In 1944 the NACA USAAF and US Navy representiatives agreed on joint procedure regarding the develoment of the high speed research aircraft. Eventually, the development split into two independent ways, USAAF, later USAF together with NACA ordered rocket powered X-1 at Bell Company. US Navy together with NACA specified the requiments fot jet powered research aircraft. Even before all the specifictions were clarified, Douglas Compagny that came to known of them submitted its own design project. This project was introduced in February 1945. Based on this project, US Navy and NACA ordered test aircraft at Douglas. The specification regarding quantity and characteristics changed during time. The final proposal called for three D-558-1 aircraft with straight wing powered by jet engine and three D-558-2 aircraft with swept wing and powered by jet rocket engines. D-558-1 named Skystreak design was of conventional low-wing design with cylindrical fuselage cross-section. it was powered by G.E. TG-180 jet engine. The prototype with BuNo 37970 took off for the first time on April 15, 1947 with E.F.Maye test pilot in cockpit. the prototype suffered from undercarriage failures in early days. Eventually, these were repaired. In early stage was the aircraft equipped with training bubble canopy. Later, it received high speed canopy with knife like wind shield and flat windows. to avoid canopy scratches, all pilots wore chamois leather covered helmets. The long Maj. Marion Carl even had to wear his war helmet. The ordered D-558-1`s were manufactured subsequently. The orther two machines got BuNos 37971 and 37972. The first two machines were unofficially named Crimson Test Tube after they gots its gloss red color. The first two prototypes were handed over to the US Navy. The USN Chief pilot Cdr.T.F.Caldwell in the cockpit of the first prototype set the World Speed record of 1031,049km/h on August 20, 1947. The second prototype with BuNo.37971 with USMC Maj Marion Carl in cockpit broke the latter record five days later, setting it now at 1047,356km/h. The first prototype was then returned to the Douglas for additional tests. It peformed another 101 flights at Douglas facility and with G Maye in cockpit it broke Sound Barrier during descend flight. When it was handed over to NACA it served as a source of spare parts. The second prototype was test flown until its crash that occurred on May 3, 1948. During the take-off for the 46th flight the aircraft down due to compressor disintegration killing its pilot H.C.Lilly. The third prototype was handed over directly to NACA. It realized 82 research flights the last one on June 10, 1953. The first prototype is now exhibited in US NAVAL Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, the third one is in exhibition of US Marine Corps Museum at MCAS Quantico Bay.
Twee uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- D-558-I Skystreak, Bu No.37972, Ship #3, end of 1950.
- D-558-I Skystreak, Bu No.37972, Ship #3, May 1952.
Extra:
- Etched Parts
- Resin parts accessories
Aantal onderdelen: 76
Humbrol verf kleuren
- 22 Gloss White
- 19 Gloss Red
- 11 Metallic Silver
- 33 Matt Black
