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NASA Meatball NASA Dryden D-558-I Aircraft banner
D-558-I in flight D-558-I in flight
Photo Number: E-17347
Photo Date: August 24, 1953
Formats: 539x480 JPEG Image (94 KBytes)
1150x1024 JPEG Image (456 KBytes)
3000x2670 JPEG Image (3,885 KBytes)
Photo
Description:

The Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak is seen close-up in this early 1950s inflight photograph. Although less well known than the X-1, the D-558-1 could carry out research roles that complemented those of the more glamorous, rocket-powered craft. The D-558-1 was relatively slow, with only one flight exceeding a speed of Mach 1 (the speed of sound). However, the jet-powered Skystreak could fly for sustained periods at transonic speeds, increasing the amount of data a single flight could yield. By contrast, the rocket-powered X-1 could only provide transonic data for brief periods on each flight.
Project
Description:		 Conceived in 1945, the D558-1 Skystreak was designed by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). The Skystreaks were turojet powered aircraft that took off from the ground under their own power and had straight wings and tails. All three D-558-1 Skystreaks were powered by Allison J35-A-11 turbojet engines producing 5,000 pounds of thrust. All the Skystreaks were initially painted scarlet, which lead to the nickname "crimson test tube." NACA later had the color of the Skystreaks changed to white to improve optical tracking and photography. The Skystreaks carried 634 pounds of instrumentation and were ideal first-generation, simple, transonic research airplanes. Much of the research performed by the D-558-1 Skystreaks, was quickly overshadowed in the public mind by Chuck Yeager and the X-1 rocketplane. However, the Skystreak performed an important role in aeronautical research by flying for extended periods of time at transonic speeds, which freed the X-1 to fly for limited periods at supersonic speeds.
NASA Photo by: NASA photo
Keywords: D-558-I Aircraft; D-558-1; Douglas D-558-I Skystreak Aircraft; Douglas Aircraft Company; U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics; NACA Muroc Flight Test Unit; National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.

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