For a while, it seemed the series of experimental aircraft sponsored by the U.S. government had run its course. Between the late 1940s and the late 1970s, almost thirty designations had been allocated to aircraft meant to explore new flight regimes or untried technologies. Then, largely, it ended. But there was a resurgence in the mid- to late- 1990s, and as we enter the fourth year of the new millennia, the designations are up to X-50.

American X-Vehicles: An Inventory X-1 to X-50 Centennial of Flight Edition

History

Miller, Jay

Jenkins, Dennis R.

Landis, Tony

Military

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

For a while, it seemed the series of experimental aircraft sponsored by the U. S. government had run its course. Between the late 1940s and the late 1970s, almost thirty designations had been allocated to aircraft meant to explore new flight regimes or untried technologies. Then, largely, it ended. But there was a resurgence in the mid- to late1990s, and as we enter the fourth year of the new millennia, the designations are up to X-50. Many have a misconception that X-vehicles have always explored the high-speed and high-altitude flight regimes—something popularized by Chuck Yeager in the original X-1 and the exploits of the twelve men that flew the X-15. Although these flight regimes have always been in the spotlight, many others have been explored by X-vehicles. The little Bensen X-25 never exceeded 85 mph, and others were limited to speeds of several hundred mph. There has been some criticism that the use of X designations has been corrupted somewhat by including what are essentially prototypes of future operational aircraft, especially the two JSF demonstrators. But this is not new—the X-11 and X-12 from the 1950s were going to be prototypes of the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile, and the still-born Lockheed X-27 was always intended as a prototype of a production aircraft. So although this practice does not represent the best use of “X” designations, it is not without precedent.

American X-Vehicles: An Inventory - X-1 to X-50: Centennial of Flight Edition (The NASA History Series)

Administration, National Aeronautics and Space

World

The United States Air Force was late in developing a jet fighter, definitely behind Germany and the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, a small number of Lockheed P-80 Shooting Stars did make it to the European and Mediterraneantheaters of operations before VE Day, although they did not see combat. After the war, the sheer size of the U.S. aviation industry d that American fighters would soon dominate the skies. However, the state of the art was advancing so fast that many development efforts never resulted in production aircraft; concepts that had seemed reasonable, even ideal, at the time were quickly overcome by newer and better technology. In the United States alone, several dozen different fighter designs made it to the prototype stage during the 1950s and 1960s. In this book, Dennis R. Jenkins and Tony R. Landis look at the variety of different jet-fighter concepts developed by the U.S. Air Force after World War II. These pages cover all experimental and prototype

Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters (Specialty Press)

Jenkins, Dennis

Specialty Press

The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was an attempt to build the ultimate offensive weapon fo the Cold War - a heavy bomber capable of flying at Mach 3 and reaching targets deep inside the Soviet Union. The aircraft that emerged was one of the most graceful large aircraft ever to fly, and one that looked everybit as fast on the ground as it ws in the air - over 2,00 mph at high altitude. It was years ahead of its time. But politics and changing requirements ultimately doomed the Valkyrie program to only two aircraft. Neighter was a true prototype of a weapons system, and instead was used to test the concept of such a large aircraft flying so fast.The authors have uncovered a great deal of new matierial on the XB-70 program - both on the aircraft as flown, and on what the proposed production aircraft would have looked like had they been built. Many never-before-seen photographs and drawings are included in the book. Details of the defensive perspective with the politics and economic realities that caused its cancellation. The photos in this edition are black and white.

North American Xb-70a Valkyrie - Warbird Tech Vol 34

Engineering & Transportation

Transportation

Covering one of the most radical and highly developed helicopters ever produced, this volume describes the evolution and eventual failures of the AH-56A Cheyenne. Contains detailed accounts of structural breakup in wind tunnels, factory tech photos and cutaway views, propulsion and weapons system details, rigid rotor explanation, and more. The photos in this edition are black and white.

Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne-WBT V. 27