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X-Series |
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Prime Manu.
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UAV Designation
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Operational status
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Power plants
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Dimensions (m)
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Wieghts (kg)
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Datalink, comm frequency
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Engine
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Propulsion
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Wing span
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Wing area (§³)
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Length overall
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Height overall
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Wheel track
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Wheel base
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Wing aspect ratio
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Fuselage max width
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Weight empty
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Max fuel weight
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Max Payload
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Max T-O/launch weight
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Max level speed (kt)
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Cruising speed (kt)
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Loiter speed (kt)
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Stall speed (kt)
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Service Ceiling (ft)
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Max rate of climb (ft/min)
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Range (nm)
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Max Endurance (h)
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Bell
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Jan. 1946 | 1946 - 1958 | Supersonic flight | Rocket Powered plane, developed to investigate supersonic flight regime. It broke the sound barrier in 1947 with Chuck Yeager piloting. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1946 - 1958 | Supersonic flight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1946 - 1958 | Supersonic flight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1946 - 1958 | Supersonic flight | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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Aug. 1955 | 1955 - 1956 | Supersonic swept wing | Rocket powered plane, 1st Mach 3 flight, this was a swept wing X-1. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Douglas
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Cct. 1952 | 1953 - 1956 | Sustained flight at Mach 2+, low aspect ratio wings, titanium construction | Jet powered supersonic plane (couldn't fly supersonic in level flight) Stileetto. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Northrop
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Dec. 1948 | 1954 | Semi-tailless aircraft | Jet powered tailless transonic airplane. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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June 1951 | 1952 - 1955 | Variable sweep wings | First successful variable sweep airplane. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convair
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X-6
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This aircraft was to have been nuclear powered(never built) NB-36 did fly with a reactor. | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed
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X-7
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Apr. 1951 | Supersonic/ Hypersonic ramjet test bed missile. | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Aerojit
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X-8
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Nov. 1947 | Upper atmosphere research rocket (became the "Aerobee") | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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X-9
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May 1950 | Missile test bed (Mach 2 aerodynamics ), resulused for the development of the "Rascal" | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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North American
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X-10
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Oct. 1953 | 2nd phase of the R&D for the "Navaho" - later became target drones. | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prime Manu.
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UAV Designation
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Production status
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Operational status
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Power plants
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Dimensions (m)
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Wieghts (kg)
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Performance
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Comments
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Development
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Production
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Operation
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Program
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Purpose
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Launch, take-off type
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Recovery, landing type
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Manned
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System composite
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Datalink, comm frequency
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Engine
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Propulsion
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Wing span
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Wing area (§³)
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Length overall
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Height overall
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Wheel track
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Wheel base
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Wing aspect ratio
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Fuselage max width
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Weight empty
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Max fuel weight
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Max Payload
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Max T-O/launch weight
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Max level speed (kt)
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Cruising speed (kt)
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Loiter speed (kt)
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Stall speed (kt)
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Service Ceiling (ft)
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Max rate of climb (ft/min)
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Range (nm)
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Max Endurance (h)
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Convair
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X-11
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July 1948 | Rocket to test ICBM concepts (smaller than V- precursor to the Atlas missile program. | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Convair
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X-12
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A jet powered version of the X-11 (program canceled). | N | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ryan
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X-13
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Dec. 1956 | A pure jet "tailsitter" VTOL aircraft. | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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X-14
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Feb. 1957 | A deflected jet VTOL aircraft | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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North American
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June 1959 | 1959 - 1968 | Hypersonic flight at high altitude | Rocket powered hypersonic research airplane | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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X-16
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Proposed high altitude photo-recon plane (X designation a cover up ; lost competition to Lockheed U-2). | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed
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X-17
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Sept. 1956 | 3 stage solid propellant rocket built for retesting of warhead configurations. | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hiller
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X-18
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Nov. 1959 | A tilt-wing VTOL aircraft (never made the transition from haver to flight or vice versa | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Curtis-Wright
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X-19
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Oct. 1963 | A tilt-propeller VTOL aircraft (plane had sea for 4 passengers) | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boeing
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X-20
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A manned-recoverable orbital vehicle concept the "Dyna-Soar" (program canceled) | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Northrop
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X-21
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Apr. 1963 | Laminar flow control demonstration aircraft | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bell
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X-22
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Mar. 1966 | A tilt-ducted propeller V/STOL aircraft (wing tips also rotated) | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Martin
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X-23
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1967 | Unmanned lifting body concept demonstrator (unpowered). | N |
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Martin
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Apr. 1969 | 1969 - 1975 | Lifting body flight research | Rocket powered manned lifting body | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prime Manu.
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UAV Designation
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Operational status
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Power plants
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Dimensions (m)
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Comments
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Development
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Production
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Operation
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Program
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Purpose
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Launch, take-off type
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Recovery, landing type
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Manned
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System composite
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Datalink, comm frequency
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Engine
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Propulsion
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Wing span
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Wing area (§³)
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Length overall
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Height overall
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Wheel track
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Wheel base
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Wing aspect ratio
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Fuselage max width
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Weight empty
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Max fuel weight
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Max Payload
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Max T-O/launch weight
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Max level speed (kt)
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Cruising speed (kt)
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Loiter speed (kt)
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Stall speed (kt)
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Service Ceiling (ft)
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Max rate of climb (ft/min)
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Range (nm)
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Max Endurance (h)
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Bensen
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X-25
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1967 | Government designation for the Bensen gyroco | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed
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X-26
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July 1967 | Quiet-Recon; the Lockheed Q-Ster | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed
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X-27
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High performance fighter engine test bed (Lockheed's "Lancer"), Program canceled | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Osprey
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X-28
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Aug. 1970 | Government designation of the homebuilt "Osprey 1"; a small single engine flying boa | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Grumman
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14 Dec. 1984 | 1984 - 1992 | Forward Swept Wing | Forward swept wing demonstrator | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rockwell / etc.
