List of X-planes
The X - planes are a series of experimental aircraft and missiles of the U.S. armed forces and NASA. They are exploring new technologies and / or methods of construction, which only a few copies of a type are usually prepared. After the designation system for aircraft of the U.S. armed forces, the aircraft gets, the draft number prefix X for its main purpose ( eXperimental ). Since 1940, 53 different types were given the mission identifier "X".
History
After the Bell X-1 had broken through in 1947 as the first manned aircraft the sound barrier, the following types were limited mainly to the study of supersonic flight. New designs such as the stub wing of the Douglas X-3 or the swing-wing Bell X-5 were first tested.
In the 1950s, a focus on different concepts of vertical planes was observed. The rear starter construction of the Ryan X -13 was later regarded as not useful, other designs such as the Kippflügelflugzeug Hiller X-18 or the Bell X -14 with thrust vectoring attracted more experimental aircraft and prototypes by themselves.
Also in the 1950s there was the Convair X-6 plans for an aircraft whose energy supply should be taken over by a nuclear reactor. The first tests took modified Convair B-36, the X - 6 itself was never built. With the Lockheed X - 7, the first unmanned X - plane, with the Aerojet General X-8, an unmanned rocket, which reached even the series production appeared. In the following X - flight equipment to X-12, it took the form of unmanned cruise missiles.
With the Bell X- 16 is a misuse of the term " X " took place because it was not an experimental aircraft, but the draft of a spy plane. However, no machine has been completed.
From 1959-1968, the rocket-powered North American X-15 was in use, which enjoys a high reputation because of their speed and altitude records. The research results obtained with the X -15 were essentially the space, which resulted in the development of the "lifting bodies " (see supporting hull ).
In view of the foregoing, often pioneering X - Aircraft introduced the Gyrocopter Bensen X - 25 is an unusual concept dar. Designed as a replacement for the ejection seats of airplanes, the testing was put to the end of the Vietnam War. With the glider Swiss X - 26 and the small flying boat Pereira X -28 appeared two light aircraft that did not contain new technology, but only the use of these types should prove in certain application roles. X- 26A was further used after the end of the test program a training aircraft.
After the X -26 program officially ended in 1973 and the X -27 was never built, it would take 11 years until another X - plane made its first flight. The Grumman X -29 demonstrated the utility of wings with negative sweep, but was never an aircraft of this type in series in the USA.
The X - planes limited to three areas at least since the 1990s:
- Multi-role combat aircraft with thrust vectoring for increased maneuverability and VTOL and STOL capability and stealth characteristics. Notable in this context, the Boeing X -32 and Lockheed Martin X-35, both of which served as demonstrators for the JAST program. Two X - planes at the same time to place orders for the same purpose, until then, was unique in history.
- Space shuttles (eg Orbital Sciences X -34), body aircraft (eg Boeing X -37) and landing skid ( continuation of the lifting body concept, X -38)
- Unmanned drones, such as the Boeing X - 45 or the Northrop Grumman X -47.
The designation X- 39 was registered by the Air Force for a test program, which was never carried out according to current knowledge, so never got the name a flying machine. With the unmanned Boeing X -43A, the first scramjet engine arrived at the X - aircraft used, which is to be continued with the Boeing X -51.
The first helicopter with the X- identification was completed in 2007: The Sikorsky Piasecki X -49 flew on 29 June 2007 for the first time. The drone Boeing X-50, constructed similar to a helicopter, but with rigid wings for level flight, flew in 2003. DARPA wanted the X-50 as the first real 50/50-Hybrid from helicopters and fixed wing aircraft just the " 50 " as be given identification number can be, which is why the 50 was awarded before 49.
The X -53 ( the 52 remains free to avoid confusion with the B -52 program) is a modified F/A-18A, with the U.S. Air Force and NASA want to explore the principle of the active aeroelastic wing on.
The Lockheed Martin X -55 Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA ) new technologies are to be tested in order to achieve significant weight reductions and performance improvements in transport aircraft. It was rebuilt a Dornier 328Jet. The first flight was on June 2, 2009.
The youngest aircraft in the series is the unmanned Lockheed Martin X-56, which first flew in July 2013. The X-56 is testing new aerodynamic concepts, such as for chatter suppression in the foreground.
Aircraft with the status identifier X
The status code " X" is even of " experimental" derived, but it is facing the main letters and described the prototype status of an airplane type. Unlike airplanes with major number "X" as a designated type was not basic research, but should demonstrate the usability of a particular pattern, usually with the option of series production. The last numbers with an X prefix were awarded in 1962 for the XB- 70 and XC -142. Since then, the status identifier "Y " is used for prototypes.
X-1 X-2 • • • X-3 X-4 X-5 • • X • X -6 -7 -8 • X • X • X -9 -10 -11 • X • X • X- 12 • 13 X -14 X-15 • • • X-16 X -17 X-18 • • • X-19 X-20 X-21 • • • X-22 X -23 X-24 • • • X-25 X -26 X -27 • • • X -28 X -29 X-30 • • • X-31 X -32 X-33 • • • X-34 X-35 X -36 • • • X -37 X - • 38 X -40 X -41 • • • X -42 X -43 X -44 • • • X-45 X -46 X -47 • • • X -48 X -49 X-50 • • • X -51 X -53 X -54 • • • X -55 X-56
- X - Plane