The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Swept-back wings of a jet aircraft are very important. They are more efficient at high speeds and,
in fact, are almost a requirement for supersonic flight. They do have one problem, however, the
swept-back wings do not produce enough lift at low speeds to keep the aircraft flying. This means that
the takeoff and landing speeds of the swept-wing jet are much higher than ones with straight wings.
One solution to this problem is to be able to change the wing of the aircraft from straight wings for
takeoff and landing to swept-back wings for high-speed flight. The X-5 was built to test this theory
and provide the answers necessary to build variable-wing aircraft.
Two models of the X-5 were built, and the first flight was on June 20, 1951. The first prototype
crashed in 1953, killing the test pilot Major Raymond Y. Popson. The second aircraft flew for several
years and provided the knowledge necessary to build swept-wing aircraft like the F-111, F-14, and the
B-1.
In summary, research and development made some
outstanding contributions to air power and continues to do so
today. The testing conducted in the 1950s led to many superior
aircraft that eventually became operational aircraft that met
the ultimate test, combat.
One example is the F-100 series of aircraft. In 1953, the
F-100 Super Sabre flew for the first time at Edwards Air Force
Base, California. This aircraft was the first in a line of superior
aircraft, and was the world’s first production supersonic
fighter.
F-106 Delta Dart
132
F-100 SERIES OF SUPERSONIC
FIGHTERS
Name Date
F-100 Super Sabre 1953
F-101 Voodoo 1953
F-102 Delta Dagger 1953
F-104 Starfighter 1954
F-105 Thunderchief l955
F-106 Delta Dart 1956
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter