List of experimental aircraft
Encyclopedia
This is a list of experimental aircraft
Experimental aircraft
An experimental aircraft is an aircraft that has not yet been fully proven in flight. Often, this implies that new aerospace technologies are being tested on the aircraft, though the label is more broad....

. Most aircraft are marked as experimental when they are first designed, whether or not they are later produced. This list will focus on notable vehicles that never went into production and experimental variations of vehicles that were produced.

For U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 designs this list will focus primarily on those aircraft that carried the "X" series designation or carried the "X" series designation as a prefix to a prototype, preproduction, or test aircraft.

Purely-experimental designs

  • Bell X-1
    Bell X-1
    The Bell X-1, originally designated XS-1, was a joint NACA-U.S. Army/US Air Force supersonic research project built by Bell Aircraft. Conceived in 1944 and designed and built over 1945, it eventually reached nearly 1,000 mph in 1948...

     Broke sound barrier
  • Bell X-2 Starbuster
    Bell X-2
    -Popular culture:* The 1956 film Toward the Unknown starred the X-2, William Holden, Lloyd Nolan and Virginia Leith. A brainwashed former POW tries to return to test flying; co-starring the Martin XB-51 and the Edwards AFB flight line....

     Investigated Mach 2-3 flight
  • Douglas X-3 Stiletto
    X-3 Stiletto
    The Douglas X-3 Stiletto was a 1950s United States experimental jet aircraft with a slender fuselage and a long tapered nose, manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Its primary mission was to investigate the design features of an aircraft suitable for sustained supersonic speeds, which...

     First use of titanium in major airframe components
  • Northrop X-4 Bantam Tailless aircraft prototype
  • Bell X-5
    Bell X-5
    -See also:-Bibliography:* Hallion, Richard P. On The Frontier: Flight Research At Dryden 1946-1981 . Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1984 . ISBN 1-58834-134-8....

     First variable-swept wing aircraft
  • Convair X-6
    Convair X-6
    -See also:*Project Pluto*Project Rover*NERVA*WS-125Comparable aircraft* Tupolev Tu-119-External links:* original published on Aviation History, March 1995.* Section devoted to NB-36H...

     Nuclear-powered aircraft
  • Lockheed X-7
    Lockheed X-7
    -See also:-External links:*...

     "Flying Stove Pipe" ramjet
  • Aerojet General X-8
    Aerojet General X-8
    -See also:-External links:*...

     Sounding rocket (became Aerobee)
  • Bell X-9 Shrike
    X-9 Shrike
    The Bell Aircraft Corporation X-9 Shrike was a prototype surface-to-air, liquid-fueled guided missile that was a testbed for the nuclear-armed GAM-63 RASCAL. It is named after the bird shrike....

     Guided missile
  • North American X-10
    North American X-10
    The North American X-10 was an unmanned technology demonstrator for advanced missile technologies during the 1950s. The X-10 was similar to the development of Bell's X-9 Shrike project.-Development:...

     Unmanned missile demonstrator
  • Convair X-11 1-engine missile testbed for Atlas
  • Convair X-12 3-engine missile testbed for Atlas
  • Ryan X-13 Vertijet Delta wing VTOL jet
  • Bell X-14 Conventional wing VTOL jet, pioneered thrust vectoring
    Thrust vectoring
    Thrust vectoring, also thrust vector control or TVC, is the ability of an aircraft, rocket or other vehicle to manipulate the direction of the thrust from its engine or motor in order to control the attitude or angular velocity of the vehicle....

  • North American X-15
    North American X-15
    The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...

     Mach 6 rocket plane
  • Bell X-16 High altitude reconnaissance jet (only mockup built)
  • Lockheed X-17
    Lockheed X-17
    The Lockheed X-17 was a three stage solid-fuel research rocket to test the effects of high mach atmospheric reentry. The first stage of the X-17 carried the rocket to a height of before burning out. The rocket would then coast on momentum to about before nosing down for reentry. The second stage...

     Rocket testing high mach re-entry
  • Hiller X-18
    Hiller X-18
    The X-18 was an experimental cargo transport aircraft designed to be the first testbed for tiltwing and VSTOL technology.-Development:...

     Tiltwing STOVL cargo aircraft
  • Curtiss-Wright X-19
    Curtiss-Wright X-19
    |-See also:-External links:*...

     VTOL tiltrotor propellers
  • X-20 Dyna-Soar
    X-20 Dyna-Soar
    The X-20 Dyna-Soar was a United States Air Force program to develop a spaceplane that could be used for a variety of military missions, including reconnaissance, bombing, space rescue, satellite maintenance, and sabotage of enemy satellites...

     Spaceplane program (cancelled)
  • Northrop X-21
    Northrop X-21
    -See also:-Bibliography:* Winchester, Jim. X-Planes and Prototypes. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-904687-40-7.* Retrieved: 14 February 2007.-External links:* *...

     Aircraft testing laminar flow wings
  • Bell X-22
    Bell X-22
    -References:NotesBibliography* Markman, Steve and Bill Holder. Straight Up: A History of Vertical Flight. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7643-1204-9....

     V/STOL ducted fan propellers
  • Martin Marietta X-23 Prime Small lifting body; tested re-entry
  • Martin-Marietta X-24 Tested lifting body shapes
  • Bensen X-25
    Bensen X-25
    |-See also:-References:* * -External links:*...

     Single-seat autogyro
  • Schweizer X-26 Frigate Sailplane
  • Lockheed X-27 Lancer
    Lockheed X-27
    The Lockheed CL-1200 Lancer was a late 1960s company-funded proposal for a new and improved F-104 Starfighter. It was intended for the export market and was in direct competition with the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Dassault Mirage F1, Northrop YF-17 and the McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom...

     Proposed high-performance research aircraft (only mockup built)
  • Pereira X-28 Sea Skimmer
    X-28 Sea Skimmer
    - Specifications :-See also:...

     Single-seat flying boat
  • Grumman X-29
    Grumman X-29
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Thruelsen, Richard. The Grumman Story. New York: Praeger Publishers, Inc., 1976. ISBN 0-275-54260-2....

     Forward-swept wing; composites and fly-by-wire
  • Rockwell X-30 National Aero-Space Plane
    Rockwell X-30
    -See also:-References: 2. -External links:*...

     Single-stage-to-orbit spacecraft (cancelled)
  • Rockwell-MBB X-31
    Rockwell-MBB X-31
    |-See also:-References:*Jenkins, Dennis R., Tony Landis, and Jay Miller. . NASA, June 2003.*USAF & NATO Report RTO-TR-015 AC/323//TP-1 .-External links:* * * *...

     Enhanced Fighter Maneuverability (thrust vectoring)
  • Boeing X-32
    Boeing X-32
    The Boeing X-32 was a multi-purpose jet fighter in the Joint Strike Fighter contest. It lost to the Lockheed Martin X-35 demonstrator which was further developed into the F-35 Lightning II.-Background:...

