The answer to the last “ID this aircraft contest:” the Bell D90-945-057, a fixed-wing, supersonic derivative of the X-5 (itself a derivative of the wartime German Messerschmit P.1101). Known – at least to me – solely from a single large-format drawing held by the National Archives, this aircraft differed in important respects from the X-5. The fixed wing is the most obvious difference, but the pointed radome nose and the variable-ramp inlet certainly modernized the design considerably. Dates from 1950.
If you like this sort aerospace history and/or the other stuff I post, you can support the cause by Buying My Stuff, which includes aerospace drawings and documents, as well as the journal of unbuilt aircraft and spacecraft projects, Aerospace Projects Review. Or you could just Donate.
One Response to “Bell D90-945-057”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I’ve never seen a drawing onf it, but there was supposed to be some version of the X-5 where a porus radar dish was placed inside of the air intake duct also, which couldn’t have helped performance any.