List of X-planes

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Bell X-1-2 BellX-1.jpeg
Bell X-1-2

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 within the US system of aircraft designations, which denotes the experimental research mission.

Contents

Not all US experimental aircraft have been designated as X-planes; some received US Navy designations before 1962, [1] while others have been known only by manufacturers' designations, [N 1] non-'X'-series designations, [N 2] or classified codenames. [N 3] This list only includes the designated X-planes.

History

The X-planes concept officially came into being in 1944, as a joint programme between the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the US Navy (USN) and the US Army Air Force (USAAF), in order to pursue research into high-speed aircraft. [2] NACA later became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the USAAF became the United States Air Force (USAF). Other organizations such as the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Marine Corps (USMC) have also since sponsored X-plane projects.

The first experimental aircraft specification, for a transonic rocket plane, was placed in 1945, and the first operational flight of an X-plane took place when the Bell X-1 made its first powered flight nearly three years later at Muroc Air Force Base, California, now known as Edwards Air Force Base. [3] The majority of X-plane testing has since taken place there. [4]

X-planes have since accomplished many aviation "firsts" including breaking speed and altitude barriers, varying wing sweep in flight, implementing exotic alloys and propulsion innovations, and many more. [2]

New X-planes appeared fairly regularly for many years until the flow temporarily stopped in the early 1970s. A series of experimental hypersonic projects, including an advanced version of the Martin Marietta X-24 lifting body, were turned down. Eventually issues with the Rockwell HiMAT advanced UAV led to a crewed X-plane with forward sweep, the Grumman X-29, which flew in 1984. [5]

Some of the X-planes have been well publicized, while others, such as the X-16, have been developed in secrecy. [6] The first, the Bell X-1, became well known in 1947 after it became the first aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. [7] Later X-planes supported important research in a multitude of aerodynamic and technical fields, but only the North American X-15 rocket plane of the early 1960s achieved comparable fame to that of the X-1.[ citation needed ] X-planes 8, 9, 11, 12, and 17 were actually missiles [8] used to test new types of engines, and some other vehicles were unoccupied or UAVs (some were remotely flown, some were partially or fully autonomous).

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 Lightning II. [9]

List

In the list, the date is that of the first flight, or of cancellation if it never flew.

