Reaction Motors XLR11

E95173

The Reaction Motors XLR11 was an early liquid-fueled rocket engine used in pioneering U.S. experimental aircraft, notably enabling the Bell X-1 to break the sound barrier.


Statements (43)
Predicate Object
instanceOf liquid-fueled rocket engine
application experimental research aircraft
supersonic flight research
combustionCycle pressure-fed cycle
coolingMethod regenerative cooling
countryOfOrigin United States
designFeature four independently selectable chambers
developmentPurpose high-speed high-altitude research
era 1940s
1950s
firstSupersonicAircraftPowered Bell X-1 NERFINISHED
fuel alcohol
ethyl alcohol
fuelFeedSystem pressurized tanks
ignitionSystem pyrotechnic ignition
manufacturer Reaction Motors Inc.
museumDisplay examples displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
examples displayed at various aviation museums in the United States
notableAchievement powered Bell X-1 past the speed of sound in level flight
notableFlight Bell X-1 flight on 14 October 1947
numberOfCombustionChambers 4
oxidizer liquid oxygen
pilotAssociated Chuck Yeager
program U.S. X-plane program
propellantType liquid propellant
propulsionType rocket propulsion
status retired
successor Reaction Motors XLR99
throttleCapability stepwise by chamber selection
thrustVacuum about 27 kilonewtons
about 6,000 pounds-force
usedByAgency NACA
U.S. Air Force NERFINISHED
U.S. Navy NERFINISHED
usedForRecord early altitude and speed records in U.S. X-plane program
usedInVehicle Bell X-1
Bell X-1A NERFINISHED
Bell X-1B NERFINISHED
Bell X-1E NERFINISHED
Bell X-5 (test use)
Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket NERFINISHED
Northrop X-4 Bantam (testbed use)
early X-15 test flights (as interim engine)

Referenced by (1)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Bell X-1
engineModel

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