Convair X-12

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The Convair X-12 being launched

The Convair X-12 was the second, more advanced testbed for the Atlas rocket program. It was designed with 3 engines, its predecessor the Convair X-11 used only one engine. It was powered by a 1.5 stage liquid-fuel rocket. Its first flight was in July, 1958.

[edit] Service history

The X-12 pioneered the use of 1.5 stage rocket engines that became a hallmark of the Atlas rocket program. It was also the first rocket to achieve a flight distance that could be considered intercontinental when it flew 6,325 miles (10,179 km).

According to a 2001 article in Code One Magazine by Lockheed, No X-12 was ever built or flown.

[edit] Specifications (X-12)

This aircraft article has not been updated to WikiProject Aircraft's current standards. Please see this page for more details.

[edit] General characteristics

Crew: Unmanned
Length: 103 ft 0 in (31.4 m)
Wingspan: m ( ft)
Diameter: 12 ft 0 in (3.66 m)
Wing area: m² ( ft²)
Empty: kg ( lb)
Loaded: kg ( lb)
Powerplant:2x North American standard XLR-43-NA-5 rockets (1/2 stage, jettisoned during launch phase) and 1x steerable (gimbled) XLR-43-NA-5 (main stage), kN (lbf) thrust