List of X-planes
ImageTypeManufacturerAgencyDateRoleNotes
Bell X-1 46-062 (in flight).jpg X-1 Bell USAF, NACA 1946High-speed and high-altitude flightFirst aircraft to break the sound barrier in level flight. Proved aerodynamic viability of thin wing sections. [10]
Bell X-1A.jpg X-1A X-1B X-1C X-1D BellUSAF, NACA1951High-speed and high-altitude flight
Joe Walker X-1E.jpg X-1E BellUSAF, NACA1955High-speed and high-altitude flight
X-2 After Drop from B-50 Mothership - GPN-2000-000396.jpg X-2 BellUSAF1952High-speed and high-altitude flightFirst aircraft to exceed Mach 3. [11]
Douglas X-3 NASA E-17348.jpg X-3 Stiletto Douglas USAF, NACA1952Highly loaded trapezoidal wing Titanium alloy construction; Underpowered, but provided insights into inertia coupling. [12]
Northrop-X4-Bantam.jpg X-4 Bantam Northrop USAF, NACA1948 Transonic tailless aircraft [13]
Bell-X5-Multiple.jpg X-5 BellUSAF, NACA1951 variable geometry First aircraft to fly with variable wing sweep. [14]
NB-36H producing contrails in flight.jpg X-6 Convair USAF, AEC 1957 Nuclear Propulsion Not built. The Convair NB-36H experiment, a B-36 modified to carry (but not powered by) a nuclear reactor, flew from 1955 to 1957. [15] [16]
X-7 USAF.jpg X-7 Lockheed USAF, USA, USN1951 Ramjet engines. [17]
AerojetX8.jpg X-8 Aerobee Aerojet NACA, USAF, USN1949Upper air research [18] Later models used as sounding rockets.
Bell X-9 trailer.jpg X-9 Shrike BellUSAF1949Guidance and propulsion technologyAssisted development of GAM-63 Rascal missile. [19]
North American X-10 runway.jpg X-10 North American USAF1953 SM-64 Navajo missile testbed. [20]
X-11 ConvairUSAF1953Proposed SM-65 Atlas missile testbed. [21]
X-12 ConvairUSAF1953Proposed SM-65 Atlas missile testbed. [22]
Ryan X-13.jpg X-13 Vertijet Ryan USAF, USN1955 Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) tailsitting VTOL flight. [23]
Bell X-14 colour ground.jpg X-14 BellUSAF, NASA1957VTOL Vectored thrust configuration for VTOL flight. [24]
X-15 in flight.jpg X-15 North AmericanUSAF, NASA1959 Hypersonic, high-altitude flightFirst crewed hypersonic aircraft; capable of suborbital spaceflight. [25]
X-15A2 NB-52B 3.jpg X-15A-2 North AmericanUSAF, NASA1964 Hypersonic, high-altitude flightMajor Pete Knight flew the X-15A-2 to a Mach 6.70, making it the fastest piloted flight of the X-plane program.
Bell X-16.jpg X-16 BellUSAF1954High-altitude reconnaissance [26] "X-16" designation used to hide true purpose. [27] Canceled and never flew.
Lockheed X-17 horizontal.jpg X-17 LockheedUSAF, USN1956High Mach number reentry. [28]
Hiller X-18 testplatformLarge.jpg X-18 Hiller USAF, USN1959Vertical and/or short take-off and landing (V/STOL)Evaluated the tiltwing concept for VTOL flight. [29]
Curtiss-Wright X-19 flying.jpg X-19 Curtiss-Wright Tri-service1963 Tandem tiltrotor VTOL [30] XC-143 designation requested but turned down. [31]
NASA Color Dyna Soar.jpg X-20 Dyna-Soar Boeing USAF1963Reusable spaceplane Intended for military missions. [32] Canceled and never built.
X21A.jpg X-21A NorthropUSAF1963 Boundary layer control [33]
X-22a onground bw.jpg X-22 BellTri-service1966Quad ducted fan tiltrotor STOVL [34]
X23 PRIME.JPG X-23 PRIME Martin Marietta USAF1966Maneuvering atmospheric reentry [35] Designation never officially assigned. [31]
X24.jpg X-24A Martin MariettaUSAF, NASA1969Low-speed lifting body [36]
X-24b-flying.jpg X-24B Martin MariettaUSAF, NASA1973Low-speed lifting body [37]
X-25.jpg X-25 Bensen USAF1955Commercial light autogyro for downed pilots. [38]
X-26 sailplane.jpg QT-2PCs in STAAF, RVN Hangar c1968.jpg X-26 Frigate Schweizer DARPA, US Army, USN1967Training glider for yaw-roll coupling Quiet observation aircraft [39]
X-27 mockup.jpg X-27 LockheedNone1971high-performance research aircraft. High-performance fighter [40] Proposed development of Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer. Canceled and never flew.
X-28 on ground.jpg X-28 Sea Skimmer Osprey USN1970Low-cost aerial policing seaplane [41]
Grumman-X29-InFlight.jpg X-29 Grumman DARPA, USAF, NASA1984 Forward-swept wing [42]
X-30 NASP 2.jpg X-30 NASP Rockwell NASA, DARPA, USAF1993 Single-stage-to-orbit spaceplane [43] Canceled and never built.
Rockwell-MBB X-31 landing.JPG X-31 Rockwell-MBBDARPA, USAF, BdV 1990 Thrust vectoring supermaneuverability [44]
X-32A BoeingUSAF, USN, USMC, RAF 2000 Joint Strike Fighter [45]
USAF X32B 250.jpg X-32B 2001
