American X-aircraft

The Bell X-1-2.

Overview

The X-planes are a series of experimental United States aircraft and rockets, used to test and evaluate new technologies and aerodynamic concepts. They have an X-designator, which indicates the research mission within the US system of aircraft designations.

Most of the X-planes have been operated by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) or, later, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), often in conjunction with the United States Air Force. The majority of X-plane testing has occurred at Edwards Air Force Base.

Some of the X-planes have been well publicised, while others, such as the Bell X-16, have been developed in secrecy for security concerns. The first, the Bell X-1, became well known after it became, in 1947, the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight.

Most X-planes are not expected to go into full-scale production; one exception was the Lockheed Martin X-35, which competed against the Boeing X-32 during the Joint Strike Fighter Program and has entered production as the F-35.

Not all US experimental aircraft have been designated as X-planes; some received US Navy designations before 1962, while others have been known only by manufacturers' designations, non-'X'-series designations, or still classified codenames.

Notable American X-aircraft

1. Bell X-1
2. Bell X-5
3. Convair X-6
4. Lockheed X-7 "Flying Stove Pipe"
5. Aerojet General X-8 (proto-Aerobee rocket)
6. Convair X-11\x-12 (proto-SM65 Atlas\advanced Atlas missile
7. Ryan X-13 Vertijet
8. North American X-15
9. Bell X-16
10. Lockheed X-17
11. Hiller X-18
12. Bell X-14
13. Curtiss-Wright X-19
14. Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar ("Dynamic Soarer")
15. Bell X-22
16. Martin Marietta X-24
17. Bensen B-8 t autogyro (X-25)
18. Frigate Schweize X-26 Frigate
19. Grumman X-29
20. Boeing X-32
21. Orbital Sciences X-34
22. Lockheed Martin X-35
23. McDonnell Douglas X-36
24. Hyper-X Micro Craft X-43
25. Douglas XBT2D-1 Skyraider prototype

Also see

1. Bell Textron Rocket Belt
2. North American X-15
3. Bell Rocket Belt
4. Avro Flying Car
5. Bell Jet Belt
6. Bell Helli-vector
7. Bell Helli-jeep
8. Moor 1969 Jet Pack
9. Bell Pogo
10. KGB Chita Jet Belt
11. Small Rocket Lift Device (SRLD)
12. RB2000 Rocket Belt
13. Lockheed X-17
14. Bell X-1
15. North American X-15
16. Ferrofluid
17. SSI small-scale integration Integrated circuit (1964)
18. EWR VJ 101
19. Short SC.1
20. Hawker Siddeley P.1127/Kestrel
21. Hawker Siddeley XV-6A Kestrel
22. Dornier Do 31
23. EWR VJ 101
24. Yakovlev Yak-32
25. Ekranoplans
26. Rolls-Royce Thrust Measuring Rig
27. Lunar Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV)
28. Flying Bedstead
29. Science
30. Manned space travel
31. Operation E.M.I.L.
32. F-19A Specter

Outside links

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_X-planes
2. http://fas.org/
3. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/armstrong/news/FactSheets/FS-085-DFRC.html
4. http://www.martin-baker.com/getdoc/d25952ab-5881-4999-8593-6f7f196c8770/a_history_of_the_joint_strike_fighter_programme.aspx
5. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/x-16.htm
6. http://www.martin-baker.com/getdoc/d25952ab-5881-4999-8593-6f7f196c8770/a_history_of_the_joint_strike_fighter_programme.aspx
7. http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/FactSheets/FS-036-DFRC.html