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D-558-I Skystreak: Acrylic painting by artist Steve Cox – 2011
On August 25th, 1947 USMC test pilot Lt. Col. Marion Carl set a new official World Speed Record of 650.796 mph over a course laid out on the dry lakebed at Muroc Army Airfield (later renamed Edwards Air Force Base) piloting the turbojet powered Douglas D-558-1 Skystreak. Here the Skystreak completes the first of two official speed runs for the timing cameras.
The Skystreak performed valuable services as a first-generation transonic research airplane.It was one of the few sources of data on transonic flight conditions until the NACA developed better high-speed wind tunnels.
The three Skystreaks flew in a joint program involving the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the Navy and Marine Corps, and the Douglas Aircraft Co. from 1947 to 1953. The Skystreaks initially were painted scarlet until experience showed white to be a more visible color.
Although a contemporary of the rocket-powered Bell X-1, the Navy’s D-558 program used the manufacturer’s designation. Only the USAF experimental aircraft of the era received “X”- designations.
“A great measure of the credit for the success of the D-558 airplane speed record flight is due to the NACA.” – U. S. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics 1947
About the Artist: Steve Cox served in the USAF as crew chief on C-141’s, and at McDonnell Douglas and Boeing as an assembly mechanic on F-15’s, 747’s, and 767’s. Currently he is creating models and illustrations for the Rapid Prototyping and Modeling Lab at Boeing’s Development Center in Seattle. His work has been published in Aviation Week, Flight International, Interavia, Amphibious Warfare Review, International Test Pilots Association, Motor Books International, and Air Classics. Skystreak, 2011 is among the many works Steve painted throughout his three decades as an artist.