Letter:
X = eXperimental/prototype;
xYYY-n ==> yyy = Missile Type Designation:
GAM = Guided Airborne Missile;
1948 - 1962: (xxM-61 - xxM-87 -- in Bomber series, gaps);
SM = Strategic Missile;
1948 - 1962: (xxM-61 - xxM-87 -- in Bomber series, gaps);
--- --- --- ---
Xyyy-z-n ==> x = Status Letter:
X = eXperimental/prototype;
xyyy-Z-n ==> -z = Service Designation Letter:
-A = Army (or Air Force);
-N = Navy;
xYYY-z-n ==> yyy = Missile Type Designation:
RTV = Research Test Vehicle;
1948 - 1962: (RTV-A-1 to RTV-A-5...);
(RTV-N-1 to RTV-N-10...);
SLV = Space Launch Vehicle;
1948 - 1962: (SLV-3...);
SSM = Surface-to-Surface Missile;
1948 - 1962: (SSM-A-1 to SSM-A-26...);
(SSM-N-1 to SSM-N-9...);
--- --- --- ---
Xyz-n ==> x = Launch / Environment Letter:
A = Air-launched;
C = semi-hard launcher (Coffin);
H = silo stored, outside launched (High);
L = silo stored, inside launched (Low);
P = soft Pad-launched;
xYz-n ==> y = Mission Letter:
G = surface (Ground) attack;
Q = aerial target, drone or RPV;
xyZ-n ==> z = Vehicle Type Letter:
M = Missile (guided);
1962 - today: (xyM-1 to xyM-154 -- continued);
--- --- --- ---
Used Engine Designations: ('x'/'y' represent letters, 'n' is a number)
===============================================================================
Xyyn ==> x = Status Letter:
X = eXperimental/prototype;
xYYn ==> yy = Engine Type Designation:
LR = Liquid-fueled Rocket;
1948 - 1962: (LR8 to LR105... -- maybe continued ?)
Engine designation don't have a dash ('-') between the designation letter(s)
and the sequence number!
--- --- --- ---
Used Project Designations: ('x' represents a letter, 'n' is a number)
===============================================================================
MX-n ==> USAAF and USAF project designations (1940s/1950s). Probably
evolved out of the McCook Field 'P-n' (tail)numbers (1920s/1930s
-> P-1 to P-599), and 'XP-n' (also XA-n, XB-n, XBT-n, XO-n, XPT-n)
prototype designations (1930s/1940s -> XP-900 to XP-948). Was
later replaced by 'WS-n' (Weapon System) and 'SS-n' (Support
System) project designations.
xS-n ==> System project designation. USAF project designation replaced the
old (US Army based) MX-n project designations in the 1950s.
WS-n ==> Weapon System project designation.
SS-n ==> Support System project designation.
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Locations:
===============================================================================
All test sites and other locations are, at first mention, written out in full
length, after that only the short form is used.
- Manufacturer Facilities:
* Buffalo airport, NY; (Calspan facility)
* Calverton, NY; (Grumman facility)
* Caldwell, NJ; (Curtiss-Wright test facility)
* Elmira, NY; (Schweizer home field)
* Hawthorne, CA; (Northrop facility)
* Sunnyvale, CA; (LMSC facility)
* Wheatfield, Niagara Falls, NY; (Bell facility)
- Military Facilities:
* Biggs AFB, El Paso, TX; (X-7 display)
* Cape Canaveral AFS, FL; (AFMTC)
Eastern Test Range
* Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, AZ:
AMARC
Pima Air Museum
* Edwards AFB, CA:
Main Base / AFFTC
NASA DFRC (old name) / NASA DFRF
North Base (secret)
South Base / Muroc AFB (old name) / Muroc AAF (old name)
Rogers Dry Lake
* Fort Rucker, AL; (USAAM)
* Holloman AFB, NM; (ARDC ?)
