Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket – Foto e Video

Le Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket (o D-558-II) era un aereo da ricerca supersonico a razzo e a reazione costruito dalla Douglas Aircraft Company per la Marina degli Stati Uniti. Il 20 novembre 1953, poco prima del 50o anniversario del volo a motore, Scott Crossfield pilotò lo Skyrocket fino a Mach 2, o più di 1.290 mph (2076 km/h), la prima volta che un aereo aveva superato il doppio della velocità del suono.

fonte: Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket su Wikipedia

The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket was a supersonic research aircraft that achieved several milestones in aviation history. It was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy in the late 1940s and early 1950s, as part of a three-phase program to explore the effects of high-speed flight. The Skyrocket had a sleek design with swept wings and a combination of jet and rocket engines. It could take off under its own power or be launched from a modified B-29 bomber. On November 20, 1953, it became the first aircraft to fly faster than twice the speed of sound, reaching Mach 2.005 with pilot Scott Crossfield at the controls. The Skyrocket also contributed to the development of future supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, such as the X-15 and the Space Shuttle.