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The X-3 (49-2892) was manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company and investigated the design features of an aircraft suitable for sustained supersonic speeds, which included the first use of titanium in major airframe components. It was delivered to the NACA High-Speed Flight Station in August of 1954. Although it made some significant contributions to knowledge about "inertial coupling", a tendency to diverge from the flight path at near supersonic speeds, the X-3 never lived up to it's expectations as a Mach 2 aircraft.
| DFRC Photo # |
Photo Date |
Image Description |
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X-3 Photo Collection Contact Sheet |
| E54-1227 |
Apr 1954 |
X-3 on ramp - view from front |
| E54-1228 |
Apr 1954 |
X-3 on ramp - view from side |
| E54-1230 |
Apr 1954 |
X-3 on ramp - view from back |
| E-1996 |
1955 |
X-3 on ramp |
| E55-01994 |
1955 |
X-3 on ramp from above |
| E-17348 |
1950s |
X-3 in flight, which made significant contributions to knowledge about inertial coupling |
| E-2274 |
1956 |
X-3 being towed to lakebed on ramp |
| E-2412 |
1956 |
X-3 on lakebed |
| E-1546 |
1954 |
X-3 on lakebed |
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| E-1239 |
1954 |
NACA Aircraft on lakebed - X-3, D-558-I, F4D, D-558-II - 1954 |
| E-2889 |
August 4, 1953 |
NACA research aircraft - Bell X-1A, D-558-1, XF-92A, X-5, D-558-II, X-4, & X-3 |
Douglas X-3 Flight Chronology, 1954-1956
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