X-3 Stiletto, One Of The Sleekest Experimental Planes Ever Created. Exclusive Upscaled Footage
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was another of National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics’ (NACA) projects that was intended to test high-speed, low aspect ratio wing designs. It was a very ambitious aircraft that aimed to grow the USA’s knowledge of machines capable of Mach 2 flight.
The very first thing you will notice about the X-3 is her appearance. Traditional aircraft had relatively large wings in comparison to the fuselage. In this case, small stubby wings were attached to a rather elongated body. The wingspan measured just 22 ft 8 in (6.91 m) and a length of 66 ft 9 in (20.35 m).
This unusual shape earned the X-3 the nickname “Stiletto” - much like a stiletto knife or the heel of a stiletto shoe. Most certainly one of the sleekest aircraft ever produced by 1952, it looks fast even when not moving. It is clear the X-3 was intended to pierce through the sky like a dagger.
The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was a 1950s United States experimental jet aircraft with a slender fuselage and a long tapered nose, manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Its primary mission was to investigate the design features of an aircraft suitable for sustained supersonic speeds, which included the first use of titanium in major airframe components. Douglas designed the X-3 with the goal of a maximum speed of approximately 2,000 mph (3,200 km/h), but it was seriously underpowered for this purpose and could not even exceed Mach 1 in level flight. Although the research aircraft was a disappointment, Lockheed designers used data from the X-3 tests for the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter which used a similar trapezoidal wing design in a successful Mach 2 fighter.
The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was the sleekest of the early experimental aircraft, but its research accomplishments were not those originally planned. It was originally intended for advanced Mach 2 turbojet propulsion testing, but it fell largely into the category of configuration explorers, as its performance (due to inadequate engines) never met its original performance goals. The goal of the aircraft was ambitious-it was to take off from the ground under its own power, climb to high altitude, maintain a sustained cruise speed of Mach 2, then land under its own power. The aircraft was also to test the feasibility of low-aspect-ratio wings, and the large-scale use of titanium in aircraft structures. The design of the Douglas X-3 Stiletto is the subject of U.S. Design Patent #172,588 granted on July 13, 1954 to Frank N. Fleming and Harold T. Luskin and assigned to the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc.
Construction of a pair of X-3s was approved on 30 June 1949. During development, the X-3's planned Westinghouse J46 engines were unable to meet the thrust, size and weight requirements, so lower-thrust Westinghouse J34 turbojets were substituted, producing only 4,900 pounds-force (22 kilonewtons) of thrust with afterburner rather than the planned 7,000 lbf (31 kN). The first aircraft was built and delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, California, on 11 September 1952.
The first X-3 "hop" was made on 15 October 1952, by Douglas test pilot Bill Bridgeman. During a high-speed taxi test, Bridgeman lifted the X-3 off the ground and flew it about one mile (1.6 km) before settling back onto the lakebed. The official first flight was made by Bridgeman on 20 October and lasted about 20 minutes. He made a total of 26 flights (counting the hop) by the end of the Douglas tests in December 1953. These showed that the X-3 was severely underpowered and difficult to control; its takeoff speed was unusually high-260 knots (300 mph; 480 km/h). More seriously, the X-3 did not approach its planned top speed. Its first supersonic flight required that the airplane make a 15° dive to reach Mach 1.1. The X-3's fastest flight, made on 28 July 1953, reached Mach 1.208 in a 30° dive. A plan to re-engine the X-3 with rocket motors was considered but eventually dropped.
Specifications (X-3)
Douglas X-3 Stiletto 3 view diagram WIKI-EN NASA.png
Data from McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 Volume 1
General characteristics
Crew: 1
Length: 66 ft 9 in (20.35 m)
Wingspan: 22 ft 8 in (6.91 m)
Height: 12 ft 6 in (3.82 m)
Wing area: 166.5 sq ft (15.47 m2)
Aspect ratio: 3
Empty weight: 14,345 lb (6,507 kg)
Gross weight: 20,800 lb (9,435 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 22,400 lb (10,160 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Westinghouse XJ34-WE-17 afterburning turbojets, 3,370 lbf (15.0 kN) thrust each dry, 4,900 lbf (22 kN) with afterburner
Performance
Maximum speed: 613.5 kn (706.0 mph, 1,136.2 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
Maximum speed: Mach 0.987
Range: 432 nmi (497 mi, 800 km)
Endurance: 1 hour at 512.7 kn (590.0 mph; 949.5 km/h)at 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
Service ceiling: 38,000 ft (12,000 m) absolute
Rate of climb: 19,000 ft/min (97 m/s)
Wing loading: 124.9 lb/sq ft (610 kg/m2)
Thrust/weight: 0.476
#stiletto #airplane #aircraft
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As a kid, I loved this plane. It was so cool. Revell had a plastic model kit and I built one.
