X-3 Stiletto, NACA Supersonic Research Flights 1954-56 (Twin set)

Dragon Warbirds : Modèle de haute qualité, préassemblés, en métal moulé. Parties mobiles, configuration trains d’atterrissage sortis ou rentrés. Peints et avec des marquages détaillés, livré avec un socle.

Dragon Warbird’s continues its collection of experimental aircraft with a 1/144 scale model of the X-3 jet aircraft. Developed by Douglas Aircraft Company from 1949 onwards, the sleek X-3 Stiletto was designed for sustained supersonic speeds. The X-3 employed titanium and low-aspect ratio wings, and the first prototype was delivered in September 1952, with the first flight occurring the following month. Eventually a total of 51 X-3 flights took place. However, the pair of Westinghouse J34 turbojet engines was not powerful enough so it never actually reached Mach 1 in straight flight! The effort wasn’t wasted though, as data obtained from the X-3 was used to produce the F-104 Starfighter. The lone X-3 Stiletto is on display at the National Museum of the US Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.