Bell X-5

Bell X-5
'
Description
Role	Variable geometry prototype
Crew	1
First Flight	June 20, 1951
Manufacturer	Bell Aircraft Corporation
Dimensions
Length	33ft 4in	10.1m
Wingspan (unswept) (60° sweep)	33 ft 6 in 20 ft 10 in	10.2 m 6.5 m
Height	12ft 0in	3.6m
Wing area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum takeoff	9,800 lb	4,400 kg
Powerplant
Engines	1x Allison J35-A-17
Thrust	4,900 lb	21.8 kN
Performance
Maximum speed	716mph	1150km/h
Range	miles	km
Service ceiling	49,900ft	15,200m
Rate of climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight

The Bell X-5 was the first aircraft capable of changing the sweep of its wings in flight. It was inspired by the untested war-time P.1101 design of the German Messerschmitt company. However, whereas the German design could only be adjusted on the ground, the Bell engineers devised a system of electric motors to adjust the sweep in flight while retaining the correct center of gravity.

Two X-5s were built, and first flown in 1951. One was destroyed in a fatal spin accident in 1953. The other remained at Edwards Air Force Base until 1958, being used as a chase plane when its own research program had been completed. It is now on display in the USAF Museum.

The X-5 successfully demonstrated the advantage of a swing-wing design for aircraft intended to fly at a wide range of speeds. The aircraft itself suffered from stability problems, but the concept was later successfully implemented in such planes as the General Dynamics F-111 and F-14 Tomcat.

Also See

• X-plane

This article contains information that originally came from a NASA website. All NASA information is in the public domain, with the exception of the NASA logo, which may not be used without permission. See here for more information.

Related content
Related Development	Messerschmitt P.1101
Similar Aircraft
Designation Series	X-2 - X-3 - X-4 - X-5 - X-6 - X-7 - X-8
Related Lists	List of experimental aircraft

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