Bell X-5

E18338

X-plane experimental aircraft jet aircraft

The Bell X-5 was an early U.S. experimental jet that pioneered variable-sweep wing technology, helping to shape the design of later high-performance military aircraft.

Aliases (2)

Bell X-5 (test use) ×1
X-5 ×1

Statements (48)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	X-plane → experimental aircraft → jet aircraft →
aircraftCategory	experimental jet →
aircraftType	research jet →
airframeMaterial	metal →
basedOn	Messerschmitt P.1101 concept →
configuration	single-engine → single-seat →
countryOfOrigin	United States →
crew	1 →
designation	X-5 →
designFeature	swept wings adjustable in flight → variable-geometry wings →
developedFor	USAF →
engineType	turbojet →
era	Cold War →
firstFlight	1951-06-20 →
influenced	General Dynamics F-111 → Grumman F-14 Tomcat → Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 → Panavia Tornado → Sukhoi Su-17 → Sukhoi Su-24 →
inServicePeriod	1950s →
introduced	1951 →
landingGear	tricycle landing gear →
manufacturer	Bell Aircraft →
museumDisplay	National Museum of the United States Air Force → U.S. Air Force Flight Test Museum →
notableFor	first aircraft to vary wing sweep in flight →
numberBuilt	2 →
operator	United States Air Force →
powerplant	Allison J35 turbojet →
primaryMission	variable-sweep wing research →
program	U.S. X-plane program →
propulsion	jet propulsion →
role	research aircraft →
status	retired →
tailConfiguration	conventional tail →
takeoffAndLanding	conventional →
usedFor	aerodynamic research → high-speed flight research → stability and control studies →
wingSweepAngles	20 degrees → 40 degrees → 60 degrees →
wingType	variable-sweep wing →

Referenced by (3)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
Bell X-5 ("X-5") →	designation
X-Plane experimental aircraft programs →	notableAircraft
Reaction Motors XLR11 ("Bell X-5 (test use)") →	usedInVehicle