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Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket (Phase 2)

1948 COLD WAR X-PLANE

History

Before the end of World War II (1939-1945), the U.S. Navy developed the Douglas D-558-1 series in collaboration with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics ("NACA" - NASA's predecessor) and the Douglas Aircraft Company . Three research aircraft were developed, nicknamed "Skystreak". The project is an ambitious initiative to collect data on transonic and supersonic flight.

The program consisted of three main phases (Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 3) - Phase 1 evolved into the actual D-558-1, while Phase 2 evolved into the D-558-2 "Skyrocket" series of experiments vehicle. Phase 3 is an armed and comprehensive, military-oriented interceptor proposed based on the strengths of Phase 1 and Phase 2 products.

Unlike the previous D-558-1 series, which were completely turbojet powered and used straight wing assemblies, the D-558-2 was equipped with a hybrid rocket/jet propulsion system and swept wing assemblies. As such, the type was a more advanced product than the original Skystreak, earning the "Skystreak" the aptly nicknamed "Skyrocket".

Like the Skystreak program, the Skyrocket program produced a total of three test vehiclesthe first one took off on February 4, 1948.

Externally, the Skyrocket follows some of the original Skystreak's design lines. It used a deeper bulbous tubular fuselage and had a covered nose cone (as opposed to the nose inlet). Wings are mid-mounted appendages (as opposed to low mounts) and swept back (35 degrees) for high-speed flight (as opposed to those exiting directly from the side of the fuselage).

The rear wing is sharper than the Skystreak and has a mid-level horizontal plane. There are no visible air intakes, just a single exhaust port mounted under the rear wing.

The landing gear is retractable and consists of two main legs and a front leg, all mounted on wheels, allowing the Skyrocket to take off and land like a traditional aircraft. The cockpit is way ahead in design, but visibility is poor thanks to the flat windows and raised fuselage spine.

The structure includes magnesium on the fuselage and aluminum on the wings and tail.

The D-558-2 is powered by Westinghouse J34-WE-40 series turbojets with 3,000 lb thrust, 4 x Reaction Motors (RMI) LR8-RM-6 rockets with 1,500 lb thrust per support unit. The launch and climb will use Westinghouse, then the missile will switch to Westinghouse during sustained high-speed flight testing.

On November 20, 1953, a Skyrocket test vehicle dived at Mach 2, becoming the first aircraft in aviation history to reach twice the speed of sound.

The D-558-2 program eventually produced a total of three test vehicles: the first airframe (D-558-2 #1) had 123 test flights during its tenure, followed by the second Body ( #2). 103 flights were recorded. Airframe 3 completed a total of 87 significant flights. The first fuselage is on display at the Hall of Fame Museum in Chino, California, while the second fuselage is currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. (hangs on the second floor).

Airframe 3 is on a display pole at Antelope Valley Academy in Lancaster, California.

The Skyrocket family of research aircraft served the United States until December 1956, providing valuable dataespecially in-flight yaw and pitch dataduring its many years of active data collection service. During testing, the vehicle had a top speed of 720 mph and a top speed of 16,500 feet per hour. It climbs at an impressive 22,400 feet per minute. Jet engines allow for relatively short takeoff times, and despite some stiffness, pilot controls from Mach 1 to Mach 2 are considered manageable.

The Skyrocket was also launched from the air at an altitude of 35,000 feet under the wings of the B-29 research platform, from which it was able to reach speeds of 1,250 miles per hour.