* Lackland AFB, TX; (Lackland AFB History and Traditions Museum)
* Maxwell AFB, AL; (X-4 display)
* MCAF Quantico, VA; (USMCM)
* NAS Patuxent River, MD; (NTPS)
* Pinecastle AFB, FL
* US Army Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL; (MSFC)
* San Clemente, CA; (X-17 'Project Argus' launch site)
* Sunnyvale AFS, CA; (X-7 display)
* USAF Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
* USS Norton Sound; (ship - X-17 'Project Argus' launch site)
* Vandenberg AFB, CA
* Robins AFB, Warner Robins, GA; (Museum of Aviation)
* White Sands Missiles Range, near Alamogordo, NM:
White Sands Proving Grounds
* Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH:
McCook Field (old name)
Wright Field (old name)
USAF Systems Command / USAF Material Command
FDL / Wright Laboratory
USAFM
- Museums:
* Lackland AFB History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, TX
* Larry Bell Museum, Mentone, IN
* Marshall Space Flight Center Museum, Huntsville, AL; (MSFCM)
* Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, GA
* National Air & Space Museum / NASM, Washington, D.C.
* Pima Air Museum, Tucson, AZ
* Planes of Fame Museum, Chino, CA; (PFM)
* San Diego Aerospace Museum, San Diego, CA
* US Air Force Museum, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH; (USAFM)
* US Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, AL; (USAAM)
* US Marine Corps Museum, MCAF Quantico, VA; (USMCM)
* Yankee Air Force Museum, Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti, MI; (YAFM)
- NASA Facilities:
* Ames Research Center, NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, CA; (ARC)
* George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL; (MSFC)
* Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards AFB, CA; (DFRC, to DFRF)
* Hugh L. Dryden Flight Research Facility, Edwards AFB, CA; (DFRF)
* John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, FL; (KSC)
* Langley Research Center, Hampton, VA; (LaRC)
- Other Locations:
* Atlantic City, NJ; (FAA's NAFEC)
* Johannesburg, CA; (X-15 '56-6672' crash site)
* Kwajalein Island, Pacific Ocean; (X-23 recovery site)
* Lake Ontario; (X-2 '46-0675' crash site)
* Langley, VA; (CIA headquarters)
* Mud Lake, NV; (X-15 '56-6671' crash landing site)
* Raleigh-Durham Universal Airport, near Raleigh, NC; (X-25 first flights)
* Rosamond Dry Lake, CA; (X-15 emergency landing site)
* Sacramento, CA; (X-28 first flight)
* Tracy Airport, near San Jose, CA; (X-26B first flight)
A special interesting location is Edwards AFB, originally named Muroc AAF, and
renamed 02/12/1948 Muroc AFB, located at and including the Rogers Dry Lake, in
south west California. It was renamed 01/27/1950 Edwards AFB and comprises the
old South Base facility (original Muroc AAF), the Main Base facility with the
AFFTC and NASA's DFRF, and the 'secret' North Base facility.
--- --- --- ---
Selected US States:
===============================================================================
AL - Alabama
AZ - Arizona
CA - California
CO - Colorado
MS - Mississippi
NJ - New Jersey
NM - New Mexico
NV - Nevada
NY - New York
TX - Texas
VA - Virginia
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Pilots:
===============================================================================
All pilots are listed, at first mention, with affiliation, rank (if
applicable), first name, 'nick name' and last name. Later only the last name
(and if changed the new rank) are listed.
The following table gives an overview of all X-plane pilots (and co-pilots),
mentioned in this article, and how many flights (in parenthesis) they have on
each model. The columns 'USAF/USN', 'NACA/NASA' and 'Manuf.' denote that the
pilot was a military pilot, a NASA pilot or employed by the manufacturer of
the respective aircraft (see main text).
Pilot Rank USAF/USN NACA/NASA Manuf.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adams, Michael J. Maj. X-15 ( 7)
Apt, Milburn Capt. X-2 ( 1)
Armstrong, Neil A. --- X-1B ( 4)
X-5 ( 1)
X-14B ( ?)
X-15 ( 7)
Baldwin, Robert L. Maj. X-19 ( ?)
Bensen, Igor, Ph.D. --- X-25A/B (?)
Boyd, Albert Col. X-1 ( 1)
Brig. Gen. X-4 ( 1)
X-5 ( 1)
Bridgeman, William --- X-3 (25)
Bright, George --- X-18 (20)
Burdon, Quinten --- X-26B ( ?)