     Joint Strike Fighter Program
    Joint Strike Fighter Program
    Joint Strike Fighter is a development and acquisition program intended to replace a wide range of existing fighter, strike, and ground attack aircraft for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and their allies. After a competition between the Boeing X-32 and the Lockheed Martin X-35, a...

     entry (lost to X-35)
  • Lockheed Martin X-33
    Lockheed Martin X-33
    The Lockheed Martin X-33 was an unmanned, sub-scale technology demonstrator suborbital spaceplane developed in the 1990s under the U.S. government-funded Space Launch Initiative program. The X-33 was a technology demonstrator for the VentureStar orbital spaceplane, which was planned to be a...

     Unmanned sub-scale demonstrator for VentureStar spacecraft
  • Orbital Sciences X-34
    Orbital Sciences X-34
    The Orbital Sciences X-34 was intended as a low-cost testbed to demonstrate "key technologies" integratable to the Reusable Launch Vehicle program....

     Reusable Launch Vehicle testbed (only unpowered prototype built)
  • Lockheed Martin X-35
    Lockheed Martin X-35
    The Lockheed Martin X-35 was an experimental aircraft developed by Lockheed Martin for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. It was declared the winner over the Boeing X-32 and went on to enter production in the early 21st century as the F-35 Lightning II....

     Joint Strike Fighter Program
    Joint Strike Fighter Program
    Joint Strike Fighter is a development and acquisition program intended to replace a wide range of existing fighter, strike, and ground attack aircraft for the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and their allies. After a competition between the Boeing X-32 and the Lockheed Martin X-35, a...

     entry winner; became F-35 Lightning II
    F-35 Lightning II
    The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a family of single-seat, single-engine, fifth generation multirole fighters under development to perform ground attack, reconnaissance, and air defense missions with stealth capability...

  • McDonnell Douglas X-36 Tailless fighter research agility aircraft
  • Boeing X-37
    Boeing X-37
    The Boeing X-37 is an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. The X-37 is operated by the United States Air Force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies...

     Reusable robotic spaceplane
  • NASA X-38 Crew return vehicle for International Space Station
    International Space Station
    The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...

     (cancelled after tests)
  • X-39
    Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements
    The Future Aircraft Technology Enhancements program is a program to develop new technologies. It is being run by the Air Force Research Laboratory and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency . The X-39 aircraft designation is reserved for use with FATE by the USAF.-References:***...

     Reserved for USAF/DARPA program use
  • Boeing X-40 Space Maneuver Vehicle
    Boeing X-40
    -See also:-External links:* * * * *...

     Tested X-37 guidance and glide characteristics
  • X-41 Common Aero Vehicle
    X-41 Common Aero Vehicle
    X-41 is the designation for a still-classified U.S. military spaceplane. Specifications or photos of the program have not been released to the public yet; as a result not much is known about its goals...

     Maneuvering re-entry vehicle
  • X-42 Pop-Up Upper Stage
    X-42 Pop-Up Upper Stage
    X-42 is the designation of a still-classified U.S. military space project. Specifications or photos of the program have not been released to the public; as a result not much is known about its goals...

     Rocket upper stage
  • NASA X-43 Hyper-X Hypersonic scramjet
  • Lockheed Martin X-44 MANTA
    X-44 MANTA
    |-References:* Miller, Jay. The X-Planes: X-1 to X-45. Hinckley, UK: Midland, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-109-1.-External links:* Day, Dwayne A. . centennialofflight.gov...

     Multi-axis no-tail aircraft concept design
  • Boeing X-45
    Boeing X-45
    The Boeing X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle is a concept demonstrator for a next generation of completely autonomous military aircraft, developed by Boeing's Phantom Works. Manufactured by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, the X-45 was a part of DARPA's J-UCAS project.-Development:Boeing developed...

     Unmanned combat air vehicle
  • Boeing X-46
    Boeing X-46
    The Boeing X-46 was a proposed unmanned combat air vehicle that was to be developed in conjunction with the U.S. Navy and DARPA as a naval carrier-based variant of the Boeing X-45 UCAV being developed for the U.S. Air Force...

     Unmanned combat air vehicle (proposed, never built)
  • Northrop Grumman X-47 Pegasus  Composite unmanned combat air vehicle
  • X-48
    Boeing X-48
    The X-48 is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle for investigation into the characteristics of blended wing body aircraft, a type of flying wing. It is under development by Boeing and NASA.-Background:...

     Blended wing body aircraft
  • Sikorsky Piasecki X-49 Speedhawk
    Sikorsky Piasecki X-49
    |-See also:-External links:* * * * * * * * . Air & Space magazine, 1 September 2009.*...

     Vectored thrust ducted helicopter with lifting wings
  • Boeing X-50 Dragonfly
    Boeing X-50
    The Boeing X-50A Dragonfly, formerly known as the Canard Rotor/Wing Demonstrator, was a gyrodyne unmanned aerial vehicle that was developed by Boeing and DARPA to demonstrate the principle that a helicopter's rotor could be stopped in flight and act as a fixed wing...

     Gyrodyne unmanned aerial vehicle
  • Boeing X-51
    Boeing X-51
    The Boeing X-51 is an unmanned scramjet demonstration aircraft for hypersonic flight testing. It successfully completed its first free-flight on 26 May 2010 and also achieved the longest duration flight at speeds over Mach 5.The X-51 Waverider program is run as a cooperative effort of the United...

     Mach 7 scramjet
  • X-52 designation not used
  • X-53 Active Aeroelastic Wing (AAW) flight demonstrator
  • Lockheed Martin X-55 Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft

XA series

Prototype or experimental attack aircraft:
  • Stearman XA-21
  • Douglas XA-26
  • Douglas XA-26A
  • Douglas XA-26B
  • Vultee XA-31A
  • Vultee XA-31B
  • Vultee XA-31C
  • Brewster XA-32
    Brewster XA-32
    -References:* McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber." Wings, Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.-External links:* * *...

  • Beech XA-38
  • Vultee XA-41

XB series

Prototype or experimental bomber aircraft:
  • North American XB-25E
  • North American XB-25F
  • North American XB-25G
  • Martin XB-26H
  • Martin XB-27D
    Martin XB-27
    The Martin XB-27 was a plane proposed by the Glenn L. Martin Company to fill a strong need in the United States Army Air Corps for a high-altitude medium bomber. Its design was based approximately on that of the B-26 Marauder. The XB-27 never made it past paper, and no prototypes were...

  • Martin XB-27
  • North American XB-28
    XB-28 Dragon
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* * -External links:*...

  • Boeing XB-29
  • Lockheed XB-30
    Lockheed XB-30
    -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Stringfellow, Curtis K., and Peter M. Bowers. Lockheed Constellation. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks, 1992.-External links:*...

  • Douglas XB-31
    Douglas XB-31
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1....

  • Consolidated XB-32 Dominator
  • Martin XB-33
  • Martin XB-33A Super Marauder
  • XB-34- not used; see B-34 Lexington
    Lockheed Ventura
    The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises...