X-33 Venture Star in Orbit.jpg X-33 Lockheed Martin NASA2001Half-scale reusable launch vehicle prototype. [46] Prototype never completed.
Orbital Sciences X34.jpg X-34 Orbital Sciences NASA2001Reusable pilotless spaceplane. [47] Never flew.
X-35.jpg X-35A Lockheed MartinUSAF, USN, USMC, RAF 2000 Joint Strike Fighter [48]
X-35B Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.tif X-35B2001First in family to use VTOL. Also used unconventional mode of lift engine (lift fan).
Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.jpg X-35C2000
Boeing-X36-InFlight.jpg X-36 McDonnell Douglas NASA199728% scale tailless fighter [49]
Boeing X-37B inside payload fairing before launch.jpg X-37 BoeingUSAF, USSF, NASA2010Reusable orbital spaceplane [50] Drop test performed in 2006. Seven flights to space since 22 April 2010
ISS Crew Return Vehicle.jpg X-38 Scaled Composites NASA1998Lifting body Crew Return Vehicle [51]
X-39 UnknownUSAFFuture Aircraft Technology Enhancements (FATE) program. [52] Designation never officially assigned. [31]
Boeing X40A.jpg X-40A BoeingUSAF, NASA199880% scale Space Maneuver Vehicle X-37 prototype. [53]
Early CAV concept 1997-98 NSSRM.jpg X-41 UnknownUSAFManeuvering re-entry vehicle. [54]
X-42 UnknownUSAFExpendable liquid propellant upper-stage rocket. [55]
X-43 NASA.jpg X-43 Hyper-X Micro-Craft NASA2001Hypersonic Scramjet [56]
X-44 Manta artistic impression.JPG X-44 MANTA Lockheed MartinUSAF, NASA2000 F-22-based Multi-Axis No-Tail Aircraft thrust vectoring [57] Canceled, never flew.
Boeing X-45A UCAV.jpg X-45 BoeingDARPA, USAF2002 Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) [58]
X46.jpg X-46 BoeingDARPA, USN2003 Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV). [59] Naval use. Canceled, never flew.
X-47A rollout.jpg X-47A Pegasus Northrop GrummanDARPA, USN2003 Unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) [60] Naval use.
X-47B operating in the Atlantic Test Range (modified).jpg X-47B Northrop GrummanDARPA, USN2011UCAVNaval use.
X-47C Northrop GrummanUSAFManned bomberProposal for a new-generation strategic bomber. Design only.
ED06-0198-62.jpg X-48 BoeingNASA2007 Blended Wing Body (BWB) [61]
Piasecki X-49A.jpg X-49 SpeedHawk Piasecki US Army2007 Compound helicopter Vectored Thrust Ducted Propeller (VTDP) testbed. [62]
X-50 Dragonfly BoeingDARPA2003 Canard Rotor/Wing [63]
X51waverider.jpg X-51 Waverider BoeingUSAF2010 [64] Hypersonic scramjet [65]
X-52Number skipped to avoid confusion with Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. [31]
X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing NASA test aircraft EC03-0039-1.jpg X-53 BoeingNASA, USAF2002Active Aeroelastic Wing [66]
X-54 Gulfstream NASALow-noise supersonic transport [67] in development.
Lockheed Martin X-55 ACCA 001.jpg X-55 Lockheed MartinUSAF2009Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA) [68]
Lockheed Martin X-56A.jpg X-56 Lockheed MartinUSAF/NASA2013Active flutter suppression and gust load alleviationPart of the high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) reconnaissance aircraft program. [69]
X57-Maxwell-CGI.jpg X-57 Maxwell ESAero/Tecnam NASA2023Low emission plane powered entirely by electric motors [70] Part of NASA's Scalable Convergent Electric Propulsion Technology Operations Research project [70] (SCEPTOR). Cancelled in 2023, never flew.
X-58Number skipped; slot apparently assigned to Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie. [71]
NASA's X-59 Sits on Ramp (AFRC2023-0198-03).jpg X-59 Quesst Lockheed MartinNASA2024Prototype quiet supersonic transport aircraft [72]
X-60 Generation Orbit Launch Services USAF Air-launched rocket for hypersonic flight research [73]
GremlinsFlightTestNovember2019.jpg X-61 Gremlins Dynetics DARPA2020Air-launched and air-recoverable reconnaissance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) [74] [75]
X-62 VISTA.jpg X-62 VISTA Lockheed Martin/CalspanUSAF2021Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft.First flew in 1993 as the NF-16D (for the MATV program). Designated the X-62A during a major research system upgrade in 2021. Assigned to the USAF Test Pilot School. [76]
X-63Number skipped
X-64Number skipped
X-65 by DARPA.jpg X-65 CRANE Aurora Flight Sciences DARPA2025Control of Revolutionary Aircraft with Novel Effectors [77]
TTBW concept.jpg X-66 Boeing NASA2028Transonic Truss-Braced Wing [78]