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Hang in there to watch an outstanding promotional film for the F104 -- amazing!
WINGS OF FREEDOM!!
The creativity of post WWII aircraft design is amazing. The limits of flight were largely unknown, and consequently it seems the designers operated with few rules or limits in the things they would try. A truly golden age of aviation advancement and innovation indeed.
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Dad was one of those test pilots who flew the new jet bombers into unknown flight parameters. These guys were giants.
Love the guys on the taxi way giving the finger to the pilot at 2:38, hahaha
I saw that too!! Lol 💖
The Stiletto was the first model kit I ever had as a kid.
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Same here
Yo también. Revell Lodela
The first model kit that I ever built as a kid, was the X-3 Stiletto. I thought that thing was so cool.
Ditto. Don't know what happened to mine & wish I still had it & all the other models. You can't get it today.
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FWIW, the X-3 is in the USAF museum's 4th hanger, not the 4th floor (there is no 4th floor). It sits under the wing of the XB-70, the Mach 3 bomber. The museum is an amazing place to visit!
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Visited this museum , incredible does not do it justice
@@daystatesniper01 and for anyone considering a visit, allow at least two days to get through the place without rushing. So many cool aircraft and displays!
It also never reached Mach 2, despite what the narrator said in the final line. Bizarre writing.
The USAF museum in Dayton Ohio is Amazing.
In a history of aviation I read that one test pilot called the X-3 the most dangerous plane he had ever flown and that was saying something when you look at what was in the hangars of Edwards AFB.
Actually, that is the redacted version of what he said. In fact, it was pretty damning and not for the faint-hearted. He hated the monstrosity with a passion.
Reminds me of the cartoon in mad magazine- spy vs spy!
The x3 was a very beautiful plane. As a child I built a model of it. Thank you for the video about it. I didn’t realise just how crappy and slow it was! All the best from Sydney Australia 🇦🇺
Glad you liked it Scott
@@Dronescapes to me the x3 was probably the most advanced design for its time, like the Concord. Although it failed to perform as desired, probably because jet engine design was not quite there, it would have contributed to the improved performance of later aircraft. Designers need to take many steps to get to the end product…and with aviation the end product seems to be only another step in producing better and safer aircraft. Thanks again for a very informative and thought provoking video.
The Stiletto was an amazing, if underperforming plane. Loved the footage of Kelly Johnson's Lawn Dart. Something special about the sound of a J-79.
"These aircraft spanned the gaunt..." I'm sure you meant "gauntlet" (or gantlet) but even that's not right. "The J46 would have raised the performance of the J34 from 49,000 pounds of thrust on afterburner to 7,000 which would've drastically increased overall power." What? The J34 delivered 4,900 pounds of thrust with afterburner. You shifted the decimal point.
I remember meeting General Frank "Pete" Everest when the Right Stuff Association had their reunion at the Air Force Museum in Dayton several years ago. He told me what it was like flying the Douglas X-3 Stelleto. He said it was the first aircraft to feature downward ejection because Douglas engineers didn't believe current ejection seats at that time would clear the high set vertical tail surface. It had an elevator that lifted you into the cockpit. Because it was so underpowered, it required a very long takeoff run and the tires would get so hot that they would throw tread off the tires causing the tires to fail. New tires were developed specifically for the X-3. Westinghouse did develop the intended J56 jet engines for the X-3, but unfortunately the engines grew too big to fit inside the X-3's airframe. So they were forced to put in a much lower thrust rated engine into the little bird that detracted from its performance drastically. The aluminum wings were machined from a single block of aluminum. He said it was one of the hardest airplanes he ever flew during his career. He said "it looked really good. It took forever to get the plane up to speed and altitude. It looked like a dagger ready to go."
Seriously, the WW2 preamble wasn't needed
But it was interesting
These guys were real men. Didn't phone in sick and just got on with the job at hand despite the insane risk levels involved. Test pilots flying into the unknown, I salute you!
@@hakanbergvall9777 "We're called AVIATORS"
They raised the engine thrust from 46,000 lbs to 7,000 lbs? 9:54
I heard that too & thought I had made a mistake.
Nice touch w the toiletseat bomb at 7:57
SBD stood for Scout Bomber Douglass. Small But Deadly was a nickname, something that should have been made clear.
We’ll take notes for the next time Raymond
The Stiletto is an interesting aircraft of U.S. Design a research plane two engines afterburners. I like the Skyray nice aircraft.
I've seen that one in the museum back in the 80's. Cool looking jet.
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Real nice looking jet she a beauty
"The 104 is easy on pilots" . . . aye, right . . .
It's look reminds me a little of the current low sonic boom test aircraft. It is interesting to see aircraft in the early jet age when designers and builders were making it up as they went along learning with each aircraft about what worked and what didn't
The X-3, never got to do what is was supposed to do, but showed what needed fixed to allow aircraft to advance with more safety.
Well said!
