Bell X-9 Shrike

The Bell Aircraft Corporation X-9 Shrike was a prototype surface-to-air, liquid-fueled guided missile that was a testbed for the nuclear-armed GAM-63 RASCAL. It is named after the bird shrike.

Thirty-one X-9 rockets were delivered, flying from April 1949 to January 1953. The program was used to gather aerodynamic and stability data, and to test guidance and propulsion systems.

None of the missiles survived testing. The only known remaining fragment of an X-9 is part of a vertical stabilizer, at the Larry Bell Museum in Mentone, Indiana.

Specifications (X-9)

General characteristics:

• Length: 22 ft 9 in (6.9 m)
• Wingspan: 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
• Diameter: 1 ft 10 in (0.56 m)
• Wing area: 70 ft² (6.5 m²)
• Weight (empty): 2,125 lb (964 kg)
• Weight (loaded): 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
• Propulsion: Bell XLR65-BA-1 liquid-fuel rocket engine, 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN) thrust

Performance:

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.0
• Range: 50 mi (80 km)
• Service ceiling: 12.3 mi (19.8 km)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Thrust/weight:

References

• American X-Vehicles PDF

Related content

Comparable aircraft:

Related Development: Bell GAM-63

See also:

• List of experimental aircraft