Douglas manufactured three airframes. They flew a total of 312 flights between 1948-1956. This was a joint program among the NACA, the Navy-Marine Corps,. and Douglas Aircraft.
Douglas manufactured three airframes. They flew a total of 312 flights between 1948-1956. This was a joint program among the NACA, the Navy-Marine Corps,. and Douglas Aircraft. The swept-wing aircraft flown with both turbojet and rocket power set an altitude record of 83,235 ft. on Aug. 21, 1953, and a speed record on Nov. 20, 1953, when it became the first aircraft to reach Mach 2. The “Skyrocket” collected data about handling qualities, wing loads, and stability and control, especially pitch-up.