First Flight:
N/A
Mission: High Altitude Spy Plane (Never built)
Major Accomplishments: Provided a starting point for the much more
successful U2 spy planes series.
Power Source Pratt and Whitney J57-PW-31
Wing Span: 114" 10"
Length: 60" 10"
Maximum Projected Speed: N/A (Projected at 550 mph)
Maximum Projected Altitude: 72,000'
Maximum Projected Range: 3,300 miles
Additional Information: This was the first non-research plane to be assigned an X designation. The use of the letter X was meant to disguise the covert nature of the X-16. 20 X-16s were initially ordered by the USAF, but the program was cancelled before the first unit was completed. No examples are known to exist.
