Bell X-16

Bell X-16
Type:	Altitude reconnaissance
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Bell
First flight:	-
Number of pieces:	0

The Bell X-16 was a projected jet aircraft that was to be used by the United States as an altitude reconnaissance aircraft in the 1950s. A dummy was built by Bell , but the project abandoned in favor of the Martin RB-57 before a single X-16 was completed. The designation X-16 was a code used to hide the true nature of this aircraft from the Soviet Union during the Cold War .

development

In the second half of 1953, Fairchild , Bell, and Martin Aircraft were developing design studies for a US Air Force altitude reconnaissance aircraft . All three designs used Pratt & Whitney J57- P19 engines. The designs of Bell (X-16) and Martin (B-57D) were selected for further development. In 1956, however, the X-16 project was canceled by the Air Force. By then, a dummy had been completed and of the 28 aircraft originally ordered, only about 80% had been built. The X-16 broke new ground with its structural design. Their wings had a large span and a high aspect ratio . They were significantly lighter and more flexible than any other available at the time. The entire aircraft was built to be as light as possible so that it could travel 3,000 miles (4,828 km) at a height of 70,000 feet (21,336 m) without refueling.

Although the X-16 was never completed, its lightweight construction had an impact on the development of aircraft design. It was also the mainspring for the development of the J57 altitude engine, which later powered the U-2, among other things .

Technical data (planned)

Parameter	Data
crew	1
length	18.55 m
span	35 m
height	5.20 m
Wing area	102.19 m²
Empty mass	10,582 kg
Takeoff mass	16,420 kg
Wing loading	160 kg / m²
Thrust / weight ratio	1: 0.55
Top speed	885 km / h
Service ceiling	21,900 m
Range	5,310 km
Engines	2 × Pratt & Whitney J57 -PW-37A with 20.11 kN thrust each

Web links

Commons : Bell X-16  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b c} Dennis R. Jenkins, Tony Landis, Jay Miller: American X-Vehicles , Monographs in Aerospace History No. 31, An Inventory — X-1 to X-50, Monographs in Aerospace History No. 31 Washington June 2003