Bell X-16

The Bell X-16 was an aircraft designed as a high altitude reconnaissance jet aircraft in the United States in the 1950s. A mockup of the X-16 was built, but the project was cancelled in favor of the Martin RB-57 before any X-16 aircraft were completed. The designation of X-16 was a cover to try to hide the true nature of the craft from the Soviets during the Cold War.

Development

During the second half of 1953, Fairchild, Bell, and Martin Aircraft conducted high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft design studies for the United States Air Force. All three designs used Pratt & Whitney J57-19 engines. The Bell (X-16) and Martin (B-57D) designs were chosen for further development. The Bell design was designated the X-16. The X-16 project was cancelled by the Air Force in favor of Martin RB-57 in 1956. A full-scale X-16 mockup was completed and one aircraft was partially completed. It was designed as a high-altitude long-range reconnaissance aircraft. A total of 28 aircraft were ordered, but none were completed. The first X-16 was about 80-percent complete when the program was cancelled in 1956.

The X-16 design was breaking new ground with its design. Its wing was long (114.83 feet) with a high aspect ratio (11.9). It was significantly lighter and more flexible than usual jet-aircraft wings. The entire aircraft was made as light as possible to fulfill its mission of a 3,000-mile unrefueled range at a 70,000 foot altitude.

Although no X-16 was ever completed, it made contributions to aircraft design with its lightweight design. It was also a driving force behind the development of the high-altitude J57 jet engine that would later power the Lockheed U-2 and other aircraft.

pecifications (X-16, as designed)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= jet
ref={name of first source}
crew= one, pilot
capacity=
length main= 60 ft 10 in
length alt= 18.55 m
span main=114 ft 10 in
span alt= 35 m
height main= 17 ft 1 in
height alt=5.2 m
area main= 1,099 ft²
area alt= 102.19 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 23,280 lb
empty weight alt= 10,582 kg
loaded weight main= 36,124 lb
loaded weight alt= 16,420 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (jet)= Pratt & Whitney J57-PW-37A
type of jet=turbojets
number of jets=2
thrust main=4,520 lbf
thrust alt= 20.11 kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
max speed main= 480 knots
max speed alt= 553 mph, 885 km/h
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 2,867 nm
range alt= 3,319 mi, 5,310 km
ceiling main= 71,832 ft
ceiling alt= 21,900 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 33 lb/ft²
loading alt= 160 kg/m²
thrust/weight= 1:0.55
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
* Lockheed U-2
* Martin RB-57
lists=
see also=