Lee[_2_]
April 27th 09, 12:36 PM
For avid readers and anyone else interested:
(Not you Waldo! You've probably got it already)
-------------------------
American X-vehicles: An inventory, X-1 to X-50 By Dennis R Jenkins
Publisher: NASA Publication 2003 | 63 Pages | ASIN: B0006RPZCA
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...
(book cover attached)
-----------------------------
Let me know. It is available in pdf.
(Not you Waldo! You've probably got it already)
-------------------------
American X-vehicles: An inventory, X-1 to X-50 By Dennis R Jenkins
Publisher: NASA Publication 2003 | 63 Pages | ASIN: B0006RPZCA
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...
(book cover attached)
-----------------------------
Let me know. It is available in pdf.