  • Northrop XB-35
  • Convair XB-36
    Convair B-36 variants
    Convair B-36 variants began in 1941 with the XB-36 to meet the strategic needs of the US Army Air Forces; then later becoming United States Air Force with its Strategic Air Command. In 1948, the B-36 immediately becoming a mainstay of the American nuclear deterrent. It underwent a number of design...

  • XB-37 - not used; see B-37
  • Boeing/Lockheed Vega XB-38
    XB-38 Flying Fortress
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London:Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.* Hess, William N. and Jim Winchester. ""Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress:Queen of the Skies". Wings Of Fame. Volume 6. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN...

  • Boeing XB-39
    XB-39 Superfortress
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1962, second edition 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5....

  • Boeing/Lockheed Vega XB-40
  • Consolidated XB-41
  • Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster
    XB-42 Mixmaster
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.* O'Leary, Michael, ed. "Elegant Failure." America's Forgotten Wings, Volume 1, 1994, pp. 4–11....

  • Douglas XB-43 Jetmaster
    XB-43 Jetmaster
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jones, Lloyd. U.S. Bombers. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.* O'Leary, Michael, ed. "America's First Jet Bomber" America's Forgotten Wings, Volume 1, 1994, pp. 66–75....

  • Boeing/Pratt & Whitney XB-44
  • North American XB-45 Tornado
    B-45 Tornado
    The North American B-45 Tornado was the United States Air Force's first operational jet bomber, and the first jet aircraft to be refueled in the air. The B-45 was an important part of the United States's nuclear deterrent for several years in the early 1950s, but was rapidly succeeded by the Boeing...

  • Convair XB-46
  • Boeing XB-47 Stratojet
    B-47 Stratojet
    The Boeing Model 450 B-47 Stratojet was a long-range, six-engined, jet-powered medium bomber built to fly at high subsonic speeds and at high altitudes. It was primarily designed to drop nuclear bombs on the Soviet Union...

  • Martin XB-48
  • Northrop XB-49
  • Martin XB-51
  • Boeing XB-52
  • Convair XB-53
  • Boeing XB-55
    Boeing XB-55
    -See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bowers, Peter M. Boeing Aircraft since 1916. London:Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-804-6.* Butler, Tony . American Secret Projects. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 0-9781-85780-3310....

  • Convair XB-58 Hustler
    B-58 Hustler
    The Convair B-58 Hustler was the first operational supersonic jet bomber capable of Mach 2 flight. The aircraft was designed by Convair engineer Robert H. Widmer and developed for the United States Air Force for service in the Strategic Air Command during the 1960s...

  • Boeing XB-59
  • Convair XB-60
  • Martin XB-68
  • North American XB-70 Valkyrie
    XB-70 Valkyrie
    The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the proposed B-70 nuclear-armed deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force's Strategic Air Command...


XF Series

This series covers post-World War II fighter development when the newly independent USAF changed the "P" pursuit designation to "F" for fighter.
  • Consolidated Vultee XP-81
  • Bell XP-83
    Bell XP-83
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Carpenter, David M. Flame Powered: The Bell XP-59A Airacomet and the General Electric I-A Engine. Boston: Jet Pioneers of America, 1982. ISBN 0-9633387-0-6....

  • Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech" - conversion of 2 Republic F-84 Thunderjets to turboprop with supersonic propellor
  • McDonnell XF-85 Goblin
  • Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk
  • McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo
  • Northrop XF-89 Scorpion
  • Lockheed XF-90
    Lockheed XF-90
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Boyne, Walter J. Beyond the Horizons: The Lockheed Story. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998. ISBN 0-31219-237-1....

  • Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor
  • Convair XF-92
    Convair XF-92
    The Convair XF-92 was the first American delta-wing aircraft. Originally conceived as a point-defense interceptor, the design was later made purely experimental...

     Dart
  • Republic XF-103
    Republic XF-103
    The Republic XF-103 was an American project to develop a high speed interceptor aircraft capable of destroying Soviet bombers. Despite a prolonged development, it never progressed past the mock-up stage.-Development:...

     Thunderwarrior
  • Lockheed XF-104
    Lockheed XF-104
    The Lockheed XF-104 was a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor prototype for a United States Air Force series of lightweight and simple fighters. Only two aircraft were built, one aircraft was used primarily for aerodynamic research and the other served as an armament testbed....

  • North American XF-108 Rapier

XP Series

This series covers fighter development up to the end of World War II. In 1947 the newly independent USAF changed the "P" pursuit designation to "F" for fighter.
  • Boeing XP-4
  • Boeing XP-7
    Boeing XP-7
    |-Bibliography:* Lloyd S. Jones, U.S. Fighters pp. 32-33 ISBN 0-8168-9200-8...

  • Boeing XP-8
    Boeing XP-8
    -Bibliography:* Boeing Company. Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, Washington: The Boeing Company, 1969.* Dorr, Robert F. and Donald, David. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X....

  • Boeing XP-9
    Boeing XP-9
    -Bibliography:* Eden, Paul and Moeng, Soph. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition . Seattle, WA: The Boeing Company, 1969....

  • Curtiss XP-10
    Curtiss XP-10
    -Bibliography:* Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters. Volume Four. Garden City, NY: Doubleday & Company, 1973....

  • Curtiss XP-11
  • Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper
    XP-13 Viper
    |- References :NotesBibliography* Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London:Temple, 1990. ISBN 0 600 55094 X.* Gunston, Bill, World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. London: Guild Publishing, 1986.-External links:*...

  • Curtiss XP-14
    XP-13 Viper
    |- References :NotesBibliography* Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London:Temple, 1990. ISBN 0 600 55094 X.* Gunston, Bill, World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines. London: Guild Publishing, 1986.-External links:*...

  • Boeing XP-15
    Boeing XP-15
    -References:NotesBibliography* Angelucci, Enzo. The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books, 1987.* Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters, Army-Air Force: 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers Incorporated, 1975, pp. 48-49. ISBN 0-8168-9200-8.- See also :- External...

  • Curtiss XP-17
  • Curtiss XP-18
    Curtiss XP-18
    The Curtiss XP-18 was ordered in 1930 and was to have been a single-seat biplane powered by a Wright IV-1560 engine. The design was cancelled before any were built....

  • Curtiss XP-19
    Curtiss XP-19
    The Curtiss XP-19 was ordered in 1930 and was to have been a single place, low-wing monoplane powered by a Wright IV-1560 engine. The design was cancelled before any were built....

  • Curtiss XP-21 Hawk
  • Curtiss XP-22 Hawk
  • Curtiss XP-23 Hawk
  • Curtiss XP-31 Swift
    Curtiss XP-31 Swift
    |-References:NotesBibliography* Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.* Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.* Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters...

  • Boeing XP-32
  • Consolidated XP-33
  • Wedell-Williams XP-34
    Wedell-Williams XP-34
    The Wedell-Williams XP-34 was a fighter aircraft design submitted to the United States Army Air Corps before World War II by Marguerite Clark Williams, widow of millionaire Harry P. Williams....