Butchart, Stanley P. --- X-4 ( 4)
X-5 (13)
Cannon, Joseph --- X-1 ( 1)
Carlin, Richard --- X-22A ( ?)
Champine, Robert --- X-1 (13)
Childs, Stuart Maj. X-1B ( 1)
Cooper, George --- X-4 ( 1)
Craig, Ray * LCDR. X-29A ( 2+)
Crossfield, A. Scott --- X-1 (10)
X-4 (29)
X-5 (10)
X-15 (14)
Dana, William H. --- X-15 (16)
X-24B ( 2)
Dyson, Norman 'Ken' --- X-31A ( ?)
Edwards, Dave * LT. X-28A ( ?)
Enevoldson, Einar --- X-24B ( 2)
Engle, Joseph H. Capt. X-15 (16)
Everest, Frank Maj. X-1 (10)
Lt. Col. X-1B ( 2)
X-3 ( 3)
X-5 ( 6)
Col. X-2 (13)
X-4 ( 4)
Everett, Lou --- X-13 ( ?)
Fitzgerald, James Capt. X-1 ( 7)
Fleming, Patrick Lt. Col. X-1 ( 1)
Gentry, Jerauld ??? X-24A (13)
Gerdes, Ron --- X-14B ( ?)
Girard, Peter F. 'Pete' --- X-13 ( ?)
Goodlin, Chalmers 'Slick' --- X-1 (26)
Griffith, John --- X-1 ( 9)
X-4 ( 7)
Groves, Al 'Killer' * CDR. X-31A ( ?)
Hanes, Horace Col. X-1B ( 1)
Harer, Richard Capt. X-1B ( 1)
Holtoner, Stanley Brig. Gen. X-1B ( 1)
Homuth, Richard W. * LT. X-19 ( ?)
Hoover, Herbert --- X-1 (14)
Howe, Dave --- X-14 ( ?)
Hughes, Bernard --- X-19 ( ?)
Immenschuh, Bill --- X-13 ( ?)
Ishmael, Stephen --- X-29A (32+)
Johnson, Richard Maj. X-1 ( 1)
Lt. Col. X-4 ( 1)
Johnston, Alvin --- X-1 ( 1)
Jones, Bruce --- X-18 (20)
Jones, Walter P. --- X-4 (14)
X-5 ( 8)
Kakol, Stanley --- X-22A ( ?)
Kim, Quiran or Quirin ** Maj. X-31A ( ?)
Kincheloe, Iven Capt. X-2 ( 4)
Knight, William J. Capt. X-15 (16)
Knox, Fred --- X-31A ( ?)
Lang, Karl-Heinz 'Charly' ** ??? X-31A ( ?)
Lilly, Howard --- X-1 ( 6)
Loria, C. J. 'Gus' *** CAPT. X-31A ( ?)
Love, Michael Lt. Col. X-24B (12)
Lundquist, Gustav Maj. X-1 ( 6)
Manke, John --- X-24A (12)
X-24B (16)
McKay, John B. --- X-1B (13)
X-1E ( 5)
X-4 ( 1)
X-5 ( 6)
X-15 (29)
McMurty, Thomas --- X-24B ( 2)
Miller, Paul --- X-22A ( ?)
Murray, Arthur Maj. X-1A (15?)
X-1B ( 1)
Nash, J. S. Capt. X-4 ( 1)
Pereira, George --- X-28A ( ?)
Peterson, Forrest S. * CDR. X-15 ( 5)
Popson, Ray Capt. X-5 ( 1)
Powell, Cecil Maj. X-24A ( 3)
Reeder, John P. X-5 ( 1)
Ridley, Jack Capt. X-1 ( 5)
Lt. Col. X-1B ( 2)
Rushworth, Robert A. Maj. X-15 (34)
Ryan, Jim --- X-14A ( ?)
X-19 ( ?)
Schroeder, Kurt --- X-29A (22+)
Scobee, Francis Capt. X-24B ( 2)
Seeck, Dietrich --- X-31A ( ?)
