Bell X-16
| X-16 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| X-16 Mock-up | |
| Role | High altitude reconnaissance |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft Corporation |
| Primary user | United States Air Force (intended) |
| Number built | none completed |
The Bell X-16 was a high altitude reconnaissance jet aircraft designed in the United States in the 1950s. The designation of X-16 was a cover to try to hide the true nature of the aircraft mission from the Soviet Union during the Cold War.[1]
Development
During the second half of 1953, Fairchild, Bell, and Martin Aircraft conducted high altitude reconnaissance aircraft design studies for the United States Air Force under project MX-2147.[2] All three designs used Pratt & Whitney J57-19 engines. The Bell and Martin (B-57D) designs were chosen for further development. The Bell Model 67 design was designated the X-16. A full-scale X-16 mock-up was completed and one aircraft was partially completed. It was designed as a high altitude long-range reconnaissance aircraft.[3]
The X-16 design was breaking new ground with its design. Its wing was long (114.83 feet) with a high aspect ratio (11.9). It was significantly lighter and more flexible than usual jet aircraft wings. The entire aircraft was made as light as possible to fulfill its mission of a 3,000-mile unrefueled range at a 69,500 ft altitude.[2]
A total of 28 aircraft were ordered, but none were completed. The first X-16 was about 80 percent complete when the program was cancelled by the Air Force in favor of the Martin RB-57 in 1956. Although no X-16 was ever completed, it made contributions to aircraft design with its lightweight design. It was also a driving force behind the development of the high-altitude J57 jet engine that would later power the Lockheed U-2 and other aircraft.
Specifications (X-16, as designed)
Data from [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: one, pilot
- Length: 60 ft 10 in (18.55 m)
- Wingspan: 114 ft 10 in (35 m)
- Height: 17 ft 1 in (5.2 m)
- Wing area: 1,099 ft² (102.19 m²)
- Empty weight: 23,280 lb (10,582 kg)
- Loaded weight: 36,124 lb (16,420 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney J57-PW-37A turbojets, 10.000 lbf (45,20 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 480 knots (553 mph, 885 km/h)
- Range: 2,867 nm (3,319 mi, 5,310 km)
- Service ceiling: 71,832 ft (21,900 m)
- Wing loading: 33 lb/ft² (160 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 1:0.55
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Lockheed U-2
- Martin RB-57 Canberra
- Northrop N-165
- Northrop N-204
- Yakovlev Yak-25RV
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Jenkins, Dennis R., Tony Landis and Jay Miller. American X-Vehicles: An Inventory – X-1 to X-50 (Monographs in Aerospace History No. 31: Centennial of Flight Edition). Washington, D.C.: NASA SP-2003-4531, June 2003. Retrieved: 26 July 2009.
- Miller, Jay. Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works: The Official History. Leicester, UK: Aerofax, an imprint of Midland Publishing, 1995 (revised edition). ISBN 1-85780-037-0.
- Polmar, Martin. Spyplane: The U-2 History. St. Paul, Minnesota: Zenith Press, 2001. ISBN 0-7603-0957-4.