  • Seversky XP-41
    Seversky XP-41
    The Seversky XP-41 was a fighter aircraft built in the United States in 1939. A single prototype was modified from the last production Seversky P-35 by adding a new streamlined canopy, a Wright R-1830-19 engine with a two-speed supercharger, and revised landing gear. XP-41 first flew in March 1939...

  • Curtiss XP-42
  • Bell XP-45
  • Curtiss XP-46
    Curtiss XP-46
    -References:NotesBibliography* Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01448-7.* Green, William and Gordon...

  • Douglas XP-48
    Douglas XP-48
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Adcock, Al. OS2U Kingfisher in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1991. ISBN 0-89747-270-5....

  • Lockheed XP-49
    Lockheed XP-49
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01448-7....

  • Grumman XP-50 Skyrocket
    Grumman XP-50
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X....

  • North American XP-51 Mustang
    P-51 Mustang
    The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...

  • Bell XP-52
    Bell XP-52
    |-External links:*...

  • Curtiss XP-53
  • Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose
  • Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
    XP-55 Ascender
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Balzer, Gerald H. American Secret Pusher Fighters of World War II: XP-54, XP-55, and XP-56. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2008. ISBN 1-58007-125-2....

  • Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet
    XP-56 Black Bullet
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Allen, R.S. The Northrop Story. New York: Orion, 1990. ISBN 0-517-56677-4.* Andersen, Fred. Northrop - An Aeronautical History: a Commemorative Book Edition of Airplane Designs and Concepts. Century City, California: Northrop Corporation, 1976. Library of...

  • Tucker XP-57
  • Lockheed XP-58 Chain Lightning
    XP-58 Chain Lightning
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0-370-30329-6.* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. Ltd., 1961 . ISBN 0-356-01448-7.* Green, William and Gordon Swanborough...

  • Bell XP-59 Airacomet
    P-59 Airacomet
    The Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went...

  • Curtiss XP-60
    Curtiss P-60
    The Curtiss P-60 was a 1940s United States single-engine single-place, low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft developed by the Curtiss-Wright company as a successor to their P-40. It went through a lengthy series of prototype versions, eventually evolving into a design that bore little resemblance to...

  • Curtiss XP-62
    Curtiss XP-62
    |-See also:-References:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters, Volume 4. London: Macdonald. 1961.-External links:*...

  • Grumman XP-65
  • McDonnell XP-67 Bat
    XP-67 Bat
    The McDonnell XP-67 "Bat" or "Moonbat" was a prototype for a twin-engine, long range, single-seat interceptor aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces. Although the design was conceptually advanced, it was beset by numerous problems and never approached its anticipated level of performance...

  • Vultee XP-68 Tornado
    XP-68 Tornado
    |-References:* Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-21-0 , ISBN 0-904597-22-9 ....

  • Republic XP-69
  • Curtiss XP-71
    Curtiss XP-71
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Dorr, Robert F. and Donald, David. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X....

  • Republic XP-72
    Republic XP-72
    -References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Bodie, Warren. "The Whine of the Jug". Wings Magazine , August 1974, p. 33-39.* Freeman, Roger A. Thunderbolt: A Documentary History of the Republic P-47. London: Macdonald & Jane's Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01166-9.* Green, William. War Planes of the Second...

  • Hughes XP-73
  • Bell XP-76
    Bell XP-76
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography*Bowers, Peter M. "Airborne Cobra Pt.II". Airpower magazine, Vol.9, No.1, January 1979....

  • Bell XP-77
  • North American XP-78; redesignated XP-51B
  • Northrop XP-79 Flying Ram

Others

  • Bell XV-15
    Bell XV-15
    The Bell XV-15 was an American tiltrotor VTOL aircraft. It was the second successful experimental tiltrotor aircraft and the first to demonstrate the concept's high speed performance relative to conventional helicopters.-Early VTOL rotor aircraft:...

     "Tiltrotor
    Tiltrotor
    A tiltrotor is an aircraft which uses a pair or more of powered rotors mounted on rotating shafts or nacelles at the end of a fixed wing for lift and propulsion, and combines the vertical lift capability of a helicopter with the speed and range of a conventional fixed-wing aircraft...

    " - a VTOL
    VTOL
    A vertical take-off and landing aircraft is one that can hover, take off and land vertically. This classification includes fixed-wing aircraft as well as helicopters and other aircraft with powered rotors, such as cyclogyros/cyclocopters and tiltrotors...

     aircraft with convertible turboprops that permitted it to take off and land like a helicopter, but fly like a conventional airplane. The concept was eventually implemented as the V-22 Osprey
    V-22 Osprey
    The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, military, tiltrotor aircraft with both a vertical takeoff and landing , and short takeoff and landing capability...

    .

  • The Silent Aircraft eXperimental Design (SAX-40) was an aircraft built under the Silent Aircraft Initiative
    Silent Aircraft Initiative
    The Silent Aircraft Initiative is a study being undertaken by the Cambridge-MIT Institute to discover ways to reduce aircraft noise dramatically, to the point where it would be virtually unnoticeable to people outside the airport perimeter...

    , conducted by Cambridge-MIT is studying a range of technologies.

  • ALTUS, Pathfinder and Helios were experimental aircraft under NASA's Environmental Research Aircraft and Sensor Technology program

U.S. Navy "X" designations

  • Boeing XF8B
  • Curtiss XF14C
  • XF5F Skyrocket
    XF5F Skyrocket
    |-Notable appearances in media:The XF5F Skyrocket featured in the Blackhawk comic books.-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co., 1961. ISBN 0-356-01448-7....

     - Grumman
  • XF10F Jaguar
    XF10F Jaguar
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* DeMeis, Richard. "No Room to Swing a Cat." Wings, Volume 6, No. 4, August 1976.* Jones, Lloyd S. US Naval Fighters 1922 to 1980s. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1977. ISBN 978-0816892549....

     - Grumman
  • Bell XFL Airabonita
  • XF3L - Bell
  • Ryan XF2R
    XF2R Dark Shark
    -See also:-Bibliography:* Ginter, Steve. Ryan FR-1 Fireball and XF2R-1 Darkshark, Naval Fighters Number 28. Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 1995. ISBN 0-942612-28-0....

  • Chance Vought XF5U
    Vought XF5U
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Chant, Christopher. Fantastic Aircraft. New York: Gallery Books, 1984. ISBN 0-8317-3-189-3.* Ginter, Steve. Chance Vought V-173 and XF5U-1 Flying Pancakes . Simi Valley, CA: Steve Ginter Publishing, 1992. ISBN 0-942612-21-3.* Guyton, Boone and Paul Marcus. "The Ups and...

  • Lockheed XFV
    Lockheed XFV
    -See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Allen, Francis J. "Bolt upright: Convair's and Lockheed's VTOL fighters". Air Enthusiast , Volume 127, January/February 2007, pp. 13–20. ISSN 0143-5450....