Sewell, Charles A. 'Chuck' --- X-29A ( 5+)
Smith, Rogers --- X-29A (24+)
X-31A ( ?)
Stephens, Robert Maj. X-1B ( 1)
Thompson, Milton O. --- X-15 (14)
Tucker, Charles --- X-4 (30)
Walker, Harry Maj. X-29A (15+)
Walker, Joseph A. 'Joe' --- X-1 ( 2)
X-1A ( 1)
X-1E (21)
X-3 (20)
X-4 ( 2)
X-5 (78)
X-15 (25)
Wells, Jack --- X-21A ( ?)
White, Robert M. Capt. X-15 (16)
Wierzbanowski, Theodore 'Ted' Lt. Col. X-29A (10)
Wolko, Frank --- (EB-50 crew)
Woolams, Jack --- X-1 (10)
Wray, Donald P. Maj. X-19 ( ?)
Yeager, Charles E. 'Chuck' Capt. X-1 (34)
Maj. X-1A ( 4)
X-3 ( 3)
X-4 ( 7)
Brig. Gen. X-29A ( ?)
Ziegler, Jean --- X-1A ( 6)
X-1D ( 1)
X-2 ( 2)
X-5 (24)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All military pilots are USAF pilots, with the following exceptions:
* = USN
** = German Air Force, Luftwaffe
*** = USMC
--- --- --- ---
Selected Ranks:
===============================================================================
Brig. Gen. - Brigadier General
Capt. / CAPT. - Captain
CDR. - Commander
Col. - Colonel
LCDR. - Lieutenant Commander
Lt. / LT. - Lieutenant
Lt. Col. - Lieutenant Colonel
Maj. - Major
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Aircraft Names (Nicknames):
===============================================================================
'Crusader' - Convair NB-36H-20-CF, serial '51-5712'
'Evil Twin' - Rockwell/MBB X-31A, BuNo '164585'
'Glamorous Glennis' - Bell X-1-BE, serial '46-0062'
'Little Joe' - Bell X-1E-BE, serial '46-0063'
'Score' - Communications Satellite, launched 12/18/1958
'Spirit of Kitty Hawk' - Bensen Model B-8M, registered 'N2588B'
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Projects:
===============================================================================
Project Names / Code Names:
Project 'Air Force-Hi' - MX-1961 / Aerojet 'Aerobee-Hi' / Aerobee 150
Project 'Air Skimmer' - Pereira X-28 Osprey I
Project 'Argus' - LMSC X-17
Project 'Bald Eagle' - Martin RB-57D
Project 'HiRoc' - MX-774 / Convair missile
Project 'Navy-Hi' - MX-1961 / Aerojet 'Aerobee-Hi' / Aerobee 150
Project 'Price Crew' - Lockheed X-26B / QT-2PC
Project Acronyms:
ASSET - McDonnell re-entry vehicles
ASTOVL - X-32
CALF - X-32
DDV - Bell X-25
DRONE - North American X-10
EFM - Rockwell/MBB X-31
FSW - Grumman X-29
JAST - X-32
NASP - X-30
NHFRF - Martin Marietta X-24C
NTA - Convair NB-36H
PILOT - Martin Marietta SV-5P / X-24A
PRIME - Martin Marietta SV-5D / X-23A
QT - Lockheed X-26B
START - Martin Marietta SV-5D / X-23A / SV-5P / X-24A
MX - Project Designations:
MX-653 - Bell XS-1 / X-1 / Model 44
MX-656 - Douglas XS-3 / X-3 Stiletto / Model 499D
MX-743 - Bell XS-2 / X-2
MX-774 - Convair 'HiRoc' missile
MX-776A - Bell X-9 Shrike
MX-810 - Northrop XS-4 / X-4 Bantam / Skylancer
MX-883 - Lockheed ADP X-7 / X-7A / X-7B / Model L-171-2
MX-984 - Bell X-1A / X-1B / X-1D
MX-1011 - Aerojet General X-8 Aerobee
MX-1095 - Bell XS-5 / X-5
MX-1593 - Convair Atlas / X-11 / X-12 / Model 7
MX-1961 - Aerojet General 'Aerobee-Hi' / Aerobee 150
MX-2147 - Bell X-16 / Model 67
Weapon Systems Designations:
WS-104 - North American Navaho / B-64 / SM-64 / SSM-A-6
WS-107A - Convair Atlas / B-65 / SM-65 / PGM-16 / Model 7
WS-125A - nuclear powered bomber project
WS-315A - Douglas Thor B-75 / SM-75 / PGM-17
WS-427L - Lockheed ADP XQ-5-LD / AQM-60A / Kingfisher
Systems Designations:
S-464L - Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar
S-620A - Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Manufacturer, Aircraft and Designations:
===============================================================================
Aerojet General:
- Missiles:
* Aerobee:
Model XASR-1 / RTV-N-8a (?)
