The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Chapter Chapter Chapter 5 5 5 - - - A AAviation:
A viation: F FFrom
FF
rom the the Cold Cold Cold W WWar
W ar to to Desert Desert Storm
Storm
In June of 1954, Yeager pushed the X-lA to a speed of 2.42 times the speed of sound (1,650 mph).
Testing with the X-1 aircraft continued until 1956.
One test included having the X-1B outfitted specifically to test the effects of frictional heating on
an airplane at very high speeds. This led to more tests with another experimental aircraft called the
X-2.
This X-2 was designed to study heating in flight at three times the speed of sound. It was similar to
the X-1, but had swept-back wings and a stainless steel airframe. Two of these aircraft were produced
and unfortunately both were destroyed in accidents during the test program.
During its final flight on September 27, 1956, the X-2 flew three times the speed of sound. It had
reached its design goal of Mach 3, but shortly thereafter, the X-2 disintegrated in flight killing the test
pilot, Captain Mel Apt. Captain Apt’s speed record of 2,094 mph, was not again approached until 1961.
The X-1 and X-2 series of aircraft were rocket powered. The next tests were done with the X-3,
which was a jet powered aircraft designed to break Mach 3, three times the speed of sound. The X-3
was built of titanium alloy to protect it from frictional heating. Originally, there were three prototypes
ordered from Douglas Aircraft, but only one was completed. The X-3 flew for the first time on
October 20, 1952. It made more than 20 experimental flights. Unfortunately, however, the X-3 never
flew Mach 3 because the jet engine did not have enough power.
The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was designed for aerodynamics, structural and other flight research in the Mach 2 range.
At the end of World War II, the United States captured the plans for the German Messerschmitt P-1101. The
Bell X-5 was based on these designs and was the world’s first aircraft with variable-angle wings.
131