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Official Photos- NASA Dryden - Page 3
This page contains photos of aircraft flown at NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility, past and present. All North Spin photographs are Copyright © by the photographers that took them, and are not to be re-posted or redistributed.

Subject: X-1-1 - AFFTC/NACA #46-0062 (Ship 1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1947
Credit: NASA

Notes: This X-1 was nicknamed "Glamorous Glennis" by Chuck Yeager in honor of his wife. X-1-1 was the first of three X-1's built by Bell.

Subject: X-1-2 - AFFTC/NACA #46-0063 (Ship 2) - NACA #?
Location: South Base - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1951
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1-2 was the second X-1 delivered, and flew until 10/23/1951, which included 74 powered and un-powered flights, with nine different pilots.

Subject: X-1-2 - AFFTC/NACA #46-0063 (Ship 2) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1949
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1 aircraft were originally designated XS-1 for 'Experimental Supersonic'. All three aircraft were delivered in white paint.


Subject: X-1A - AFFTC/NACA #48-1384 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 7/?/1955
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1A was similar to the X-1 series aircraft. Visual differences were a new canopy and longer fuselage. Due to the extreme cold of the liquid oxygen and its effect on paint, a bare metal section was used over the propellant tank.

Subject: X-1A - AFFTC/NACA #48-1384 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1955
Credit: NASA

Notes: During a test flight that NACA test pilot Joe Walker was to have made on 7/20/1955, an explosion damaged the X-1A while still connected to the JTB-29A mother-ship. The X-1A was jettisoned and destroyed.


Subject: X-1B - AFFTC/NACA #48-1385 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1956
Credit: NASA

Notes: The Bell X-1B had better propulsion, greater fuel capacity, a more traditional cockpit and canopy, and was almost 5' longer than the original X-1.

Subject: X-1B - AFFTC/NACA #48-1385 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1956
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1B completed a total of 27 powered and un-powered flights, by eight USAF test pilots and two NACA test pilots.


Subject: X-1E - AFFTC/NACA #46-0063 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1955
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1E was the X-1-2 rebuilt with a thinner wing, stepped canopy, and low-pressure fuel system. It flew through 1958 at the center, and was the last of the X-1 series aircraft to be tested.

Subject: X-1E - AFFTC/NACA #46-0063 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1988
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-1E was eventually mounted in front of the Dryden main administration building.


Subject: X-2 - AFFTC/NACA #46-0675 (Ship #2) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1952
Credit: NASA

Notes: Bell aircraft built two X-2 swept-wing aircraft, that were designed to exceed Mach 3. #46-0674 was the #1 ship, and #46-0675 was the #2 ship.


Subject: X-3 - AFFTC/NACA #49-2892 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1956
Credit: NASA

Notes: Douglas built two X-3 "Stiletto" aircraft. #49-2893 was ship #2.

Subject: X-3 - AFFTC/NACA #49-2892 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1955
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-3 was intended for sustained flight research above Mach 2, but due to the use of underpowered Westinghouse J34 turbojet engines, it never exceeded Mach 1 in level flight.


Subject: X-4 - AFFTC/NACA #46-0676 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 8/?/1950
Credit: NASA

Notes: The Northrop X-4 Bantam was a swept-wing design that lacked vertical stabs, and was built to investigate such a configuration at transonic speeds. Two aircraft were built, #46-0677 being the second.


Subject: X-5 - AFFTC/NACA #50-1838 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1952
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-5 was the first aircraft capable of sweeping its wings in flight.

Subject: X-5 - AFFTC/NACA #50-1838 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 1/?/1952
Credit: NASA

Notes: Two X-5's were built by Bell... Ship #1 (50-1838) was flown at the NACA from 1951 to 1955. Ship #2 (50-1839) was operated by Bell and the USAF.


Subject: X-15-1 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6670 (Ship #1) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1960
Credit: NASA

Notes: The three combined North American built X-15's made a total of 199 test flights throughout the program.