Model XASR-SC-1 / RTV-N-8a
Model XASR-2 / RTV-A-1 / X-8-AJ
Model AJ10-25 / RTV-A-1a / X-8A-AJ
RTV-A-1b / X-8B-AJ
RTV-A-1c / X-8C-AJ
RTV-A-1d / X-8D-AJ
Model XASR-SC-2 / RTV-N-10
Model XASR-SC-2 / RTV-N-10a
Model AJ10-34
Model Aerobee 150
Model Aerobee-Hi / Projects MX-1961 / 'Air Force-Hi' / 'Navy-Hi'
Beechcraft:
- Aircraft:
* Bonanza / Model 35
* Mentor T-34A
Bell:
- Aircraft:
* Kingcobra P-63:
P-63A-BE
XP-63N-BE / L-39 / L-39-1 / L-39-2
* Model D-188A / F-109
XF-109-BE
* X-1:
XS-1-BE
X-1-BE
X-1A-BE
X-1B-BE
X-1C-BE
X-1D-BE
X-1E-BE
* XS-2-BE / X-2-BE
* XS-5-BE / X-5-BE
* X-14-BE / X-14A-BE / X-14B-BE
* X-16-BE
* X-22 / Model D-2127:
X-22A-BE
X-22A-1
X-22B
X-22C
Model D-2172
- Missiles:
* Shrike X-9 / RTV-A-4
* Rascal B-63 / GAM-63
XB-63
XGAM-63-BC
GAM-63-BC
GAM-63A-BC
Bensen Aircraft Corporation:
- Aircraft:
* X-25 / Model B-8
X-25 DDV
X-25A
X-25B
Model B-8M
Boeing Aircraft Corporation / MDD/Boeing:
- Aircraft:
* Superfortress B-29:
B-29-55-BO
B-29-96-BO
B-29B-60-BO
* Superfortress B-50:
B-50A-1-BO
EB-50A-5-BO
B-50D-80-BO
JTB-50D-80-BO
* Stratofortress B-52:
NB-52A-1-BO
N(R)B-52B-10-BO
* Dyna-Soar X-20-BO
* X-30 (project)
* X-32 (project)
- Missiles:
* X-33 (project) (MDD/Boeing)
Chase:
- Aircraft:
* YC-122C-CA
Convair / General Dynamics (GD) (now Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth Div.):
- Aircraft:
* Peacemaker B-36:
NB-36H-20-CF / XB-36H-20-CF / 'Crusader' / NTA
* X-6
* Fighting Falcon F-16 (GD)
- Missiles:
* Atlas B-65 / SM-65 / xGM-16 / Model 7 / MX-1593 / WS-107A:
SLV-3 Atlas (launch vehicle)
X-11 / XB-65A / XSM-65A-CO / PGM-16A / Atlas A / Model 7-1
X-12 / XB-65B / XSM-65B-CO / PGM-16B / Atlas B / Model 7-3
-- / XB-65C / XSM-65C-CO / PGM-16C / Atlas C /
-- / -- / SM-65D-CO / CGM-16D / Atlas D /
-- / -- / SM-65E-CO / CGM-16E / Atlas E /
-- / -- / SM-65F-CO / HGM-16F / Atlas F /
Curtiss-Wright:
- Aircraft:
* Model X-100
* Model X-200 / X-19-CU
Douglas / McDonnell Douglas (MDD) / MDD/Boeing:
- Aircraft:
* Skystreak / Model D-558-I
* Skyrocket / Model D-558-II
* Destroyer B-66:
WB-66D-DT
* Stiletto XS-3 / X-3 / Model 499D / MX-656
* X-32 (project) (MDD)
- Missiles:
* DC-X (MDD)
* Thor B-75 / SM-75 / PGM-17 / WS-315A:
Thor DSV-3 (launch vehicle)
Thor-Delta (launch vehicle)
Delta (launch vehicle) (Douglas/MDD):
