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X-3 Program NACA Flight Chronology, 1954-1956

Following completion of contractor testing (1953) and a brief Air Force evaluation (1953-1954), NACA received the sole Douglas X-3 (49-2892) for testing in 1954. All subsequent NACA flights were piloted by High-Speed Flight Station research pilot Joseph A. Walker.

X-3 (49-2892) Flights
Flight Date Remarks
1 23 Aug 1954 Pilot Familiarization.
2 3 Sept. 1954 Static longitudinal stability and control, wing and tail loads, and pressure distribution.
3 9 Sept. 1954 Same as flight 2.
4 9 Sept. 1954 Same as flight 2.
5 16 Sept. 1954 Same as flight 2.
6 19 Oct. 1954 Same as flight 2.
7 21 Oct. 1954 Same as flight 2.
8 21 Oct. 1954 Investigation of lateral and directional stability and control.
9 21 Oct. 1954 Same as flight 8.
10 27 Oct. 1954 Same as flight 8. Aircraft experienced violent coupled motions during abrupt rudder-fixed aileron rolls at mach 0.92 and 1.05, fully demonstrating load envelope of aircraft about all 3 axes in 1 sec. Aircraft grounded for thorough inspection and analysis.
11 20 Sept. 1955 Investigation of longitudinal stability and control, wing and tail loads, and wing pressure distribution.
12 22 Sept. 1955 Same as flight 11.
13 6 Oct. 1955 Directional stability and control, vertical tail loads.
14 12 Oct. 1955 Same as flight 13. Drag chute inadvertently deployed in flight without damage to aircraft.
15 20 Oct. 1955 Dynamic lateral stability and control, vertical tail loads.
16 21 Oct. 1955 Same as flight 15.
17 23 Oct. 1955 Same as flight 15. flight marked conclusion of NACA X-3 static and dynamic stability and control and tail loads programs on the aircraft.
18 13 Dec. 1955 Control system evaluaiton. One engine damaged from ingestion of pressure probe; X-3 grounded for maintenance and repairs.
19 4 Apr. 1956 Pressure distribution measurements. Nose instrumentation compartment fire caused minor damage to flight-test instrumentation.
20 23 May 1956 Lateral control investigation; last NACA flight. Plane retired.

Source: X-3 flight progress reports, 1954-1956.
From the book: On the Frontier: Flight Research at Dryden 1946-1981
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