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X-2 Program NACA Flight Chronology, 1954-1956
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Bell X-2 #1 (46-674)
| Date |
Pilot |
Remarks |
| 5 Aug. 1954 |
Maj. F. K. Everest |
1st glide flight. Damaged on landing. |
| 8 Mar. 1955 |
Everest |
2nd glide flight. Propellant system check. Minor damage on landing. |
| 6 Apr. 1955 |
Everest |
3rd glide flight. Damaged on landing. Following flight, plane returned to Bell plant for extensive modifications to landing gear system to prevent further landing accidents and for installation of its rocket engine. |
| 25 Oct. 1955 |
Everest |
Aborted powered flight attempt; became 4th glide flight. |
| 18 Nov. 1955 |
Everest |
1st powered flight. Mach 0.992 at 35,000 ft. Slight fire damage from engine bay fire. |
| 24 Mar. 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 1-56 (2nd powered flight), Mach 0.91. |
| 25 Apr. 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 2-56 (3rd powered flight), Mach 1.4 at 50,000 ft. |
| 1 May 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 3-56 (4th powered flight), Mach 1.683 at 53,700 ft. |
| 11 May 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 4-56 (5th powered flight), Mach 1.8 at 60,000 ft. |
| 22 May 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 5-56 (6th powered flight), Mach 2.53 at 58,370 ft. |
| 25 May 1956 |
Capt. I. C. Kincheloe |
Flight 6-56 (7th powered flight) pilot checkout, Mach 1+. |
| 12 Jul. 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 7-56 (8th powered flight), premature engine shutdown. |
| 23 Jul. 1956 |
Everest |
Flight 8-56 (9th powered flight), Mach 2.87 at 68,205 ft. |
| 3 Aug. 1956 |
Kincheloe |
Flight 9-56 (10th powered flight), Mach 2.5+, 87,750 ft. |
| 8 Aug. 1956 |
Kincheloe |
Flight 10-56 (11th powered flight), premature engine shutdown. |
| 7 Sept. 1956 |
Kincheloe |
Flight 11-56 (12th powered flight), Mach 1.7, reached 126,200 ft. |
| 27 Sept. 1956 |
Capt. M. Apt |
Flight 12-56 (13th powered flight), Mach 3.2 at 65,500 ft. Subsequent loss of control from inertial coupling led to the destruction of the aircraft and the death of the pilot. |
Source: X-2 flight progress reports, 1954-1956.
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