Subject: X-15A-2 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6671 (Ship #2) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1965
Credit: NASA

Notes: #671 was the second of three X-15 aircraft built by North American. The aircraft is pictured here with two external fuel tanks, which were added during its conversion to the X-15A-2 configuration in the mid-1960's.

Subject: X-15A-2 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6671 (Ship #2) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 6/21/1967
Credit: NASA

Notes: The #2 ship is pictured after receiving a full-scale ablative coating, which would protect the aircraft from the high temperatures in supersonic flight. This ablative coating was used when the #2 aircraft reached a record speed of 4,520 mph (Mach 6.7).

Subject: X-15A-2 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6671 (Ship #2) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 6/26/1967
Credit: NASA

Notes: Days after receiving a full-scale ablative coating, a white sealer coating was then applied to the aircraft.


Subject: X-15-3 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6672 (Ship #3) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1961
Credit: NASA

Notes: Ship #3 made 65 flights during the program, attaining a top speed of Mach 5.65 and a maximum altitude of 354,200 feet.

Subject: X-15-3 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6672 (Ship #3) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1962
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-15-3 was destroyed during a flight on 11/15/1967, resulting in the death of Maj. Michael J. Adams.

Subject: X-15-3 - AFFTC/NACA #56-6672 (Ship #3) - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: N/A
Credit: NASA

Notes: X-15 #3 is airborne on one of its flights over the desert.


Subject: X-24A - AFFTC/NACA #66-13551 - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1968
Credit: NASA

Notes: One X-24A was built by Martin. This aircraft was part of the 'lifting bodies' program, and was used to demonstrate the concept of landing wingless vehicles returning from space.

Subject: X-24B - AFFTC/NACA #66-13551 - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 11/?/1972
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-24B was rebuilt from the X-24A. Top speed achieved by the X-24B was 1,164 mph and the highest altitude it reached was 74,130 feet.

Subject: X24B & NASA F-104 #812 - AFFTC/NACA
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 10/?/1975
Credit: NASA

Notes: Pictured in its late white scheme, the X-24B is seen simulating a shuttle lake bed landing, with NASA F-104 #812 as its chase aircraft.


Subject: X-29 - DARPA/NASA/USAF #82-0003 (Ship #1) - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 7/24/1987
Credit: NASA

Notes: Two X-29 aircraft were built by Grumman and flew from Dryden between 1984 and 1992. The X-29 explored advanced composites, variable-camber wing surfaces, forward- swept wing design, computerized fly-by-wire systems, and many other ideas.

Subject: X-29 - DARPA/NASA/USAF #82-0049 (Ship #2) - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 11/?/1990
Credit: NASA

Notes: Ship #1 was built using F-5A #63-8372. Ship #2 was built using F-5A #65-10573. The X-29 aircraft flew a total of 436 test missions.


Subject: X-31 - DARPA/NASA/Germany/USN/USAF BuNo 164585 (Ship #2)
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1993
Credit: NASA

Notes: The X-31 Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability (EFM) demonstrators flew at Dryden from 1992 to 1995. The program focused on using thrust vectoring, coupled with an advanced flight control system.

Subject: X-31 - DARPA/NASA/Germany/USN/USAF BuNo 164585 (Ship #2)
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1994
Credit: NASA

Notes: Ship #2 is seen in formation with NASA F/A-18 #847. Ship #1 held BuNo 164584. Both aircraft made 108 collective test flights out of the Rockwell Palmdale plant, before coming to Dryden.


Subject: X-Wing - DARPA/NASA #72-002 - NASA #741
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1986
Credit: NASA

Notes: Built by Sikorsky, the X-Wing was the Rotor Systems Research Aircraft (RSRA), which was a joint NASA Ames/US Army project. The program began in the early 1970's, investigating ways of increasing the speed of rotor aircraft, and worked at Dryden, starting in 1986.