  • Convair XFY
    Convair XFY
    |-See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Allen, Francis J. "Bolt Upright: Convair's and Lockheed's VTOL fighters". Air Enthusiast Volume 127, January/February 2007, pp. 13–20. ISSN 0143-5450....

  • Convair XF2Y-1 Sea Dart
    F2Y Sea Dart
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters: Army-Air Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers Inc., 1975. ISBN 0-8168-9200-0....


U.S. non-"X" designations

  • AstroFlight
    • AstroFlight Sunrise
      AstroFlight Sunrise
      The AstroFlight Sunrise was an unmanned experimental electric aircraft technology demonstrator and the first aircraft to fly on solar power....

  • Boeing
  • Douglas D-558-I Skystreak
    Douglas Skystreak
    The United States Douglas Skystreak was a single-engine jet research aircraft of the 1940s. It was designed in 1945 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the U.S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, in conjunction with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics...

  • Douglas D-558-II Skyrocket
    Douglas Skyrocket
    The Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket was a rocket and jet-powered supersonic research aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company for the United States Navy...

  • DARPA Falcon Project
  • Goodyear Inflatoplane
    Goodyear Inflatoplane
    The Goodyear Inflatoplane was an experimental aircraft made by the Goodyear Aircraft Company, a subsidiary of Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, well known for the Goodyear blimp...

  • Lockheed Have Blue
    Lockheed Have Blue
    Lockheed Have Blue was the code name for Lockheed's "proof of concept" that preceded the F-117 Nighthawk production stealth aircraft. Have Blue was designed by Lockheed's Skunk Works division, and tested at Groom Lake, Nevada...

  • Lockheed P-175 Polecat
  • NASA
    • NASA M2-F1
      NASA M2-F1
      The NASA M2-F1 was a lightweight, unpowered prototype aircraft, developed to flight test the wingless lifting body concept. It looked like a "flying bathtub," and was designated the M2-F1, the "M" referring to "manned" and "F" referring to "flight" version. In 1962, NASA Dryden management approved...

    • NASA AD-1
      NASA AD-1
      -References:CitationsBibliography* AD-1 Construction Completed, Dryden X-Press, Feb. 23, 1979, p. 2.* Robert E. Curry and Alex G. Sim, In-Flight Total Forces, Moments, and Static Aeroelastic Characteristics of an Oblique-Wing Research Airplane * Robert E. Curry and Alexander G...

       Oblique Wing
    • NASA Hyper III
      NASA Hyper III
      -See also:-External links:*...

    • NASA Pathfinder
  • Northrop
    • Northrop HL-10
      Northrop HL-10
      The Northrop HL-10 was one of five heavyweight lifting body designs flown at NASA's Flight Research Center , Edwards, California, from July 1966 to November 1975 to study and validate the concept of safely maneuvering and landing a low lift-over-drag vehicle designed for reentry from space...

    • Northrop M2-F2
      Northrop M2-F2
      |-See also:-External links:***** of Peterson's crash...

    • Northrop M2-F3
      Northrop M2-F3
      The Northrop M2-F3 was a heavyweight lifting body rebuilt from the Northrop M2-F2 after it crashed at the Dryden Flight Research Center in 1967. It was modified with an additional third vertical fin - centered between the tip fins - to improve control characteristics...

    • Northrop Tacit Blue
      Northrop Tacit Blue
      |-See also:...

  • Rockwell
    • HiMAT
      Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology
      Highly Maneuverable Aircraft Technology was a NASA-program to develop technologies for future fighter aircraft. Among the technologies explored were close-coupled canards, fully digital flight control , composite materials , Remotely Piloted Aircraft, Synthetic vision, winglet etc...

  • Rotary Rocket
    Rotary Rocket
    Rotary Rocket, Inc, was a rocketry company headquartered in a facility at Mojave Airport that developed the Roton concept in the late 1990s as a fully reusable single-stage-to-orbit manned spacecraft. Roton was intended to reduce costs of launching payloads into low earth orbit by a factor of...

    • Roton ATV
  • Scaled Composites
    Scaled Composites
    Scaled Composites is an aerospace company founded by Burt Rutan and currently owned by Northrop Grumman that is located at the Mojave Spaceport, Mojave, California, United States...

    • Boomerang
      Scaled Composites Boomerang
      -References:...

    • Proteus
      Scaled Composites Proteus
      The Scaled Composites Model 281 Proteus is a tandem-wing high-endurance aircraft designed by Burt Rutan to investigate the use of aircraft as high altitude telecommunications relays. The Proteus is actually a multi-mission vehicle, able to carry various payloads on a ventral pylon...

  • Other organisations

Canada

Research Aircraft and prototypes.
  • AEA Silver Dart
    AEA Silver Dart
    -References:NotesBibliography* Aerial Experimental Association . Aerofiles. . Retrieved: 19 May 2005.* Green, H. Gordon. The Silver Dart: The Authentic Story of the Hon. J.A.D. McCurdy, Canada's First Pilot. Fredericton, New Brunswick: Atlantic Advocate Book, 1959.* Milberry, Larry. Aviation in...

     - joint Canada-US project
  • Avro Canada
    Avro Canada
    Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...

     CF-105 Arrow
  • Avro Canada
    Avro Canada
    Commonly known as Avro Canada, this company started in 1945 as an aircraft plant and became within thirteen years the third-largest company in Canada, one of the largest 100 companies in the world, and directly employing over 50,000...

     Avrocar
  • Avro Canada C102 Jetliner
  • Birdman Project 102
  • Canadair CL-84
    Canadair CL-84
    The Canadair CL-84 "Dynavert", designated by the Canadian Forces as the CX-131, was a V/STOL turbine tilt-wing monoplane designed and manufactured by Canadair between 1964 and 1972. Only four of these experimental aircraft were built with three entering flight testing...

     "Dynavert"
  • Marsden Gemini
    Marsden Gemini
    |-See also:...

    , variable geometry glider

United Kingdom

Includes research aircraft, private company projects and prototypes produced in competition for Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....

 contracts.
  • Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
    Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
    -See also:- External links :*** at *...

  • Avro
    • Avro 707
      Avro 707
      |-See also:-References:NotesCitationsBibliography* Buttler, Tony. "Avro Type 698 Vulcan ." Aeroplane, Vol. 35, No. 4, Issue No. 408, April 2007....

  • BAE Systems
    BAE Systems
    BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...

    • BAE Systems Mantis
    • BAE Systems Taranis
    • BAE Systems Demon
  • Blackburn B-20
    Blackburn B-20
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Townend, David R. Clipped Wings -- World War Two Edition. Markham: Aerofile Publications, 2010. ISBN 978-0-9732020-1-4....