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X-30
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NASP (never built) | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Rockwell/ etc.
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11 Oct. 1990 | 1992 - 1995 | Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability Demonstrator | Post-Stall Maneuver demonstrator | Y | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boeing
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X-32A
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28 Sep. 2000 | This is the Boeing JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) concept vehicle | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed Martin
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1996 - present | Advanced Technology Demonstrator | next generation reusable launch system awarded in 1996 | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Orbital Sci.
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1998 - present | Technology Testbed Demonstrator | new small payload launch system Phase 1, Mar. 1995 | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Lockheed Martin
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X-35A
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24 Oct. 2000 | This is the Lockheed Martin JSF (Joint Strike Fighter) concept vehicle | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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McDonnell (now Boeing)
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17 May 1997 | 1996 - present | Tailless Aircraft Research | Tailless (vertical) Aircraft Research UAV | Conventional runway take-off. | Conventional runway landing. | N | One 700 lb st Williams International F112 turbofan. | 3.175 | 5.55 | 0.95 | 491 | 73.5 | 565 | 160 | |||||||||||||||||||
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Boeing / NASA / USAF
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plan : 2002 | 1999 - present | Advanced Technology Demonstrator | Orbital Vehicle, launched inside the shuttle cargo bay, with autonomous landing after space maneuvering and advanced technol demonstrations (Av Wk, Aug. 9. 1999). | N | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prime Manu.
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UAV Designation
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Production status
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Operational status
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Power plants
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Dimensions (m)
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Wieghts (kg)
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Performance
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Comments
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Development
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Production
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Operation
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Program
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Purpose
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Launch, take-off type
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Recovery, landing type
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Manned
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System composite
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Datalink, comm frequency
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Engine
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Propulsion
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Wing span
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Wing area (§³)
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Length overall
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Height overall
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Wheel track
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Wheel base
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Wing aspect ratio
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Fuselage max width
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Weight empty
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Max fuel weight
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Max Payload
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Max T-O/launch weight
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Max level speed (kt)
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Cruising speed (kt)
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Loiter speed (kt)
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Stall speed (kt)
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Service Ceiling (ft)
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Max rate of climb (ft/min)
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Range (nm)
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Max Endurance (h)
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Scaled Composites
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Fall 1997 | 1996 - present | Experimental Crew Return Vehicle | Experimental demonstrator for a Crew Return Vehicle, it is dropped from a B-52 (X-24A derivative) | N | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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X-39
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Reserved of USAF Research Lab, Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements(FATE) Program. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boeing
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August 1998 | 1996 - present | Space Maneuvering Vehicle | Actually the X-40A, the USAF's Space Maneuver Vehicle, was dropped to validate autonomous landing | N | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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X-41/42
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Classified programs : X-41: maneuverable re-entry vehicle. X-42: experimental rocket / motor |
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Microcraft / GASL
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1996 - present | Unpiloted Hypersonic Research Vehicle | Formerly the Hyper-X program, a scramjet demonstrator vehicle (1st flt. late 2000 or early 2001) | N | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Boeing
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X-45A
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Rolled out Sept 27, 2000 at St. Louis. 1st flt : 2nd qtr 2001. | UCAV | Combat UAV for SEAD and other strike missions. | Conventional wheeled take-off. | Conventional wheeled landing. | N | One 6,300 lb st derivative of Honeywell F124 non-afterburning turbofan, possibly with thrust vectoring. | 10.31 | 8.08 | 2.03 | 3,629 | 1,361 | 6,804 | High subsonic | 20,000- 40,000 | 500- 1,000 | |||||||||||||||||
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1986 - 1988 | Rotor System Research Aircraft | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1967 - 1969 | Stability and handling of large delta-wing aircraft at high speed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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early 1950s | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Prime Manu.
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UAV Designation
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Production status
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Operational status
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Power plants
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Dimensions (m)
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Wieghts (kg)
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Performance
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Comments
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Development
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Production
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Operation
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Program
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Purpose
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Launch, take-off type
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Recovery, landing type
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Manned
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System composite
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Datalink, comm frequency
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Engine
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Propulsion
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Wing span
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Wing area (§³)
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Length overall
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Height overall
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Wheel track
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Wheel base
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Wing aspect ratio
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Fuselage max width
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Weight empty
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Max fuel weight
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Max Payload
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Max T-O/launch weight
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Max level speed (kt)
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Cruising speed (kt)
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Loiter speed (kt)
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Stall speed (kt)
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Service Ceiling (ft)
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Max rate of climb (ft/min)
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Range (nm)
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Max Endurance (h)
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1953 | Evaluate delta wing concept | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1980 - 1981 | Improve design and efficiency of rotorcraft using tilt rotors | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NASA/ USAF
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LoFLYTE
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Underway | Low-speed testbed for eventual hypersonic waverider aircraft. | Conventional wheeled take-off. | Conventional wheeled landing. | 35 lb st SWB Turvines miniature turbojet. | 1.58 | 2.10 | 2.54 | 0.61 | 1.2 | 31.75 | 250 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| First test flight in August 1996. | Operated by US AF (419th and 445th Flight Test Squadrons). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||