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X-5 Bell
X-5
Variable Sweep Research Aircraft

DESCRIPTION:
In the closing days of World War II, US forces captured a German facility were Messerschmitt had nearly completed construction of its P.1101 prototype. This a research aircraft had been built to study the effects of different angles of wing sweep during flight. After being shipped to the US for analysis at Wright Field in Ohio, Bell took possession of the aircraft as a test vehicle for a variable wing-sweep mechanism. The P.1101 had been damaged and was not airworthy, but analysis of the design convinced Bell and the US Air Force to construct two similar aircraft, known as the X-5, for flight tests.
The final design, bearing a clear resemblance to the original Messerschmitt craft, featured a mechanism allowing the wings to move fore and aft as they were swept between angles of 20, 45, and 60 degrees in flight. Although the wing-sweep mechanism was found to be impractical for use on future aircraft, the X-5 validated wind-tunnel tests indicating that increasing wing-sweep when approaching Mach 1 would significantly reduce drag and improve aerodynamic performance. This data proved useful in designing the Air Force's F-111 bomber and the Navy's F-14 fighter.
However, the X-5 itself was found to exhibit a severe stall-spin instability that resulted in the fatal crash of the second example. The first X-5, after completing 133 test flights, was used as a chase plane for other research aircraft since its ability to change wing geometry made it well-suited to matching the flight characteristics of other aircraft. Upon its retirement, the #1 ship went on display at the US Air Force Museum in Ohio.
Last modified 26 September 2009

HISTORY:

First Flight 20 June 1951

CREW: one: pilot

ESTIMATED COST:

unknown

AIRFOIL SECTIONS:

Wing Root NACA 64A011

Wing Tip

NACA 64A08.28

DIMENSIONS:

Length 33.33 ft (10.16 m)

Wingspan 30.81 ft (9.39 m) at minimum sweep
18.58 ft (5.66 m) at maximum sweep

Height 12.00 ft (3.66 m)

Wing Area unknown

Canard Area

not applicable

WEIGHTS:

Empty unknown

Normal Takeoff unknown

Max Takeoff 10,000 lb (4,535 kg)

Fuel Capacity internal: unknown
external: unknown

Max Payload

unknown

PROPULSION:

Powerplant one Allison J35-17A turbojet

Thrust 4,900 lb (21.80 kN)

PERFORMANCE:

Max Level Speed at altitude: unknown
at sea level: 650 mph (1,045 km/h)

Initial Climb Rate unknown

Service Ceiling unknown

Range unknown

g-Limits unknown

KNOWN VARIANTS:

X-5 #1 First example built, used as a NACA test aircraft from 1951 until 1955 and completed 133 flights, later used as a chase plane and now on display at the US Air Force Museum

X-5 #2 Second example operated by Bell and the US Air Force, destroyed in a fatal crash resulting from an uncontrolled spin on 13 October 1953

KNOWN OPERATORS:

United States (US Air Force)
United States (NASA)

3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

X-5

SOURCES:

Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 116, Bell X-5.

Miller, Jay. The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, 2001, p. 86-97, Bell X-5.

NASA Dryden Research Center X-5 site

Winchester, Jim. Concept Aircraft: Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 2005, p. 36-37, Bell X-5.

Winchester, Jim. X-Planes and Prototypes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2005, p. 236-237, Bell X-5.

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DESCRIPTION: In the closing days of World War II, US forces captured a German facility were Messerschmitt had nearly completed construction of its P.1101 prototype. This a research aircraft had been built to study the effects of different angles of wing sweep during flight. After being shipped to the US for analysis at Wright Field in Ohio, Bell took possession of the aircraft as a test vehicle for a variable wing-sweep mechanism. The P.1101 had been damaged and was not airworthy, but analysis of the design convinced Bell and the US Air Force to construct two similar aircraft, known as the X-5, for flight tests. The final design, bearing a clear resemblance to the original Messerschmitt craft, featured a mechanism allowing the wings to move fore and aft as they were swept between angles of 20, 45, and 60 degrees in flight. Although the wing-sweep mechanism was found to be impractical for use on future aircraft, the X-5 validated wind-tunnel tests indicating that increasing wing-sweep when approaching Mach 1 would significantly reduce drag and improve aerodynamic performance. This data proved useful in designing the Air Force's F-111 bomber and the Navy's F-14 fighter. However, the X-5 itself was found to exhibit a severe stall-spin instability that resulted in the fatal crash of the second example. The first X-5, after completing 133 test flights, was used as a chase plane for other research aircraft since its ability to change wing geometry made it well-suited to matching the flight characteristics of other aircraft. Upon its retirement, the #1 ship went on display at the US Air Force Museum in Ohio. Last modified 26 September 2009
HISTORY:
First Flight	20 June 1951
CREW:	one: pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	NACA 64A011
Wing Tip	NACA 64A08.28
DIMENSIONS:
Length	33.33 ft (10.16 m)
Wingspan	30.81 ft (9.39 m) at minimum sweep 18.58 ft (5.66 m) at maximum sweep
Height	12.00 ft (3.66 m)
Wing Area	unknown
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	unknown
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	10,000 lb (4,535 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	unknown
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one Allison J35-17A turbojet
Thrust	4,900 lb (21.80 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: unknown at sea level: 650 mph (1,045 km/h)
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	unknown
Range	unknown
g-Limits	unknown
KNOWN VARIANTS:
X-5 #1	First example built, used as a NACA test aircraft from 1951 until 1955 and completed 133 flights, later used as a chase plane and now on display at the US Air Force Museum
X-5 #2	Second example operated by Bell and the US Air Force, destroyed in a fatal crash resulting from an uncontrolled spin on 13 October 1953
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force) United States (NASA)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:
SOURCES: Donald, David, ed. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY: Barnes & Noble, 1997, p. 116, Bell X-5. Miller, Jay. The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, 2001, p. 86-97, Bell X-5. NASA Dryden Research Center X-5 site Winchester, Jim. Concept Aircraft: Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft. San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press, 2005, p. 36-37, Bell X-5. Winchester, Jim. X-Planes and Prototypes. NY: Barnes & Noble, 2005, p. 236-237, Bell X-5.