  • Boulton & Paul
    Boulton & Paul Ltd
    Boulton & Paul was a British general manufacturer from Norwich that became involved in aircraft manufacture.Jeld Wen Inc, bought Boulton & Paul Boulton & Paul was a British general manufacturer from Norwich that became involved in aircraft manufacture.Jeld Wen Inc, bought Boulton & Paul Boulton &...

     and Boulton Paul
    Boulton Paul Aircraft
    Boulton Paul Aircraft Ltd was a British aircraft manufacturer that was created in 1934, although its origins lay in 1914, and lasted until 1961...

    • Boulton Paul P.6 - used for wing research
    • Boulton Paul P.111
      Boulton Paul P.111
      -See also:-Bibliography:* Brew, Alec. Boulton Paul Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-860-7.* Jones, Barry. "Boulton Paul's Dicey Deltas". Aeroplane Monthly, Vol 21 No. 2, Issue No 238. February 1993. London:IPC Magazines. ISSN 0143-7240. pp. 34–41.* Jones, Barry. British...

    • Boulton Paul P.120
      Boulton Paul P.120
      -Bibliography:* Brew, Alec. Boulton Paul Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1993. ISBN 0-85177-860-7.* Jones, Barry. British Experimental Turbojet Aircraft. London: Crowood, 2007. ISBN 978-1861268600.-External links:* *...

  • Bristol Aircraft Ltd
    • Bristol 188
      Bristol 188
      The Bristol 188 was a British supersonic research aircraft built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company in the 1950s. Its length, slender cross-section and intended purpose led to its being nicknamed the "Flaming Pencil".-Design and development:...

    • Bristol Brabazon
      Bristol Brabazon
      The Bristol Type 167 Brabazon was a large propeller-driven airliner, designed by the Bristol Aeroplane Company to fly transatlantic routes from the United Kingdom to the United States. The prototype was delivered in 1949, only to prove a commercial failure when airlines felt the airliner was too...

  • British Aerospace EAP
    British Aerospace EAP
    -External links:*...

  • British Aircraft Corporation
    British Aircraft Corporation
    The British Aircraft Corporation was a British aircraft manufacturer formed from the government-pressured merger of English Electric Aviation Ltd., Vickers-Armstrongs , the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Hunting Aircraft in 1960. Bristol, English Electric and Vickers became "parents" of BAC with...

    • BAC 221
      Fairey Delta 2
      The Fairey Delta 2 or FD2 was a British supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation Company in response to a specification from the Ministry of Supply for investigation into flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds.The aircraft was the first to exceed 1000mph, and...

       - modified fairey Delta 2 for high speed delta research
  • De Bruyne Snark
    De Bruyne Snark
    -Bibliography:...

     - plywood low weight stressed skin construction
  • de Havilland Swallow
    De Havilland Swallow
    The de Havilland DH 108 "Swallow" was a British experimental aircraft designed by John Carver Meadows Frost in October 1945. The DH 108 featured a tailless, swept wing with a single vertical stabilizer, similar to the layout of the wartime German Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket-powered...

     - swept wing handling up to supersonic speeds
  • English Electric P1A
    English Electric Lightning
    The English Electric Lightning is a supersonic jet fighter aircraft of the Cold War era, noted for its great speed and unpainted natural metal exterior finish. It is the only all-British Mach 2 fighter aircraft. The aircraft was renowned for its capabilities as an interceptor; Royal Air Force ...

  • Fairey
    • Fairey Delta 1
      Fairey Delta 1
      |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Sturtivant, Ray. British Research and Development Aircraft. Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing Group, 1990. ISBN 0-85429-697-2...

    • Fairey Delta 2
      Fairey Delta 2
      The Fairey Delta 2 or FD2 was a British supersonic research aircraft produced by the Fairey Aviation Company in response to a specification from the Ministry of Supply for investigation into flight and control at transonic and supersonic speeds.The aircraft was the first to exceed 1000mph, and...

    • Fairey Rotodyne
      Fairey Rotodyne
      The Fairey Rotodyne was a 1950s British compound gyroplane designed and built by Fairey Aviation and intended for commercial and military applications...

  • Folland Fo.108 "Frightful"
    Folland Fo.108
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/folland_43-37.php* http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=525...

     - engine test bed
  • General Aircraft GAL.56
  • Gloster E.28/39
    Gloster E.28/39
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* James, Derek N. Gloster Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-807-0.* Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.* Morgan, Eric B. "A New Concept of...

     - early jet engine research
  • Hafner Rotabuggy
    Hafner Rotabuggy
    The Hafner Rotabuggy and as the "M.L. 10/42 Flying Jeep" was a British experimental aircraft that was essentially a Willys MB combined with a rotor kite, developed with the intention of producing a way of air-dropping off-road vehicles.-Design and development:It was designed by Raoul Hafner of the...

     - autogyro/jeep hybrid
  • Handley Page
    • Handley Page Manx
      Handley Page Manx
      -See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, Chris. "Tailess Experimental". Aeroplane Monthly, January 1980, Volume 8 No. 1. pp. 4—9.* Barnes, C. H. Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907. London: Putnam & Company, Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-85177-803-8....

       - tailess
    • Handley Page HP.88
      Handley Page HP.88
      |-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C. H. Handley Page Aircraft Since 1907. London: Putnam & Company, Ltd., 1987. ISBN 0-85177-803-8.* Clayton, Donald C. Handley Page, an Aircraft Album. Shepperton, Surrey, UK: Ian Allan Ltd., 1969. ISBN 0-7110-0094-8....

       - supporting development of Handley Page Victor
      Handley Page Victor
      The Handley Page Victor was a British jet bomber aircraft produced by the Handley Page Aircraft Company during the Cold War. It was the third and final of the V-bombers that provided Britain's nuclear deterrent. The other two V-bombers were the Avro Vulcan and the Vickers Valiant. Some aircraft...

    • Handley Page HP.115
      Handley Page HP.115
      |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Barfield, Norman. "Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde." Aircraft in Profile, Volume 14. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications, 1974. ISBN 0-85383-023-1....

       - low speed delta wing research
  • Hawker
    • Hawker P.V.4
      Hawker P.V.4
      -See also:-Bibliography:* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....

       - unsuccessful tender for government contract
    • Hawker Hotspur
      Hawker Hotspur
      |-See also:-Bibliography:* Brew, Alex. The Turret Fighters - Defiant and Roc. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2002. ISBN 1-86126-497-6....

       - unsuccessful tender for government contract
    • Hawker P.1072
      Hawker P.1072
      -See also:-References:* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....

    • Hawker P.1052
      Hawker P.1052
      -Further reading:* Green, William and Cross, Roy. The jet aircraft of the world. London: Macdonald and Company, 1955.* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....

    • Hawker P.1081
      Hawker P.1081
      |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Hannah, Donald. Hawker FlyPast Reference Library. Stamford, Lincolnshire, UK: Key Publishing Ltd., 1982. ISBN 0-946219-01-X....

    • Hawker P.1127
      Hawker P.1127
      The Hawker P.1127 and the Hawker Siddeley Kestrel FGA.1 were the experimental and development aircraft that led to the Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the first vertical and/or short take-off and landing jet fighter-bomber...