See also

Notes

  1. For example, the Piasecki PA-97
  2. For example, the NASA AD-1 and Bell XV-15
  3. For example, the Northrop Tacit Blue

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American XB-70 Valkyrie</span> Prototype supersonic strategic bomber

The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie is a retired prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration supersonic strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. Designed in the late 1950s by North American Aviation (NAA) to replace the aging B-52 Stratofortress and B-58 Hustler, the six-engined, delta-winged Valkyrie could cruise for thousands of miles at Mach 3+ while flying at 70,000 feet (21,000 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American X-15</span> Rocket-powered aircraft and spaceplane operated by the US Air Force and NASA

The North American X-15 is a hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the X-plane series of experimental aircraft. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the 1960s, crossing the edge of outer space and returning with valuable data used in aircraft and spacecraft design. The X-15's highest speed, 4,520 miles per hour, was achieved on 3 October 1967, when William J. Knight flew at Mach 6.7 at an altitude of 102,100 feet (31,120 m), or 19.34 miles. This set the official world record for the highest speed ever recorded by a crewed, powered aircraft, which remains unbroken.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar</span> Research spaceplane by Boeing

The Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar was a United States Air Force (USAF) program to develop a spaceplane that could be used for a variety of military missions, including aerial reconnaissance, bombing, space rescue, satellite maintenance, and as a space interceptor to sabotage enemy satellites. The program ran from October 24, 1957, to December 10, 1963, cost US$660 million, and was cancelled just after spacecraft construction had begun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northrop YF-23</span> Prototype fighter aircraft for the US Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter program

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed YF-12</span> American prototype interceptor aircraft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">NASA X-43</span> Unmanned US experimental supersonic aircraft, 1991-2000

The NASA X-43 was an experimental unmanned hypersonic aircraft with multiple planned scale variations meant to test various aspects of hypersonic flight. It was part of the X-plane series and specifically of NASA's Hyper-X program developed in the late 1990s. It set several airspeed records for jet aircraft. The X-43 is the fastest jet-powered aircraft on record at approximately Mach 9.6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA</span> Conceptual aircraft design by Lockheed Martin

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grumman X-29</span> 1984 experimental aircraft family by Grumman

The Grumman X-29 was an American experimental aircraft that tested a forward-swept wing, canard control surfaces, and other novel aircraft technologies. The X-29 was developed by Grumman, and the two built were flown by NASA and the United States Air Force. The aerodynamic instability of the X-29's airframe required the use of computerized fly-by-wire control. Composite materials were used to control the aeroelastic divergent twisting experienced by forward-swept wings, and to reduce weight. The aircraft first flew in 1984, and two X-29s were flight tested through 1991.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonnell Douglas X-36</span> Type of aircraft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph A. Walker</span> American test pilot

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed D-21</span> 1962 American Mach 3+ reconnaissance drone

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed YF-22</span> Prototype fighter aircraft for the US Air Force Advanced Tactical Fighter program

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing X-48</span> Airplane

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Osprey Osprey I</span> Type of aircraft

The Osprey GP2 Osprey, also known as the Air Skimmer, Sea Skimmer, or Pereira GP2 Osprey, was a single-seat flying boat designed by Eut Tileston under contract to George Pereira, a private builder. After the release of Pereira's amphibious Osprey II some years later, this aircraft became known retrospectively as the Osprey I. The original plane was designed to be water launched only. Initial test flights were performed in the Sacramento Delta. A single example was evaluated by the United States Navy as the X-28. Pereira formed Osprey Aircraft to market the plans to homebuilders, including plans for a trailer that allows the pilot to launch and recover the aircraft single-handed. These plans are still marketed by Osprey Aircraft as of March 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockwell X-30</span> US NASA & DOD hypersonic project in 1986–1993

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">DARPA Falcon Project</span> US program to develop a hypersonic weapon

The DARPA FALCON Project was a two-part joint project between the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the United States Air Force (USAF) and is part of Prompt Global Strike. The first part of the project aimed to develop a Small Launch System (SLS) capable of accelerating hypersonic gliding weapons as well as launching small satellites into Earth orbit. The second part of the project aimed to develop Hypersonic Weapon Systems (HWS): a short term high performance hypersonic gliding weapon previously named the X-41 Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) that could be launched from Expendable Launch Vehicles (ELV), Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLVs), Hypersonic Cruise Vehicles (HCV), or Space Maneuvering Vehicles (SMP), and a long term hypersonic cruise aircraft named the Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle (HCV). This two-part program was announced in 2003 and continued into 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing X-51 Waverider</span> Unmanned hypersonic experimental aircraft

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed L-301</span> Type of aircraft

Lockheed L-301 was an experimental air-breathing hypersonic aircraft project. It was developed by the NASA and United States Air Force (USAF) organization National Hypersonic Flight Research Facility, with Skunk Works as the prime contractor. In January 1977, the program was "tentatively scheduled to operate two vehicles for eight years and to conduct 100 flights per vehicle." NASA discontinued work on L-301 and NHRF in September 1977 due to budget constraints and lack of need.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed Martin X-55</span> Experimental aircraft

The Lockheed Martin X-55 Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA) is an experimental twinjet transport aircraft. It is intended to demonstrate new air cargo-carrier capabilities using advanced composite materials. A project of the United States Air Force's Air Force Research Laboratory, it was built by the international aerospace company Lockheed Martin, at its Advanced Development Programs facility in Palmdale, California.

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