WIX Archives
Bell X-2
Posted by Joe Scheil on Mon May 06, 2002 12:13:39 PM
In reply top Re: Bell X-2 Recovery??? posted by Mike Henniger on Mon May 06, 2002 07:28:28 AM
This was actually a pretty famous episode in aviation history as the X-2 was the first rocket plane designed to go thru Mach 3, and with the SR-71/Oxcart project aborning, this was a serious business. The X-2 was to be flown below the carrier aircraft in trials with the manufacturer and USAF both watching the initial testing and compatibility trials. The reason for the location was it allowed Bell the ability to change things right away, at the factory. There was a LOX explosion I believe, killing Skip Zeigler and subsequent fire, thru which to save the carrier aircraft, they dropped Skip and the X-2 like a bomb into Lake Ontario. The X-2 was star crossed, having a controversial (today) escape pod system, and scary aerodynamics, (inertial yaw coupling) and though the second aircraft was the first through Mach 3, her pilot was killed as the aircraft went unstable later during the flight. The pod seperated, but Mel Apt did not survive the impact I believe. Recovery of the aircraft is a significant issue and the remains bookmark the most succesful time in aviation firsts with the high cost associated with such progress