Note: This aircraft is located in the Research & Development Gallery on a secure part of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Click here for visiting instructions.
The X-5 was the world's first airplane to vary the sweepback of its wings in flight. It was built to prove the theory that by increasing the sweepback of an airplane's wings after takeoff, a higher maximum speed could be obtained while still retaining low takeoff and landing speed and higher rate of climb with the wings swept forward. The X-5 was based upon the design of a Messerschmitt P. 1101 airplane discovered in Germany at the end of World War II, although the P. 1101 could vary its sweep only on the ground.
The first X-5 flight was made on June 20, 1951. On the airplane's ninth flight, its wings were operated through the full sweep range of 20-60 degrees.
Two X-5s were built and flown. One crashed and was destroyed on Oct. 13, 1953, when it failed to recover from a spin at 60 degrees sweepback. The other was delivered to the National Museum of the United States Air Force in March 1958.
SPECIFICATIONS: Span: 32 ft. 9 in. with wings extended; 22 ft. 8 in. with wings swept Length: 33 ft. 4 in. Height: 12 ft. Weight: 9,800 lbs. loaded Armament: None Engine:Allison J35 of 4,900 lbs. thrust
PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed: 690 mph Cruising speed: 600 mph Range: 500 miles Service ceiling: 50,700 ft.
