X-7A/X-7A-3/X-7B/X-7Q5

Specifications

Company- Lockheed Missiles
Type- Flight demonstrator for high speed air-breathing engines (Ramjets).
Goals- Test viability of ramjet engines for anti-aircraft missiles; modified to testing of powerplants.
Primary Testing Facility Research- New Mexico
Dimensions- Span- 12 ft, 0 in (A), 10 ft, 0 in (B); Length- 32 ft, 9 in (A), 27 ft, 0 in (B)
Max Speed- Mach 4.31 (2,881 MPH)
Range- N/A
Max Altitude- 106,000 ft
Power Plant- Alleghany Ballistics Laboratories X202-C3 solid-fuel rocket and a combination of solid fuel boosters and ram-jet engines
Thrust- 105,000 lbf
Weights- Fully Loaded: 8,000 pounds
Payload- N/A
Flights- 130
Number of Prototypes Built- 61
Project Tenure- 1951-1960
Project Status- Cancelled

Information

Holds the ultimate speed record for air-breathing aircraft, at over 2,000 mph. This X-7 series was flown in many different configuration and had many missions during its 10 year service life. In addition to serving as a ram-jet test bed, it carried communication equipment for acceleration testing, and was used to test aerodynamics, booster propellants, thermodynamics and high speed parachutes. Flight testing was conducted by the United States Air Force, United States Army and the United States Navy. Several X-7 examples can be found around the United States including at the White Sands missile test range.

** Information provided by X-Planes Data Site **