The Tiny Most Powerful Aircraft that Almost Changed All of Aviation
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Published 2024-03-21
Overshadowed by the formidable X-1 and X-2 rocketplanes, as well as the flashy but impractical Douglas X-3 Stiletto, the X-4 seemed like the 98-pound weakling of research aircraft. It paled in comparison to its Mach-breaking counterparts. The impending arrival of the swing-wing X-5 hinted at a monumental breakthrough.
Tailless designs, as championed by the likes of Northrop and Lippisch, held a particular allure for those seeking supersonic prowess. As the X-5 prepared to take center stage, the nerdy and notably tailless X-4 faced its moment of truth. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, but the odds were against the little aircraft as it attempted a feat beyond its modest stature—breaking the elusive sound barrier.
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All Comments (21)
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Thanks for mentioning my father, John H. Griffith, who was Chief Test Pilot for NACA at the time. He liked the X-4 but knew and experienced the problems with instability. It was his experience with the Bantam that caused Chance Vought to lure him away from NACA to fly the F7U Cutlass. The Cutlass was also a tailless plane and proved to be one of the Navy's most deadly planes. A test dive in the F7U went wrong and he ended up pulling 6g for 45 seconds. He grayed out but stayed conscious until he saw a positive rate of climb. He missed the ground by 1100 feet at a speed of around 600 knots. He quit flying as a test pilot after that and worked in other areas of aviation. Many pilots he knew were getting killed at that time and he had three young children who he wanted to see graduate from school.
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The X4 (tail number 6677) is displayed in the Research and Development Gallery, at the US Air Force Museum in Dayton Ohio.
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My sister, who worked at a art company in Minneapolis. At the time, I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with Chuck Yeager, he had to sign a bunch of artwork. I was so envious, all she knew that he was an Air Force pilot, I told her he was not only that he was the first man to break the sound barrier and a general in the Air Force. She was like wow I never knew. He was quite the man.
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balsa wood, duct tape and cardboard are the holy trinity of mechanical engineering.
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Another machine I didn't know about. And the designers, flyers who made it happen. Great vid.
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" Well, it shakes a little. Just throw these shims in 'er and I'll bet she'll straighten up and fly right." Basal wood! Where are these incredible engineers for today? I had no idea this little bird had such a glorius past. And flown by the legend Scott Crossfield no less!
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They had an idea. It didn't quite work as hoped. They learned a lot. And most shocking: Nobody died. But dang! That little thing looks like fun!
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Another great documentary - mostly unknown Test Aircraft. Thanks.
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Jack Northrop had championed flying wings well before WW II. X-4 was the starting point for what became the F-89.
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Totally cool aircraft ! Mr . Jack Northrop was ahead of his time ! Wow - Never seen this Little aircraft - Outstanding . Weak engines , but it was early days of jet power . Thanks -
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People don't realize that research is just that.. RESEARCH.. Contracts come and go.. some outcomes are "successful" and some are not so to speak. BUT what is learned is NEVER forgotten and the lessons learned are added to future projects.
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Thanks for all the vids man.👍
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Sure looks a lot like the ME 163 Komet.
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In a way, the X-4 paved the way for the eventual success of the B-2 and B-21 bombers. It showed that a flying wing really needed something like fly-by-wire controls to keep a true flying wing reasonably stable.
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The X4 looks like a direct steal of the Remarkable German KOMET developed in the last years of WW2 as a Bomber interceptor and an example probably transported to US when WW2 ended Same Profile and general Shape Any research on this by the Film Maker? Derek
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I've always loved the Northrop corporation... They are one of the best aircraft designing companies in the WORLD! Jack would of been so proud of the B-2 and the B-21.. I believe Jack got to see the B-2 in flight before he passed away? That must have put his soul to rest...
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Beautiful! Thanks!
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Good video. Thanks
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Awesome little plane.....Thanks 🇺🇸
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I often wonder if things might have been different if X planes like this and the X3 had modern computer-assisted fly-by-wire control.
