The Research and Development Gallery in the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio contains several experiment aircraft.
Bell X-1B
According to the Museum:
The X-1B was one of a series of rocket-powered experimental airplanes designed to investigate supersonic flight problems. The X-1B’s flight research primarily related to aerodynamic heating and the use of small “reaction” rockets for directional control.
The X-1B made its first powered flight in October 1954. A few months later, the U.S. Air Force transferred the X-1B to the NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), predecessor to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), which conducted the heating and control tests. The X-1B tests played an important role in developing the control systems for the later X-15.
On test missions, the X-1B was carried under a "mother" airplane and released between 25,000-35,000 feet. After release, the rocket engine fired under full throttle for less than five minutes. After all fuel (an alcohol-water mixture) and liquid oxygen had been consumed, the pilot glided the airplane to earth for a landing.
The X-1B made its last flight in January 1958, and it was transferred to the museum a year later.
This aircraft has a top speed of 1,650 mph and a maximum altitude of 90,000 feet.
Douglas X-3 Stiletto
According to the Museum:
The twin-turbojet X-3, the only one built, was designed to test sustained flight at twice the speed of sound. It also explored the use of very short wings and titanium airframe construction.
Engine development difficulties forced the use of lower-powered engines than originally planned, prohibiting the X-3 from achieving its Mach 2 design potential. Even so, data gained from the X-3 program greatly benefited the F-104, X-15, SR-71 and other high performance aircraft.
The X-3 made its first test flight at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., in October 1952. The X-3 was transferred to the museum in 1956.
This aircraft has a top speed of 650 mph in level flight but is designed for Mach 2; it has a service ceiling of 38,000 feet.
Convair XF-92A
According to the Museum:
The XF-92A was the world's first jet aircraft to fly with the radical delta-wing configuration pioneered by Germany's Dr. Alexander Lippisch. Convair used the knowledge learned from the XF-92 to design the delta-wing F-102, the U.S. Air Force’s first operational supersonic interceptor.
The original 1945 F-92 design concept was a short-ranged, swept-wing, supersonic interceptor powered by a ramjet and several rocket engines. In the end, this propulsion system proved impractical, and the USAF canceled the F-92 interceptor program.
The USAF, however, accepted the turbojet-powered XF-92A prototype to conduct delta-wing flight research. The sole XF-92A was flown by Air Force and NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), predecessor to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), test pilots from 1948 until its nose gear collapsed on landing in October 1953.
This aircraft has a top speed of 715 mph and a service ceiling of 40,000 feet.
McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
According to the Museum:
The McDonnell Aircraft Corp. developed the XF-85 Goblin "parasite" fighter to protect B-36 bombers flying far beyond the range of conventional escort fighters. The "parent" B-36 would carry the XF-85 within a bomb bay -- if enemy fighters appeared, the Goblin would be lowered on a trapeze and released to combat the attackers. Once the enemy had been driven away, the Goblin would return to the B-36, reattach to the trapeze, and be lifted back into the bomb bay.
Two test aircraft were ordered in October 1945, and flight testing with a modified B-29 began in 1948. Test pilots could successfully launch the XF-85, but the turbulent air under the B-29 made recovery difficult and hazardous. About half of the Goblin flights ended with emergency ground landings after the test pilot could not hook up to the B-29.
No XF-85s were ever launched or carried by a B-36. The program ended in late 1949 when aerial refueling of conventional fighter aircraft showed greater promise.
This aircraft has a top speed of 650 mph and a maximum endurance of 1 hour, 20 minutes.
North American X-10
According to the Museum:
The turbojet-powered X-10 tested flight characteristics and guidance, navigation and control systems for the planned SM-64 Navaho. The Navaho was intended to be a ramjet-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile launched by rocket boosters.
North American built 13 X-10s (10 of which were test flown), and the first X-10 flight occurred in October 1953. Although accidents destroyed several X-10s, the test program proved to be successful. One X-10 flew at Mach 2.05, a remarkable achievement for the time. In 1957, however, the Navaho program was cancelled as Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) technology matured.
The remaining X-10s were used to support the XB-70 program and as targets for Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) then in development. The museum’s X-10 is the only one still in existence.
This aircraft has a top speed of 1,300 mph, a range of 400 miles, and a ceiling of 45,000 feet.
Republic XF-84F
According to the Museum:
The turboprop-driven XF-84H -- a joint Air Force/Navy project -- was designed to combine the speed of jet aircraft with the long range, low fuel consumption, and low landing speed of propeller-driven aircraft. The XF-84H’s modified F-84F airframe included a T-tail and a triangular fin behind the cockpit to reduce the effect of torque from the propellers.
Between July 1955 and October 1956, two XF-84Hs made 12 test flights -- 11 of these flights ended with emergency landings. Although the XF-84H was one of the fastest single-engine, propeller-driven aircraft ever built, it never approached supersonic speed. Due to poor performance and high maintenance requirements, the XF-84H never became operational.
The aircraft on display was the first of the two prototypes produced by Republic, and it flew 8 of the 12 test flights.
This aircraft has a top speed of 520 mph, a range of more than 2,000 miles, and a ceiling above 40,000 feet.
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Museum of Flight: Lockheed Blackbird (photo diary)
Planes of Fame: Air Racers (Photo Diary)
Air Force Museum: Cold War bombers (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: Air Park (photo diary)