Northrop X-4 Bantam
E19627
The Northrop X-4 Bantam was a late-1940s American experimental jet aircraft designed to test the stability and handling of a tailless, swept-wing configuration at transonic speeds.
Aliases (5)
- Northrop BT ×1
- Northrop X-4 Bantam (testbed use) ×1
- X-4 ×1
- X-4 No. 1 ×1
- X-4 No. 2 ×1
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
X-plane
→
experimental aircraft → jet aircraft → research aircraft → |
| airIntakeType |
fuselage side intakes
→
|
| cockpitType |
single-seat
→
|
| configuration |
tailless
→
|
| construction |
all-metal airframe
→
|
| controlSurfaces |
elevons
→
split flaps → |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States
→
|
| crew |
1
→
|
| designation |
X-4
→
|
| developmentContext |
post–World War II experimental X-plane program
→
|
| era |
late 1940s
→
|
| firstFlight |
1948-12-15
→
|
| firstFlightLocation |
Edwards Air Force Base
→
Muroc Army Air Field → |
| firstPrototypeDesignation |
X-4 No. 1
→
|
| flightRegime |
subsonic
→
transonic → |
| intendedRole |
tailless aircraft handling tests
→
transonic stability research → |
| landingGear |
tricycle landing gear
→
|
| manufacturer |
Northrop Corporation
→
|
| maximumSpeed |
approximately 450 mph
→
approximately 720 km/h → |
| museumAircraft |
National Air and Space Museum
→
National Museum of the United States Air Force → |
| nickname |
Bantam
→
|
| numberBuilt |
2
→
|
| operator |
NACA High-Speed Flight Station
→
US Air Force Flight Test Center → |
| powerplant |
2 × Westinghouse J30 turbojet
→
|
| primaryUser |
United States Air Force
→
|
| programGoal |
evaluate tailless swept-wing design near Mach 1
→
|
| propulsionType |
jet
→
|
| researchOutcome |
tailless configuration found unsuitable for higher transonic speeds
→
|
| retirementReason |
aerodynamic limitations at transonic speeds
→
|
| secondPrototypeDesignation |
X-4 No. 2
→
|
| status |
retired
→
|
| tailDesign |
no horizontal tailplane
→
|
| testFocus |
control effectiveness
→
longitudinal stability → transonic flight → |
| usedBy |
NACA
→
|
| wingType |
swept wing
→
|
Referenced by (6)
| Subject (surface form when different) | Predicate |
|---|---|
|
Northrop X-4 Bantam
("X-4")
→
|
designation |
|
Northrop X-4 Bantam
("X-4 No. 1")
→
|
firstPrototypeDesignation |
|
X-Plane experimental aircraft programs
→
|
notableAircraft |
|
Douglas SBD Dauntless
("Northrop BT")
→
|
predecessor |
|
Northrop X-4 Bantam
("X-4 No. 2")
→
|
secondPrototypeDesignation |
|
Reaction Motors XLR11
("Northrop X-4 Bantam (testbed use)")
→
|
usedInVehicle |