* X-33 (project) (MDD/Boeing)
General Atomics:
- Missiles:
* Model Gnat 750 / Tier 1
Grumman:
- Aircraft:
* X-29A / Model 712
Hiller / LTV/Ryan/Hiller:
- Aircraft:
* X-18-UH
* XC-142A-VO (LTV/Ryan/Hiller)
Kelly Space & Technology Inc.:
- Missiles:
* X-34 (project)
Lockheed Aircraft Corporation / Lockheed ADP / ADC / LMSC / Lockheed Martin:
- Aircraft:
* Starfighter F-104
* U-2 (Lockheed ADP)
* Q-Star
* X-26B / QT-2 / QT-2PC / 'Project Prize Crew'
* YO-3A
* Lancer X-27 / Model CL-1200 (Lockheed ADP)
* X-30 (project) (Lockheed ADC)
* X-32 (project) (Lockheed ADC)
- Missiles:
* Kingfisher / X-7 / Q-5 / AQM-60 / Model L-171-2 / WS-427L (Lockheed ADP):
X-7-LD / X-7A-LD / X-7A-1-LD
X-7A-3-LD
X-7A-LD
X-7B-LD
XQ-5-LD / AQM-60A
* X-17-LD / WS-107A / 'Project Argus' (LMSC)
* X-33 (project) (Lockheed ADC)
Martin / Martin Marietta / (now Lockheed Martin):
- Aircraft:
* Night Intruder / Canberra B-57 (Martin):
RB-57D / 'Project Bald Eagle'
* SV-5J
* SV-5P PILOT / X-24:
X-24A-MG
X-24B-MG / FDL-7 configuration
X-24C HHFRF aircraft / FDL-8 configuration
- Missiles:
* SV-5D PRIME / X-23:
X-23A-MG
McDonnell / McDonnell Douglas (MDD) / MDD/Boeing:
- Aircraft:
* Voodoo F-101
* X-30 (project) (MDD)
* X-32 (project) (MDD)
- Missiles:
* ASSET
* DC-X / DC-XA (MDD)
* Delta (launch vehicle) (Douglas/MDD):
Thor-Delta (launch vehicle) (Douglas)
* Thor B-75 / SM-75 / PGM-17 / WS-315A (Douglas):
Thor-Delta (launch vehicle) (Douglas)
* X-33 (project) (MDD/Boeing)
Messerschmitt / Rockwell/MBB (Messerschmitt Boelkow-Blohm):
- Aircraft:
* Model P.1101 V1 (Messerschmitt)
* Saberbat (FSW project)
* X-31A (Rockwell/MBB)
North American / Rockwell International / Rockwell/MBB:
- Aircraft:
* Super Sabre F-100
* X-15-NA / X-15A-2-NA / (X-15A-NA) / Model NA.240
* X-30 (project) (Rockwell)
* X-31A (Rockwell/MBB)
- Missiles:
* X-10 / RTV-A-5
* Navaho B-64 / SM-64 / SSM-A-4 / SSM-A-6 / WS-104:
XSSM-A-4 Navaho II / XB-64 / XSM-64-NH / XSM-64-NT
XSSM-A-6 Navaho III / XB-64A / XSM-64A
Northrop:
- Aircraft:
* Bantam / Skylancer / XS-4-NO / X-4-NO
* Freedom Fighter F-5A
* X-21A-NO
Orbital Science Corporation/Rockwell (OSC):
- Missiles:
* X-34 (project)
Pereira:
- Aircraft:
* Osprey I / X-28A / 'Project Air Skimmer'
Ryan / LTV/Ryan/Hiller:
- Aircraft:
* XF-109-RY