       - V/STOL fighter
  • Hunting
    • Hunting H.126
      Hunting H.126
      -See also:-Bibliography:* Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. ISBN 0356 08409 4.-External links:** *...

       - blown flap research
  • Miles
    • Miles Libellula
      Miles Libellula
      -Specifications :-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Amos, Peter and Don Lambert Brown. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....

       - tandem wing fighter and bomber designs
    • Miles M.30
      Miles M.30
      |-See also:-Bibliography:* Amos, Peter. and Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0.* Brown, Don Lambert. Miles Aircraft Since 1925. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970...

       - blended wing body design
    • Miles M.52
      Miles M.52
      The Miles M.52 was a turbojet powered supersonic research aircraft project designed in the United Kingdom in the mid 1940s. Design work was undertaken in secrecy between 1942 and 1945. In 1946 the Air Ministry prudently but controversially changed the project to a series of unmanned rocket-powered...

       - supersonic research
  • QinetiQ Zephyr
    QinetiQ Zephyr
    Zephyr is a lightweight solar-powered UAV which was originally designed and built by the QQ1 "Edge of Space" team who were sponsored by the United Kingdom defence firm, Qinetiq. It is of carbon-fibre construction, and uses sunlight to charge a lithium sulphur battery during the day, which powers...

  • Saunders Roe
    • Saunders-Roe SR.A/1
      Saunders-Roe SR.A/1
      |-See also:-References:*London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3.*Mason, Francis K.The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7....

       - jet-powered flying-boat fighter
    • Saunders-Roe SR.53
      Saunders-Roe SR.53
      |- See also :-References:NotesBibliography* Jones, Barry. "Saro's Mixed Power Saga". Aeroplane Monthly, November 1994, Vol 22 No 11 Issue 259. pp. 32–39. London:IPC. ISSN 0143-7240....

       - mixed rocket/jet propulsion interceptor
    • Saunders-Roe SR.177 - mixed rocket/jet propulsion interceptor
  • Short Brothers
    Short Brothers
    Short Brothers plc is a British aerospace company, usually referred to simply as Shorts, that is now based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Founded in 1908, Shorts was the first company in the world to make production aircraft and was a manufacturer of flying boats during the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s...

    • Short Shetland
      Short Shetland
      -See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. and James, D.N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London, Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-819-4.* Bowyer, Michael J.F. Aircraft for the Royal Air Force: The "Griffon" Spitfire, The Albemarle Bomber and the Shetland Flying-Boat. London: Faber & Faber Ltd., 1980. ISBN...

    • Short Sperrin
      Short Sperrin
      The Short SA.4 Sperrin was a British jet bomber design of the early 1950s built by Short Brothers and Harland of Belfast, popularly abbreviated "Shorts". It first flew in 1951...

    • Short SB.1
      Short SB.1
      |-References:NotesBibliography* Barnes, C.H. with revisions by James, Derek N. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989 . ISBN 0-85177-819-4....

       - tailess glider for isoclininc wing research
    • Short SB5
      Short SB5
      -See also:Related development:* English Electric LightningComparable aircraft:* Handley-Page HP.115* Saab 210-References:* "Empire Test Pilots' School: Twenty Five Years". Empire Test Pilots' School Twenty-fifth Anniversary brochure. 1968....

       - prove/develop wing profile of English Electric Lightning
    • Short SB.4 Sherpa
    • Short SC.1
      Short SC.1
      |-See also:-Bibliography:* Barnes, C.H. with revisions by Derek N. James. Shorts Aircraft since 1900. London: Putnam, 1989 . ISBN 0-85177-819-4.*Illingworth J. K. B. and Chinn H.W. . London: HMSO, 1969. Retrieved: 11 December 2007....

       - vtol research
  • Westland-Hill Pterodactyl
    Westland-Hill Pterodactyl
    The Westland-Hill Pterodactyl series of experimental tailess or flying wing aircraft designs were developed starting in the 1920s. They are named after the genus Pterodactylus, a well-known type of Pterosaur commonly known as the pterodactyl....


France

  • SNECMA Coléoptère
    SNECMA Coléoptère
    The SNECMA Coléoptère was a VTO aircraft developed by the French in the 1950s. It was a single-person aircraft with an annular wing designed to land vertically, therefore requiring no runway and very little space to take-off. There were several prototypes developed and tested, however the design...

  • Nord 1500 Griffon
    Nord 1500 Griffon
    -See also:-Bibliography:*Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. ISBN 0356 08409 4.- External links :* *****...

  • Payen Pa 49
  • SNECMA Atar Volant
    SNECMA Atar Volant
    The original Atar Volant or C.400 P1 was a turbojet engine produced by SNECMA engineers, as part of their 'Atar' series....

  • Dassault Balzac V
    Dassault Balzac V
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Breffort, Dominique and Andre Jouineau. "The Mirage III, 5, 50 and derivatives from 1955 to 2000." Planes and Pilots 6. Paris: Histoire et Collections, 2004. ISBN 2-913903-92-4....

  • Dassault Mirage IIIV
    Dassault Mirage IIIV
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Breffort, Dominique and Andre Jouineau. "The Mirage III, 5, 50 and derivatives from 1955 to 2000." Planes and Pilots 6. Paris: Histoire et Collections, 2004. ISBN 2-913903-92-4....

  • Dassault Milan
  • Dassault Mirage G
    Dassault Mirage G
    |-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1968.* Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1972. ISBN 0-7232-1507-3-External links:*...

  • Dassault LOGIDUC
    Dassault LOGIDUC
    The Dassault LOGIDUC -sometimes spelled Logiduc in French and LogiDuc in English- was an autonomous industrial program launched in 1999 by the French aircraft manufacturer Dassault Aviation in view to develop its UAV design capacities...

  • Dassault nEUROn
    Dassault Neuron
    The Dassault nEUROn is an experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle being developed with international cooperation, led by the French company Dassault Aviation.-Description:...


Germany

  • Arthur Sack A.S.6
  • Blohm & Voss P.178
    Blohm & Voss P.178
    The Blohm & Voss P.178 was an experimental jet-powered dive bomber designed during World War II by Blohm & Voss. The bomber had an unusual, asymmetric configuration.-Overview:...

  • DFS 194
  • DFS 346
    DFS 346
    The DFS 346 was a German rocket-powered swept-wing vehicle subsequently completed and flown in the Soviet Union after the World War II. It was designed by Felix Kracht at the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Segelflug , the "German Institute for Sailplane Flight"...

  • Dornier Do 212
    Dornier Do 212
    The Do 212 was a four-seat experimental amphibian flying boat built by the Swiss subsidiary of Dornier, on Lake Constance. Design was initiated in 1938 by the German and Swiss branches, the latter being responsible for the actual construction of the prototype....

  • Dornier Do 31
    Dornier Do 31
    -See also:-Bibliography:*Green, William. The Observer's Book of Aircraft. London. Frederick Warne & Co. Ltd., 1968.*Jackson, Paul A. German Military Aviation 1956–1976. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1976. ISBN 0-904597-03-2.-External links:**...

