The Douglas D-558-I Skystreak is seen close-up in this early 1950's in-flight photograph. Although less well known than the X-1, the D-558-I could carry out research roles that complemented those of the more glamorous, rocket-powered craft.
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The Douglas D-558-I Skystreak is seen close-up in this early 1950’s in-flight photograph. Although less well known than the X-1, the D-558-I could carry out research roles that complemented those of the more glamorous, rocket-powered craft. The D-558-I was relatively slow, with only one flight exceeding Mach 1 (the speed of sound). However, the jet-powered Skystreak could fly for sustained periods at transonic speeds, increasing the amount of data a single flight could yield. By contrast, the rocket-powered X-1 could only provide transonic data for brief periods on each flight.August 24, 1953NASA Photo› D-558-I Fact Sheet