I think this is one of the most beautiful aircraft ever made. I have been a fan of this plane since the 70s. My other 2 favs are the F4 Phantom and the A-10 Thunderbolt - what genius thought calling it a land-based pig (Warthog) was indicative of ANYTHING that the A-10 is...maybe the 30mm gun sounds like the grunts of a Warthog?
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I’m really surprised by how modern that ‘X-3’ logo looks.
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I seem to remember seeing the X3 on outdoor display at Lackland AFB in November or December of 63
Really Neat! The exhaust tunnel behind the engines was extremely long. I wonder if the Westinghouse Engine was longer and would have filled the space. It looked to me like the exhaust tunnel provided a test bed for novel propulsion systems. I see in the documentary that the picture of the original schematic stops at the air inlets and does not display the tunnel?
Nice!
Thank you! Cheers!
I had a model of this craft as a kid. It looked like something out of Star Wars
At exactly 2:48 you can see 70+ year old footage of a guy flipping the bird to a jet flying by.
You can make a brick fly if you throw it hard enough. But, what a beautiful brick it was. I got to see it up close at Wright Patt.
Gorgeous airplane, beautiful design.
It really is!
It looks like a prehistoric mosquito 🦟, gives me the heebeegeebees
Walker made another 10 X-3 flights after that thing tried to kill him? Now that's a test pilot.
It cracks me up every time I hear it was underpowered. Like going Mach 2 will solve inertial coupling.
@@cowboybob7093 The X-3’s problem was an undersized tail.
The X-3 was why the F-104 had the tail arrangement that it had - bigger vertical tail and elevators clear of the wing wake.
@@allangibson8494 Supporting your assessment, larger tail adds more drag to an already struggling aircraft / engine combination. My guess is it came down to whether to fund the changes. Its empennage is dinky compared to the Starfighter's. Maybe the design concept was it would have enough authority by being placed so far behind the COG.
@@cowboybob7093 The problem is that supersonic operations have different airflow regimes to deal with compared to subsonic operations. Structural flexibility from long booms is part of that too but pretty much all aircraft got bigger tails as they got faster during WW2. Lack of control authority in transonic ranges was a consistent tale in pretty much all of them.
The X-3 never got the engine power it was supposed to have either…
dang, soaringvulture - I've always seen your factor, 100%
anyway, it's a great photo I indicated, freaking planiform, and likely you've admired yourself - happy 2023, old school's cool etc.
I remember it being dubbed the fastest looking slow airplane.
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Interesting ordinance loaded at 7:57!
9:50 "This would have raised the power from 49,000 pounds of thrust on afterburner to 7,000 pounds..." Thinking you meant 70,000 pounds?
Needs to be up graded with more powerful jet engine sweeping movable wings
Father of the widowmaker
I'm was always confused when I place a decibel on a check. Thank the Lord that my bank usually caught my mistakes in time. My bank also suggested that I use a Debit card instead of checks. My bank also suggested that I sign-up for direct pay. Haven't had this problem since then. I heard a rumor that we suggested that foreign nations only allow single pilots to fly the F-104. Our government knows how to handle issues with new projects. It's called the throw more money at it until it works.
I wonder how it would perform with a more powerful engine.
Love the X3 part of the video. Certainly ground breaking design. I just get riled with the F104 video propaganda video. Germany certainly bought it believing it to be an all weather fighter. A lot of families were ruined due to this plane. It rightfully got the nickname as the widow maker. It was a record breaking plane but unlike the video it did come with a lot of vices. (I do admit it looked really cool when I was 7-11 before I learnt its history and its politics )
16:43 wow
Postwar American X-Plane design is just does it look faster than than soviets
it looks like something you don't want to hold and run around the house with.... 2:38 dude flipped off the pilot.
the error @ 9:57
Johnny Quest! Lol
Westingouse again dropped the ball, not being able to deliver the engine they promissed. It was a fortelling of the very bad things that would follow, especially in the reactor industry. The AP-1000 fiasco ended Westinghouse, a Chinese corporation bought their name. So the X-3 was a complete failure, it couldn't go supersonic, although the F-104 was based on things learned from this failure.
It's interesting that high speed was the main concern of 50's fighter jets.
Too bad, it was a beautiful aircraft. I had a model of it when i was a kid.
Easy on pilots...
The SBD wasn't flown by the Air Corps. It was flown by the Navy.
el su-47 es mas hermoso
🇺🇲🇺🇸❤️❣️👍🤗😁😀😎
It’s problem was the lack of a powerful engine.
That was a exceptionally bright comment.
That thing is a pile of turd! 🤏🤣💩
...what looks good, flies good...! 🙂👍
...but the X-3 is the exception of the rule...! 🙁👎
I guess someone forgot the title widow maker for the 104.
it didn't go very fast but it looked cool
Unfortunately apparently the X-3 was way under powered to its potential.