Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket
E444354
experimental research aircraft
jet-powered aircraft
mixed-propulsion aircraft
rocket-powered aircraft
The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket was a U.S. Navy and NACA experimental research aircraft that became one of the first aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight during the early 1950s.
Observed surface forms (1)
| Surface form | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket | 1 |
Statements (50)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
experimental research aircraft
ⓘ
jet-powered aircraft ⓘ mixed-propulsion aircraft ⓘ rocket-powered aircraft ⓘ |
| carrierAircraft | Boeing P2B-1S Superfortress NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| configuration |
single-engine jet plus single rocket engine
ⓘ
single-seat ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| crew | 1 ⓘ |
| firstFlightDate | 1948-02-04 ⓘ |
| firstFlightPilot | John F. Martin NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| fuel |
alcohol and liquid oxygen for rocket engine
ⓘ
kerosene for turbojet ⓘ |
| introduced | 1948 ⓘ |
| launchMethod | air-launched from carrier aircraft ⓘ |
| length | approximately 42 ft ⓘ |
| manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| maximumSpeed | over Mach 2 ⓘ |
| maximumTakeoffWeight | approximately 15,000 lb ⓘ |
| museumDisplay |
Antelope Valley College, Lancaster, California
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
National Air and Space Museum NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notableAchievement | first aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight ⓘ |
| numberBuilt | 3 ⓘ |
| operator |
NACA
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
United States Navy ⓘ |
| powerplant |
Reaction Motors LR8-RM-6 rocket engine
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Westinghouse J34 turbojet NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| predecessor | Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| primaryTestSite |
Edwards Air Force Base
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Muroc Air Force Base NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| program | D-558 research program NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| recordAltitude | approximately 72,000 ft ⓘ |
| recordDate | 1953-11-20 ⓘ |
| recordMachNumber | 2.005 ⓘ |
| recordPilot | Scott Crossfield NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| recordSpeed | approximately 1,291 mph ⓘ |
| researchFocus |
aerodynamic heating
ⓘ
high-Mach-number stability and control ⓘ swept-wing characteristics ⓘ transonic drag rise ⓘ |
| role |
high-speed research
ⓘ
supersonic research ⓘ transonic research ⓘ |
| status | retired ⓘ |
| successorInRole |
Bell X-1A
NERFINISHED
ⓘ
Douglas X-3 Stiletto NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| tailConfiguration | conventional tail ⓘ |
| usedBy | NACA High-Speed Flight Station NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| wingConfiguration | swept wing ⓘ |
| wingspan | approximately 25 ft ⓘ |
Referenced by (4)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
this entity surface form:
Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket