First Flight:
October 20, 1952
Mission: Test turbojet engines, high aspect/short span wings, and effects of
thermal heating. Provide research on sustained supersonic speed flight.
Major Accomplishments: Very few, plane never achieved operational design and was a
performance failure.
Power Source: Two (2) Westinghouse J34-WE-17 turbojet engines. 4,200 lbs
thrust (1,905kg) each with afterburner
Wing Span: 22 ft, 8 in (6.91 m)
Length: 66 ft, 9 in (20.35m)
Maximum Achieved Speed: <Mach 1 (Designed to exceed Mach 3)
Additional Information: The X-3 was a radical departure from the X-1 series and
the X-2. Built by Douglas Aircraft, the X-3 was jet powered and used conventional take-off
and landing methods (instead of being drop launched).
Two X-3's were ordered. Due to limited funding, lack of performance and on-going engine
difficulties, only one was completed for flight, while the second was used for spare
parts. The planes were assigned USAF serial numbers 49-2892 (completed) and 49-2893 (not
completed).
The X-3's most significant contribution to aircraft design may have been in the field of aircraft landing gear, namely the tires. Because the X-3 had to achieve high speeds to create and maintain lift, take-off and landing speeds (260mph for take-off, 200mph for landing) it was common for the tires to come apart. Several aircraft tire manufactures studied these samples when developing new tires for high speed military applications.
Though a performance failure, the plane helped advance titanium fabrication, and other design techniques. The X-3's exotic design makes it one of the most visually appealing X-planes ever built. The X-3 (49-2892) is housed at the Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio.
The X-3 pilots were William Bridgeman (Douglas Aircraft test pilot), Lt. Col. Frank Everst, Joseph Walker and Chuck Yeager.
X-3 As displayed at the USAF Museum
Image courtesy of the USAF Museum
