X-2 Starbuster
The X-2 Starbuster is a research aircraft manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation.
On June 27, 1952, the first unpowered glide flight was piloted by Jean “Skip” Ziegler. On November 18, 1955, the first powered flight in the second airplane was completed by Lt. Col. Frank K. “Pete” Everest and his ninth and final flight, he had established a new speed record of Mach 2.87. Everest reported that the X-2’s flight controls were only marginally effective. Captains Iven C. Kincheloe and Milburn G. “Mel” Apt attained, a pair of young test pilots, were assigned to further enhance the X-2s flight controls. On September 7, 1956, Kincheloe became the first pilot ever to climb above 100,000 ft as he flew the X-2 to a peak altitude of 126,200 ft. On September 27, 1956, Mel Apt was launched from the B-50 for his first flight in a rocket airplane. Apt became the first man to exceed Mach 3 that day, accelerating to a speed of Mach 3.2 at 65,500 ft. The flight was flawless at that point, but shortly after attaining top speed, Apt attempted a banking turn while the airplane was still well above Mach 3, which resulted to “inertia coupling” of the X-2, just like the X-1A, which had overtaken Chuck Yeager three years before, though he was able to recover. Apt was unable to recover, costing his life and the aircraft itself.
The X-2 Starbuster is made of stainless steel and a copper-nickel alloy. It has a crew of one pilot. It has a maximum speed of Mach 3.196. The X-2 incorporates a Curtiss-Wright XLR25 rocket engine with 15,000 lbf at sea level.
Filed Under History
Comments
Leave a Reply