Subject: XB-70A-1 - US Air Force #62-0001 (Ship #1) - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 8/17/1965
Credit: NASA

Notes: The XB-70 Valkyrie was North American's answer for a high-altitude, supersonic bomber. Two prototypes were created... XB-70A-1 (62-0001) and XB-70A-2 (62-0207). Ship #2 was destroyed in an unfortunate mid-air collision with NASA F-104N #813 in 1966, killing pilot Dr. Joseph A. Walker in the F-104, and the XB-70A copilot, Maj. Carl Cross.

Subject: XB-70A-1 - US Air Force #62-0001 (Ship #1) - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1967
Credit: NASA

Notes: Originally designed as a Mach 3 bomber, the XB-70A never went into production and was instead used for flight research.


Subject: XF-91 - AFFTC/NACA - Serial #46-0680 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 3/?/1951
Credit: NASA

Notes: NACA reports show that there was some brief testing done using an XF-91 Thunderceptor that was available on the base.


Subject: XF-92A - AFFTC/NACA - Serial #46-0682 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 1/?/1953
Credit: NASA

Notes: After the USAF had finished testing with the XF-92A, NACA took over the flight test program in 1953... Scott Crossfield flew all 25 NACA flights in XF-92A program, over a six-month period.

Subject: XF-92A - AFFTC/NACA - Serial #46-0682 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1953
Credit: NASA

Notes: The Convair XF-92A aircraft was powered by an Allison J33-A turbojet engine with an afterburner, and was America’s first delta wing design.


Subject: XV-15 - NASA/US Army - NASA #703 (Ship #2?)
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1980
Credit: NASA

Notes: This photo shows the Bell XV-15 Tiltrotor aircraft, which were tested for a limited time at Dryden between 1980 and 1981. There was a another ship that wore #702. The XV-15's carried 7xx numbers, due to their work at Ames FRC.


Subject: YF-12A - US Air Force #60-6935 - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1972
Credit: NASA

Notes: A joint NASA/USAF program was started in June 1969 to use YF-12A aircraft #60-6935 and #60-6936 for flight research. On 12/11/1969 the flight program got underway with the successful maiden flight of #935, piloted by Col. Joe Rogers and Maj. Gary Heidelbaugh.

Subject: YF-12A - US Air Force #60-6937 & #60-6935 - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1975
Credit: NASA

Notes: #936 made 62 flights and was then lost in a non-fatal crash on 6/24/1971. It was replaced by what was called YF-12C #60-6937, but was actually SR-71A #61-7951 that was modified with YF-12A inlets and engines. #935 & #937 are seen in formation in this photo.


Subject: YF-17 - US Air Force #72-1569 - NASA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1976
Credit: NASA

Notes: NASA utilized the Northrop YF-17 Cobra demonstrator at Dryden from 5/27/1976 to 7/14/1976, which included 25 test flights. Originally built for the USAF lightweight fighter competition, the YF-17 went on to be involved in the Navy F-18 program. The F/A-18 Hornet would then evolve from the YF-17.


Subject: YF-102 - US Air Force #53-1785 - NACA #?
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1955
Credit: NASA

Notes: Convair YF-102 #785 was utilized by Dryden in 1955 to study pitch-up characteristics during maneuvering. The aircraft was equipped with wing-fences which can be seen on the left wing, to alleviate the pitch-up.


Subject: YO-3A - Schweizer SGS-2-32 - NASA #818
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: 10/29/2004
Credit: NASA

Notes: The YO-3A was originally a Schweizer SGS-2-32 sailplane. In the late 1960's, Lockheed modified over a dozen of these sailplanes to create ultra-quiet recon aircraft for use over South Vietnam. The aircraft is used at Dryden for acoustic measurements of other aircraft, including sonic booms and rotor noise.


Subject: YRF-84F - US Air Force #51-1828 - NACA #154
Location: NASA Dryden FRC - Edwards AFB, CA
Date: ?/?/1954
Credit: NASA

Notes: YRF-84F #51-1828 came to Dryden in 1954 and departed in 1956. Republic developed the aircraft as a reconnaissance version of the YF-84F and only built one prototype. Dryden also had YF-84A #45-59490 (NACA #134) which came from Langley, and YF-84A #45-59488, which came from Ames.




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