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X-3 Stiletto Specifications

Primary Function:
Experimental Aircraft
Contractor:
Douglas

Crew:
One

Unit Cost:
N/A

Powerplant

Two 3,370-pound-thrust (4,900-pound-thrust with afterburner) Westinghouse J34s

Dimensions

Length:
66 feet 9 inches

Wingspan:
22 feet 8 inches 
Height:
12 feet 6 inches

Weights

Empty:
N/A

Maximum Takeoff:
22,400 pounds

Performance

Speed:
706 mph

Ceiling:
38,000 feet

Range:
N/A

Armament

N/A

X-3 Stiletto Achievements

Although never achieving what it was designed to, the X-3 contributed to the development of high-speed aircraft.

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X-3 Stiletto Features

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X-3 Stiletto Background
 
 The X-3 was developed under Secret Project MX-656 to investigate thermodynamics (aerodynamic heating) of an aircraft flying at least 30 minutes at double sonic speeds. There
was only one Douglas X-3 aircraft ever made.
 The X-3 made its first flight on September 20, 1952. The X-3 made its first flight at Edwards AFB on October 20, 1952, with Douglas pilot Bill Bridgeman in the cockpit. The X-3 was powered by two afterburning 4,850lb
thrust Westinghouse J34-WE-17 turbojet engines, although it was planned to have two afterburning 7,000lb thrust Westinghouse J46-WE-1 turbojets. Because the aircraft was severely underpowered, the aircraft
could barely reach supersonic speeds unless it dove from a high altitude. The aircraft was retired after only 51 total flights.
 Although the aircraft never reached the speeds it was meant to, it contributed greatly to the development of high-speed aircraft. In 1956, the X-3 was put on display at the U.S. Air Force Museum.Summary Copyright &copy; Charles M (JetWhiz)

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