* Vertijet X-13 / Model 69:
X-13-RY
X-13A-RY
* XC-142A-VO (LTV/Ryan/Hiller)
Schweizer:
- Aircraft:
* Frigate / X-26 / Model SGS.2-32:
X-26A-SW
* Condor / RG-8A
* Twin Condor / RU-38A
Space Access:
- Missiles:
* X-33 (project)
* X-34 (project)
Vought / Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) / LTV/Ryan/Hiller:
- Aircraft:
* XC-142A-VO (LTV/Ryan/Hiller)
--- --- --- ---
Mentioned Serials and Registrations:
===============================================================================
BuNos:
'37970' / '37972' - Douglas Skystreak / Model D-558-I
'37973' / '37975' - Douglas Skyrocket / Model D-558-II
'90060' / '90061' - Bell XP-63N-BE Kingcobra / 'L-39'
'151520' / '151521' - Bell X-22A-BE
'157932' / '157933' - Schweizer X-26A-SW Frigate
'158786' - Pereira X-28A Osprey I
'158818' - Schweizer X-26A-SW Frigate
'159260' - Schweizer X-26A-SW Frigate
'164584' / '164585' - Rockwell/MBB X-31A
'715345' - Lockheed X-26B (ex FY-serial '67-15345')
'760086' (?) - Schweizer X-26A-SW Frigate (ex FY-serial ?)
FY-Serials:
'44-84073' - Boeing B-29B-60-BO Superfortress
'44-86402' - Boeing B-29-55-BO Superfortress
'45-21800' - Boeing B-29-96-BO Superfortress
'46-0002' - Boeing B-50A-1-BO Superfortress
'46-0006' - Boeing EB-50A-5-BO Superfortress
'46-0011' - Boeing EB-50A-5-BO Superfortress
'46-0062' - Bell XS-1-BE / X-1-BE 'Glamorous Glennis'
'46-0063' - Bell XS-1-BE / X-1-BE / X-1E-BE
'46-0064' - Bell XS-1-BE / X-1-BE
'46-0674' / '46-0675' - Bell XS-2-BE / X-2-BE
'46-0676' / '46-0677' - Northrop XS-4-NO / X-4-NO
'48-0068' - Boeing JTB-50D-80-BO Superfortress
'48-0069' - Boeing B-50D-80-BO Superfortress
'48-1384' - Bell X-1A-BE
'48-1385' - Bell X-1B-BE
'48-1386' - Bell X-1D-BE / (X-1C-BE ?)
'49-2883 - Chase YC-122C-CA
'49-2892' / '49-2893' - Douglas XS-3 / X-3 Stiletto
'50-1838' / '50-1839' - Bell XS-5-BE / X-5-BE
'51-5712' - Convair XB-36H-20-CF / NB-36H-20-CF 'Crusader'
'51-17581' / '51-17625' - Bell B-63 / GAM-63 Rascal
'51-19307' / '51-19313' - North American X-10 / RTV-A-5 (?)
'52-0003' - Boeing NB-52A-1-BO Stratofortress
'52-0008' - Boeing N(R)B-52B-10-BO Stratofortress
'52-10984' / '52-10986' - Bell B-63 / GAM-63 Rascal
'52-10989' / '52-10990' - North American B-64 / SM-64 Navaho
'52-2166' / '52-2209' - Bell X-9 Shrike (?)
