Jan 262014
The Douglas X-3 has to be one of the most disappointing of the X-planes. The first to be powered by turbojets rather than rockets, the jet engines turned out to be its downfall. Like the previous X-planes, the X-3 was designed to go fast, and it looked fast sitting still. Designed to cruise at Mach 2 and to be able to achieve nearly Mach three, its engines – far less powerful than planned – only allowed it to bust Mach 1 in a dive. Max speed was only Mach 1.2 in a 30 degree dive.
Before the X-3 proved to be an underpowered pig, Douglas had plans for recon and bomber versions.