  • EWR VJ 101
    EWR VJ 101
    -See also:-Bibliography:* Rogers, Mike. VTOL: Military Research Aircraft. New York: Orion Books, 1989. ISBN 0-517-57684-8.* Winchester, Jim. "EWR-Sud VJ 101C ". X-Planes and Prototypes. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2005. ISBN 1-904687-40-7....

  • Focke-Wulf Fw Triebflügel
    Focke-Wulf Fw Triebflugel
    -External links:* * * *...

  • Focke-Wulf Ta 183
    Focke-Wulf Ta 183
    The Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein was a design for a jet-powered fighter aircraft intended as the successor to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and other day fighters in Luftwaffe service during World War II. It was developed only to the extent of wind tunnel models when the war ended, but the basic design...

  • Göppingen Gö 9
    Göppingen Gö 9
    The Göppingen Gö 9 was a research aircraft built to investigate the practicalities of powering a plane using a pusher propeller located far from the engine and turned by a long driveshaft....


  • Heinkel He 176
  • Heinkel He 178
    Heinkel He 178
    |-See also:*List of firsts in aviation-Bibliography:* Warsitz, Lutz: The First Jet Pilot - The Story of German Test Pilot Erich Warsitz, Pen and Sword Books Ltd., England, 2009, ISBN 9781844158188.-External links:...

  • Heinkel He 280
    Heinkel He 280
    The Heinkel He 280 was the first turbojet-powered fighter aircraft in the world. It was inspired by Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on research into high-speed flight and built on the company's experience with the He 178 jet prototype. A combination of technical and political factors led to it being...

  • Heinkel He 343
    Heinkel He 343
    The Heinkel He 343 was a four-engine jet bomber project.-Design and development:It was designed by the German Ernst Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in the beginning of 1944. 20 of these aircraft were ordered. For shortening the development time and for re-use of existing parts, its general design was...

  • Henschel Hs 132
    Henschel Hs 132
    -Note:There is a widely available image that purports to show the completed Hs 132V1 outside the Henschel plant. This is actually an artist's impression by Gert Heumann.-See also:-References:NotesBibliography...

  • Horten Ho 229
    Horten Ho 229
    The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 was a late–World War II prototype fighter/bomber designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik...

     -- Flying wing
    Flying wing
    A flying wing is a tailless fixed-wing aircraft which has no definite fuselage, with most of the crew, payload and equipment being housed inside the main wing structure....

  • Horten H.IX V1
    Horten Ho 229
    The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 was a late–World War II prototype fighter/bomber designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik...

  • Horten H.IX V2
    Horten Ho 229
    The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 was a late–World War II prototype fighter/bomber designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik...

  • Horten H.X
  • Horten H.XIII
  • Horten H.XVIII

  • Junkers J 1
    Junkers J 1
    The Junkers J 1, nicknamed the Blechesel , was the world's first practical all-metal aircraft. Built early in World War I, when aircraft designers relied largely on fabric-covered wooden structures, the Junkers J 1 was a revolutionary development in aircraft design, being built and flown only 12...

  • Junkers Ju 287
    Junkers Ju 287
    -Bibliography:* Hitchcock, Thomas H. Junkers 287 . Acton, MA: Monogram Aviation Publications, 1974. ISBN 0-914144-01-4.-External links:*...

  • Lippisch DM-1
    Lippisch DM-1
    |-References:-External links:*...

  • Lippisch P.13a
    Lippisch P.13a
    The Lippisch P.13a was an experimental ramjet-powered delta wing interceptor aircraft designed in late 1944 by Dr. Alexander Lippisch for Nazi Germany...

  • Messerschmitt Me P.1101
    Messerschmitt Me P.1101
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Myrha, David. Messerschmitt P.1101- X Planes of the Third Reich Series. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1999. ISBN 0-7643-0908-0....

  • RFB-X-113
  • RFB-X-114
  • Fiesler Fi 103 R
    Selbstopfer
    The Fieseler Fi 103R was a late-World War II German manned version of the V-1 flying bomb produced for missions which were to be carried out by the "Leonidas Squadron", Group V of the Luftwaffe's Kampfgeschwader 200.-Background:The Leonidas Squadron, part of KG 200, had been set up as a suicide...

  • VFW VAK 191B
    VFW VAK 191B
    |-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, Paul A. German Military Aviation 1956-1976. Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1976. ISBN 0-904597-03-2.-External links:* * * *...

     (1971)

Russia/Soviet Union

  • Beriev VVA-14
  • Tupolev ANT-20
    Tupolev ANT-20
    -See also:*Dornier Do X-External links:* * Russian: Babelfish rough English translation * * Babelfish rough English translation from Russian History of Aviation, Publ Young Guards...

  • Tupolev Tu-119
    Tupolev Tu-119
    - External links :* * *...

  • Sukhoi T-4
    Sukhoi T-4
    -See also:-External links:**...

  • Sukhoi Su-47
    Sukhoi Su-47
    The Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut , also designated S-32 and S-37 during initial development, was an experimental supersonic jet fighter developed by Sukhoi Aviation Corporation...

  • Mikoyan Project 1.44
    Mikoyan Project 1.44
    The Mikoyan Project 1.44/1.42 was a technology demonstrator developed by Mikoyan. It was the Soviet Union's answer to the Advanced Tactical Fighter of the US, incorporating numerous fifth-generation fighter aspects such as advanced avionics, stealth, supermaneuoverability and supercruise...


People's Republic of China


Other countries

  • Atlas XH-1 Alpha (South Africa)
  • Bossi-Bonomi Pedaliante
    Bossi-Bonomi Pedaliante
    The Pedaliante was a human-powered aircraft designed and built by Enea Bossi and Vittorio Bonomi and disputably credited with, in 1936, performing the first fully human-powered flight...

     (Italy)
  • EADS Barracuda
    EADS Barracuda
    |- See also :- External links :* *...

     (Germany-Spain)
  • HyShot
    HyShot
    HyShot is a research project of The University of Queensland, Australia Centre for Hypersonics, to demonstrate the possibility of supersonic combustion under flight conditions and compare the results of shock tunnel experiments.- Overview :...

     (Australia)
  • Fouga Gemeaux
    Fouga Gemeaux
    -See also:...

     (France)
  • Nord 1500 Griffon
    Nord 1500 Griffon
    -See also:-Bibliography:*Taylor, John W.R. Jane's Pocket Book of Research and Experimental Aircraft, London, Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, 1976. ISBN 0356 08409 4.- External links :* *****...

     (France)
  • Saab 210
    Saab 210
    -See also:-References:*Dorr, Robert. F. Modern Combat Aircraft 21 - Saab Viggen. Shepperton, Surrey. Ian Allan Ltd. 1985. ISBN 0 7110 1484 1...

     (Sweden)
  • Solar Impulse Project (Switzerland)

See also

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