'53-8195' / '53-8259' - Bell B-63 / GAM-63 Rascal
'53-8270' / '53-8272' - North American B-64 / SM-64 Navaho
'54-1619' / '54-1620' - Ryan X-13A-RY Vertijet
'54-2972' / '54-2994' - Aerojet General X-8A-AJ Aerobee
'54-3095' / '54-3099' - North American B-64 / SM-64 Navaho
'55-0408' - Douglas WB-66D-DT / Northrop X-21A-NO
'55-0409' - Douglas WB-66D-DT Destroyer
'55-0410' - Douglas WB-66D-DT / Northrop X-21A-NO
'55-3167' / '55-3173' - Lockheed X-7A-LD / X-7A-1-LD
'55-4222' / '55-4223' - North American B-64 / SM-64 Navaho
'55-5132' / '55-5134' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'56-0552' / '56-0579' - Bell X-16-BE
'56-4022' - Bell X-14-BE / X-14A-BE / X-14B-BE
'56-4045' / '56-4052' - Lockheed X-7A-LD / X-7A-1-LD
'56-4054' - Lockheed XQ-5-LD / AQM-60A Kingfisher
'56-4448' / '56-4469. - Bell B-63 / GAM-63 Rascal
'56-6670' - North American X-15-NA / (X-15A-NA)
'56-6671' - North American X-15-NA / X-15A-2-NA
'56-6672' - North American X-15-NA / (X-15A-NA)
'56-6741' / '56-6750' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'57-1771' / '57-1790' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'57-2612' / '57-2633' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'57-3078' - Hiller X-18-UH
'57-6295' / '57-6307' - Lockheed X-7A-LD / X-7A-1-LD
'58-1025' - Lockheed XQ-5-LD / AQM-60A Kingfisher
'58-2187' / '58-2231' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'58-7056' / '58-7140' - Convair B-65 / SM-65 Atlas
'59-2109' - Ryan XF-109-RY / Bell XF-109-BE
'60-2715' - Ryan XF-109-RY / Bell XF-109-BE
'61-2374' / '61-2383' - Boeing X-20-BO Dyna-Soar
'62-12197' / '62-12198' - Curtiss-Wright X-19-CU
'62-5921' / '62-5925' - LTV/Ryan/Hiller XC-142A-VO
'63-8372' - Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
'65-10573' - Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
'66-13551' - Martin Marietta X-24A-MG / X-24B-MG
'67-15345' - Lockheed X-26B
'68-10770' - Bensen X-25A
'68-10771' - Bensen X-25B
'69-18000' / '69-18013' - Lockheed YO-3A
'82-0003' - Grumman X-29A
'82-0049' - Grumman X-29A
'85-0047' / '85-0048' - Schweizer RG-8A Condor
GM-Serials:
'GM-19307' / 'GM-19313' - North American X-10 / RTV-A-5
'GM 52-1' / 'GM 52-6' - North American X-10 / RTV-A-5
USCG Serials:
'8101' / '8102' - Schweizer RG-8A Condor
Civil Registrations:
'N1105V' - Bell Model 65 ATV
'N123LT' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N14425' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N14426' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N234NA' - Bell X-14 / (X-14A)
'N2471W' - Lockheed X-26B / QT-2 / QT-2PC
'N2472W' - Lockheed X-26B / QT-2 / QT-2PC
'N2588B' - Bensen Model B-8M 'Spirit of Kitty Hawk'
'N3337' - Pereira X-28A Osprey I
'N33YQ' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N5713S' - Lockheed Q-Star
'N61428' - Schweizer RU-38A Twin Condor
'N64495' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N704NA' - Bell X-14A / X-14B
'N718NA' - Lockheed YO-3A
'N7794S' - Schweizer SGS.2-32
'N804NA' - Northrop HL-10
'N853' - Curtiss-Wright Model X-100
'N86652' - NASA Dryden M2-F1
'N9929J' - Schweizer SGS.2-32
'N99858' - Schweizer SGS.2-32
NACA Numbers:
'NACA 140' - Douglas Skystreak / Model D-558-I
'NACA 141' - Douglas Skystreak / Model D-558-I
'NACA 142' - Douglas Skystreak / Model D-558-I
'NACA 143' - Douglas Skyrocket / Model D-558-II
'NACA 144' - Douglas Skyrocket / Model D-558-II
'NACA 145' - Douglas Skyrocket / Model D-558-II
NASA Numbers:
'NASA 234' - Bell X-14 / (X-14A)
'NASA 522' - LTV/Ryan/Hiller XC-142A
'NASA 704' - Bell X-14A / X-14B
'NASA 718' - Lockheed YO-3A
'NASA 803' - Northrop M2-F2 / M2-F3
'NASA 804' - Northrop HL-10
'NASA 66671' - North American X-15A-2-NA
--- --- --- ---
This list was edited and compiled by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl.
---- End of Appendix ----
(c) 1995 by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl